Ground game lets Random Lake/Ozaukee cruise to second victory

The Random Lake/Ozaukee high school football team went to 2-0 behind a second-half burst at Living Word Lutheran last Friday.

The Bison led, 9-0, at halftime and won, 43-16.

After rushing for 380 yards in a dominant season-opening victory, the Bison ran for 296 against the Timber Wolves.

Quarterback Jeffrey Stefanich ran 10 times for 155 yards and three touchdowns. 

“He’s dynamic,” coach Cole Large said.

Jack Upson ran five times for 76 yards.

“He just wouldn’t go down,” Large said.

Colton Dybul ran 15 times for 52 yards. The Bison averaged 8.7 yards per carry. 

On the game’s opening drive, Jake Delleree got a sack that put the Timber Wolves on their own 5-yard line. On fourth down, Tegan Hall shoved his man into the punter, leading to a blocked kick and safety.

Stefanich ran for a score on the ensuing possession.

In the second half, the Bison scored on every possession except when they ran out the clock on the game’s final couple of plays.

“We just got back to what we do and started wearing them down. Holes started getting bigger,” Large said. “They were playing a pretty loaded front. We started to break free and get some nice chunk plays.”

Stefanich went 6-for-10 passing for 76 yards and two interceptions.

Cooper Arndt had a team-high 14 tackles.

“He was all over the place,” Large said.

Stefanich and Max Tesker each had eight tackles, and Stefanich and Jaxon Crawford each forced a fumble. Stefanich also picked off a pass. Dybul and Delleree each had six tackles, and Dybul recovered two fumbles.

LWL’s Ryde Ehley went 15-for-30 passing for 157 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The team ran for 80 yards.

The Bison start Big East Conference play by hosting Oostburg at Random Lake on Friday, Sept. 4. Oostburg lost to Kohler/Sheboygan Lutheran/Sheboygan Christian, 30-14, and beat Sheboygan Falls, 34-26.

“It will be a good challenge for us,” Large said. “We’re feeling good. Just gotta do our thing.”