Dan Woessner
Sauk Valley Media
Solon, IA, United States
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Past articles by Dan:
Sterling leads comfortably, then holds off Moline charge
“We just realized that we had to take care of the ball better,” Sterling senior forward Trevor Vos said. “They started pressing and we were turning the ball over too much. Once we focused on taking care of the ball, we were able to put away the game.” The fourth quarter started with Sterling (14-10, 3-6 WB6) at a 19-point advantage at 52-33. Baskets by Grant Welch, Brock Harding, and Trey Lee… → Read More
Morrison’s last-ditch drive falls just short against Annawan-Wethersfield
A catch would have pulled the Mustangs within a point and forced a decision on whether or not to go for the two-point conversion. Instead, the Titans advanced to next week’s semifinal round with a 20-13 win. Annawan-Wethersfield will host Lena-Winslow next Saturday. “I wish we had another chance at the end there,” Ottens said. “We really gave everything that we had one more time. I just wish I… → Read More
Morrison gets play-action going in win over Hiawatha
The pair connected on a 65-yard touchdown on a play-action pass that set the tone in a 44-12 win. “We talked about throwing that pass all week, and it really came to fruition,” Oetting said. “Nate maybe underthrew Keegan a bit, but that’s not hard to do. Keegan has such speed, that it’s not hard for him to get out ahead of a throw. He made an adjustment on the ball and made a good run. That… → Read More
Sterling scores on all seven first half possessions in rout
“Big plays have been a thing all year. We had the ball seven times and we scored seven times,” Sterling quarterback Cooper Willman said. “That’s hard to stop. Our offensive line is great, and that’s what we can depend on.” Sterling advances to the second round, where it will host St. Rita at 1 p.m. next Saturday. St. Rita defeated Glenbard South 49-14 on Friday. “We know we’ve got to prepare… → Read More
Turnovers help Eastland-Pearl City top Amboy-LaMoille
Instead, the Wildcatz created a turnover and moments later hit on a big offense play, turning a tight game into a 27-6 NUIC South win. “Before that play, we had to push as hard we could,” EPC senior Braeden Heeren said. “We just had to get that stop. Dertz ripped that ball out. That was a huge play making that happen.” Dertz stripped the ball from Amboy fullback Sean Fitzpatrick, and teammate… → Read More
Dixon's defense sets tone in key game against Rockford Lutheran
“The defense is just getting better and better, and that’s making the offense want to get better,” Dixon linebacker Aidan Schmall said. “That’s creating the energy and the morale. It’s getting the morale way up there. “We wanted to stop the run in the middle,” Schmall said. “We wanted them to run outside, that’s what we were hoping for. The middle is what we were really working on.” The tone was… → Read More
Dukes able to fend off Hawks’ second-half rally
DIXON – Coach Dave Smith pointed his finger at a few specifc things after Friday’s game in which his Dixon Dukes beat Oregon 46-14 at A.C. Bowers Field. It was the first win of the season for the Dukes. → Read More
Risky fake punt doesn't pay off for Milledgeville in loss to east Dubuque
The second was that they had a fake punt play in their pocket that always worked during scrimmages in practice. The Missiles coach took a chance. This time, it didn’t work out. The fake-punt pass by punter Daniel Lohnes was broken up by the Warrior defense, and a few plays later East Dubuque’s Will Kieffer broke a long run for a touchdown that proved the difference in a 14-6 loss for the… → Read More
Koerner backs up statement by shutting out Steamers
The statement translated from words to action as Koerner kept the Steamers off-balance in a 3-0 victory. Newman advances to the 2A Orion Sectional and will play either Erie-Prophetstown or Princeton at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. “She made a statement before the game that told me she was ready for this game,” Waldschmidt said. “I can’t repeat it because it can’t be printed in the newspaper.” Newman… → Read More
Glenbard South gets the ball to Bair to stop Sterling’s surge
That’s what the Raiders did. Maggie Bair caught a pass at the top of the key and drained a 3-pointer that, like a dart, deflated the Golden Warriors. Glenbard South pulled away from there for a 49-29 win to advance to Thursday’s sectional final against the winner of today’s game between Rock Falls and Sandwich. “They started to rolling in the third quarter,” Eufrasio said. “I called timeout just… → Read More
Williams shines to the end
STERLING – Many fans were probably filing out of the stands at Roscoe Eades Stadium when Marquez Williams made his last tackle as a Sterling Golden Warrior. → Read More
First-half stop propels Wildcatz past Chargers
ORION – Jared McNutt believes most high school football games come down to a few keys plays. The first-year Eastland-Pearl City coach will be able to cite Saturday’s 30-3 Class 2A quarterfinal win over previously undefeated Orion as Exhibit No. 1. “Stopping them right before half is probably the biggest moment of the game,” McNutt said. “If they score there and get the ball back right after… → Read More
Football: First-half stop propels Wildcatz past Chargers
ORION – Jared McNutt believes most high school football games come down to a few keys plays. The first-year Eastland-Pearl City coach will be able to cite Saturday’s 30-3 Class 2A quarterfinal win over previously undefeated Orion as Exhibit No. 1. “Stopping them right before half is probably the biggest moment of the game,” McNutt said. “If they score there and get the ball back right after… → Read More
Newman churns up turf, Chargers in second-round rout
CARTHAGE – Chase Graham’s cleats and face mask churned up turf during Saturday’s Class 2A second-round game between the Newman Comets and the Illini West Chargers. When the Newman senior took the ball with time running low in the first quarter, he carried defenders several yards with grass and mud flying up behind. Finally the Chargers brought him down at the 2-yard line, and when Graham rose… → Read More
Coin flip call sets the tone
CARTHAGE – When I started this gig as a sports reporter about 15 years ago, I quickly developed a list of things I needed to improve upon. → Read More
Sterling erases sour taste of loss with first-round rout
STERLING – Need a remedy for the sour taste of a loss to the end the regular season? The best mouth rinse for the Sterling Golden Warriors was playing the Chicago Phoenix Firebirds in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs. At least that was the case Friday for the Golden Warriors. In a blitz of first-quarter points, Sterling eradicated the last remnants of vile bile en route to a 49-0 win.… → Read More
Missiles clinch playoff spot in return to Daub Field
MILLEDGEVILLE – Homecoming was never more aptly celebrated than on Friday at Floyd Daub Field. After four consecutive road games, the Milledgeville Missiles returned home for the first time since the opening week and clinched a playoff berth with a 46-6 win over Warren in an NUIC Upstate game. “After a month away, we were really happy to come home,” Milledgeville’s Mason McKenna said. “We have… → Read More
Football: Rockets score 30 in fourth in loss to Indians
WINNEBAGO – Most of Friday’s Big Northern clash between Rock Falls and Winnebago played out like one of those punishing defensive struggles of football games of yore. Then the last 18 minutes or so resembled an arcade game turned on hyperdrive. When scoreboard lights stopped spinning, the Winnebago Indians walked away with a 51-37 win. “They didn’t give up, and we can hang our hats on that,”… → Read More
Dukes 2 short
Last-second Hail Mary just short for Dixon in loss → Read More
Morrison no match for Hall’s balanced attack
MORRISON – Hall coach Randy Tiemen started Friday’s game by giving his offense the choice between a run or a pass on the first play depending on the defense. It turned into a big gainer on a pass play. The rest of the night, that choice between passing and running remained, and the Red Devils used both effectively in a 41-0 win over Morrison at E.M. Bud Cole Field. “We gave them a choice that… → Read More