Ozaukee starting to mesh

A relationship built on trust sent the Ozaukee High School football team home happy after last Friday’s senior night and homecoming game against Oostburg.

The Warriors dug a 14-0 hole before a couple of adjustments were made. The Flying Dutchmen never scored again, and the Warriors’s offense went on a tear, pulling out a 20-14 victory.

The Warriors told their coaches what was happening and how to adjust, and they listened.

“Honestly, it comes down to the players taking ownership of the team,” first-year coach Michael Schatz said. “It’s amazing to have the group of kids we have.”

Jack Genzmer ran 34 times for 276 yards and three touchdowns, and Bret Hamm added 74 yards on 12 carries.

“The offensive line was telling us what they were seeing,” Schatz said. “The offensive line took ownership and showed their character. And then they paved the way.”

Starting Brandon Harbison at center for the second week paid off.

“We have an extremely underrated offensive line,” Schatz said.

“Then you have a back as talented as Jack. I don’t think there’s a coach in the state who wouldn’t give anything to have him on their team.”

Defensively, the Warriors came off a performance the week before in which Random Lake barely finished in the black in yardage ­— something Schatz has rarely seen after coaching in a few different states. The Flying

Dutchmen could move the ball but the Warriors figured out the key to stopping them.

“Our linebackers were telling us we had to back off a little. That allowed more of the running game but stopped dump-off passes that were killing us,” Schatz said.

“We trusted them and it worked.”

Genzmer and Braxton Gahan came off the edge to lead the team’s eight sacks. Genzmer had three and Gahan had two.

“Our pass rush was out of control,” Schatz said.

Zach Bell and Trevor Decker handled the inside and Hamm blitzed.

“That’s a hard combo to stop,” Schatz said.

Harbison again led the team in tackles with 12. Genzmer and Phil McLarty each had eight, Hamm had seven and Cael Large had six.

Gahan, Harbison and Jonny Melendez each intercepted a pass. Harbison forced a fumble and Gahan recovered one.

The Flying Dutchmen went 9-for-19 passing for 42 yards with two touchdowns and three picks. Oostburg had 83 yards rushing on 19 carries.

The Warriors ended with 373 yards rushing on 57 carries. Quarterback Ty Szczerbinski didn’t need to throw often. He went 2-for-7 for 20 yards with two interceptions.

“Ty’s biggest thing is just being an amazing leader. There’s not a lot of quarterbacks who say let’s hand it off 50-some times. Ty just wants to see us successful, he doesn’t care how. I think his favorite play is where he tosses it back to Jack and then gets to lead block,” Schatz said.

“It’s going to come to a point where people stop respecting him and Ty’s going to have a monster game, and we look forward to that.”

Despite the slow start, the Warriors outgained the flying Dutchmen, 393-125, and had 19 first downs to Oostburg’s 10.

“It’s amazing coaching a team like this. They’re about playing for each other. As a coach, when you get to coach a team like this, it’s a dream come true,” Schatz said.

He is especially thankful to a couple of groups.

“The alumni have been extremely supportive,” he said. “As a first year head coach I don’t know how I could ask for a better group of seniors. They’re leaders.”

The Warriors, 2-1 in the Big East Conference, play at 1-2 Howards Grove on Friday.