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  • Wright Braudt Left: St.Peter Sophmore Linebacker Dylan Connor (24) trys to bring down LeSueur-Henderson Senior Running Back Josh Willaert (35). Wright Braudt

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September 4, 2010

Willaert, LSH throttle St. Peter 52-7

Giants’ running back rushes for three scores, blocks two punts

By Shane Frederick Free Press Staff Writer

ST PETER — When he was on offense, Le Sueur-Henderson senior Josh Willaert didn’t spend a lot of time in his own backfield Friday night. When he was on defense and special teams, he couldn’t be kept out of the St. Peter backfield.

Willaert simply couldn’t be stopped during the Giants’ 52-7 season-opening victory over St. Peter.

He rushed 15 times for 86 yards and three touchdowns, he blocked two punts and he played the nose for a defense that forced nine negative plays and held the Saints to just 42 yards and a lone first down in the first half.

“You know what? At this point, it doesn’t matter,” Willaert said when asked which highlight plays were the most memorable. “Touchdowns are more exciting, but blocking punts is just as much fun.”

Willaert gained 75 yards and all of his scores in the first half, as the Giants (1-0) opened up a 33-0 lead. His backfield partner, junior Brendan Kroehler, finished with 11 carries for 72 yards and two first-half touchdowns.

“Our offensive line did a nice job,” Giants coach Terry Turek said, “and our backs run hard. They don’t do a lot of fancy stuff.”

The Giants scored touchdowns on five of the first six drives. They opened the game with a 13-play, 77-yard scoring drive that was capped with a 2-yard plunge by Willaert. The second drive, which ended with another 2-yard run by Willaert, was set up with Willaert’s first blocked punt.

“We don’t work on that in practice,” Turek said. “You can’t go live on a punt block. You just have to tell the kids to dive to the ball. (Willaert’s blocks) were huge. It was a really big game-changer.”

In the second quarter, Willaert had a 5-yard TD run, while Kroehler had scoring plays of 1 and 16 yards.

“The young boys have stepped up,” Willaert said. “I think it’s going to be a good year. Last year was up and down, and we were around .500. This year, we have people in position to win. We have a good group of boys this year.”

The Giants added to their total in the second half, as quarterback Jeff Leary — who was splitting series with Jack Swanberg — tossed a 6-yard touchdown pass to Abran Adamzak in the third quarter. On the first play of the fourth quarter, 5-foot-10, 223-pound defensive lineman Austin Holland returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown. Joe Hank’s fourth successful PAT made it 52-0.

The Saints (0-1) finally got on the board on their next offensive play. Set up by a long kickoff return by Jordan Wilmes, quarterback Chad Poppen got his team on the board with a 55-yard run.

Le Sueur-Henderson will play again Friday when it hosts Belle Plaine, while St. Peter will host Mankato Loyola on Friday.

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