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Spartans Advance to AFC Championship

WAUWATOSA – In football, a power running game and stingy defense is usually a formula for post-season success, and if that holds true, the Wauwatosa Spartans could be hoisting some more hardware in the near future. The Spartans (6-4) used its power running game and a tenacious defense to bring down the Rock County Gladiators (4-6) 38-12 in the first round of the Ironman Football League playoffs on Saturday night at Hart Park.

On the ground, the Spartan stat line was impressive: 31 carries for 314 yards and four touchdowns – led by running back Cedric McFadden’s 14 carries for 195 yards and 2 touchdowns. But when McFadden wasn’t running, Bobby Windom, Timmy Beuth and L.J. Hyland kept the chains moving behind an offense line that imposed their will and created open lanes all night.

On defense, the Spartans bottled up the Gladiator run game, while limiting the Gladiators’ usually potent passing attack led by all-star quarterback Dan Roberts and wide receiver Jermar Ayers. The defense registered four sacks (defensive end Joe Flick-two, linebacker Royal Ramseur, linebacker Blake Rathkamp), three interceptions (defensive back Bobby LaPlante, defensive back Tony Salvage, defensive back Scott Lang) and held the Gladiators to just one touchdown; the other coming on a punt return.

The Spartans received the opening kickoff and methodically marched 75 yards down the field for a touchdown, coming on a Windom 11-yard run. But the Gladiators had a quick answer when Roberts found wide receiver T.J. Listenbee for a 20-yard strike to pull to within 7-6 after a botched extra point. But that was as close as the game would be for the rest of the night.

In the second quarter, Henner and Roberts traded interceptions before McFadden broke free for an 81-yard touchdown sprint and a 14-6 Spartan lead. The teams then traded turnovers again, with Roberts being picked off by defensive back Tony Salvage and Windom fumbling for the Spartans. However, the Spartans stayed with their ground game and were rewarded before half when Beuth hurdled defenders for an 11-yard touchdown run and a 21-6 halftime lead.

Early in the third quarter, the pass game ext

ended the lead, when Henner found wide receiver Ric Levy in the corner of the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown, making it 28-6. In the fourth, the Gladiators pulled a little closer when punt returner Jerrod Copper weaved through the Spartan punt coverage for a nice 80-yard punt return touchdown to draw within 16, after another failed extra point. But the Spartans added a 27-yard field goal by Paul Schroeder on the next possession, and then saw McFadden take in another score from 15 yards out to seal the game at 38-12.

The win improves the Spartans to 7-4, and ends the Gladiators’ season at 4-7. The Spartans now must travel for the AFC Championship game, which will be hosted by the top-seeded Burlington Blue Devils (10-1) at Ameche Field in Kenosha on Sunday, August 22 at 5:00 p.m. In the NFC, the two-time defending champions Madison Mustangs host the Muskego Hitmen to determine the other side of the Iron Bowl match-up. Iron Bowl XIV will be played at Hart Park on August 28th at 7:00 p.m.