Gladiators know how to respond after their first loss

After losing their first game of the year last week, the Grafton Gladiators youth football team bounced back with a 38-6 win over Slinger.

The game opened with a 37-yard kick-off return by Tommy Lutz that allowed the Gladiators’ offense to start at its 47 yard-line. Grafton proceeded to march the ball down to Slinger’s 2, where Brady Hilgart plunged the ball in for the first score of the game.

After both teams turned the ball over on downs, Grafton’s Gavin Lempke intercepted a pass and ran it back 55 yards. After a holding penalty by Grafton, Hilgart raced 20 yards for a touchdown.

Grafton’s defense again forced Slinger to turn the ball over on downs, and the Gladiators immediately took advantage when Hilgart hit wide receiver Matthew Clemens with a 40-yard touchdown pass.

Lempke made another interception on the next series, and this time he took it 47 yards to the end zone.

Slinger got on the board after an interception by Jesse Retzlaff. Running back Caleb Berkel took an off-tackle play, bounced it to the outside and outran Grafton’s secondary for a 25-yard score.

Grafton answered with a drive of its own, capped by Hilgart finding tight end Noah Anderson for a 30-yard touchdown.

The Gladiators, 2-1, next host Kewaskum.