Comets give Go-Hawk TD glory

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

WAVERLY — The Go-Hawks have a lot of weapons.

Be it bruising and low-to-the-ground running back Gabriel Santoiemma, who has the tendency to shed gang tacklers before putting on a burst of speed to leave other defenders in the dust.

Be it quarterback John Stensland, who displays slight-of-hand mastery of Waverly-Shell Rock’s option offense and has a quick pass release.

Be it kick returner Jackson Little, who has quark-like juke moves that can leave open-field defenders bewildered.

But the Go-Hawks also have a secret weapon in junior Aaron Dunn.

“It wasn’t something I had any idea about,” Charles City head football coach Darren Bohlen said of Dunn’s unexpected appearance late in the Comets’ season finale loss against the hosting Go-Hawks on Friday. “One of our seniors, Malik Knighten, asked their coach to put Aaron in the game for one play, and they did.

“It wasn’t anything us coaches planned.”

Listed as an offensive and defensive lineman, challenging circumstances have prevented Dunn from getting any playing time this season. But when he finally got his chance with little more than a minute remaining in regulation on a running clock, Dunn made the most of it.

After receiving what seemed like an unexpected hand-off, Dunn made a little move to the left, then made another move to the right, before motoring it up field behind a wave of Waverly blockers with the Comets providing token resistance for a 43-yard TD that capped the Go-Hawks’ 55-7 victory.

The play generated the loudest applause from the home crowd and the most animated celebration from the W-SR bench, who both already had enough to cheer about that night.

For the Comets, it was an uncommon gesture from team that already was taking it on the chin against a traditional rival in a hard-hitting game where pride sometimes spilled over into several unsportsmanlike penalties.

The Comets finished the season at 3-6 and 3-4 in Class 3A, District 3 play.

The Go-Hawks improved to 6-3 and 5-2, and will travel to Manchester on Friday to face West Delaware in the first round of the playoffs.

The game

Waverly-Shell Rock took advantage of short fields on their first two possessions.

Soon after a 15-yard penalty was tacked onto a punt return that crossed into Comet territory, Santoiemma scored from 1 yard out. It would be the first of four touchdowns he would score in the game.

The next Go-Hawk possession started at the Comet 28 due to a fumble recovery. From there, Stensland hit Joey McNally on a go route to put the Go-Hawks up 14-0 at little more than four and a half minutes into the game.

Santoiemma scored from 2 yards out early in the second quarter. Then on the next W-SR possession, ball-carrier Santoiemma managed to move a scrum of blockers and would-be tacklers beyond first-down yardage before breaking free for a 73-yard touchdown run.

The longest play of the game was a spectacular 82-yard run by Charles City senior Jaden Foster that — with Derek Milligan’s PAT kick — made the score 28-7. Foster scored seven touchdowns on the season to lead the Comets.

Stensland connected with Nick Schwemm for a 12-yard TD pass shortly before halftime.

Little scored from 25 yards out early in the third quarter, then Santoiemma scored from 3 yards out to make the score 49-7 with 4:46 left in the third.

Santoiemma had 114 yards on 14 carries. Stensland complete 5 of 6 passes for 69 yards. His only incompletion was an interception by Dalton Cleveland in the end zone.

Other than Foster’s run, the Comets didn’t generate much offense — 116 net yards all game.

On defense, Foster and Alex Koehler each had 9 tackles and 2 tackles for losses; Elliot Gebel and Zion Jordan each had a solo sack for the Comets.

“Right now, we’re going to look at the season and see where we can make improvements,” Bohlen said. “We have some seniors who may be able to play somewhere in college. I know (receiver/defensive back) Jaden Foster is looking to play somewhere. (Two-way lineman) AJ Maloy, who had a great season for us, I know he could play somewhere. (Linebacker) Alex Koehler is interested in playing in college. We’re going to see what we can do to help them reach the next level.”

The Comets’ underclass teams both had winning records this season.

“There is some talent there,” Bohlen said, “but talent doesn’t mean anything if you don’t work hard.”

WAVERLY-SHELL ROCK 55, CHARLES CITY 7

Scoring By Quarters

Charles City 0 7 0 0 — 7

Waverly-Shell Rock 14 21 14 6 — 55

Scoring Summary

WSR — Gabriel Santoiemma 1 run (Jacob Norton kick) 7-0, 9:02 1st

WSR — Joey McNally 28 pass from John Stensland (Norton kick) 14-0, 7:20 1st

WSR — Santoiemma 2 run (Norton kick) 21-0, 10:37 2nd

WSR — Santoiemma 73 run (Norton kick) 28-0, 6:55 2nd

CC — Jaden Foster 82 run (Derek Milligan kick) 28-7, 4:50 2nd

WSR — Nick Schwemm 12 pass from Stensland (Norton kick) 35-7, 1:03 2nd

WSR — Jackson Little 25 run (Norton kick) 42-7, 9:42 3rd

WSR — Santoiemma 3 run (Norton kick) 49-7, 4:46 3rd

WSR — Aaron Dunn 43 run (PAT not attempted) 55-7, 1:03 4th

PASSING — CC — Drew Mitchell 2-15-3 28; WSR — John Stensland 5-6-1 69, 2 TDs.

RUSHING — CC — Jaden Foster 7-75, TD, Zion Jordan 12-36, Tyreque Baker 1-3; WSR — Gabriel Santoiemma 14-114, 4 TDs, Jackson Little 3-62, TD, Aaron Dunn 1-43, TD, Jack Seward 5-56, Carter Langreck 5-18, Jordan Chandler 4-9.

RECEIVING — CC — Jaden Foster 2-8; WSR — Joey McNally 2-45, TD, Nick Schwemm 1-12, Gabriel Santoiemma 1-8, Jackson Little 1-4.