August 20, 2021 – Mequon, WI – It was a high-quality matchup between two powerhouse football programs as the Germantown Warhawks faced host Homestead Highlanders.
The first two minutes of the game alone saw Homestead senior running back Joseph Rossman take the ball 50 yards for a touchdown, only for Germantown to strike back on the following kickoff, as senior Aaron Grant went 70 yards for a touchdown to make the game 8-7 (Homestead converted a 2-pt conversion attempt).
Homestead answered back on its next drive with a 5-yard rushing touchdown by senior Joseph Ollman; his first of three rushing touchdowns on the night.
The Highlanders were able to maintain a vice grip on the ball in terms of possession throughout the first half due to their successful running attack and failure of the Warhawks’ passing game.
Homestead led 25-7 at halftime.
Despite being down, Germantown managed to get a touchdown as junior quarterback Henry Kelley threw a 7-yard strike to make it 25-14. Germantown even got an interception on the next Homestead drive but was unable to capitalize as the first of many botched snaps cost them dearly, this one resulting in a fumble while knocking on the Highlanders’ red zone.
One the Warhawks’ next offensive possession, another costly mishandled snap cost them 20 yards and ultimately forced them to punt, which was their last gasp offensively.
Homestead would chip away at the clock, getting it to just over two minutes in the fourth quarter when Ollman scored what would be the final touchdown.
Homestead secured the victory, 32 – 14.
Germantown head coach Jake Davis was disappointed by his team’s mistakes but remained optimistic. “It’s week one stuff and that’s why you play opponents like Homestead; I wanted a non-conference opponent that would challenge us.”
Davis said the team would turn its focus to several things in upcoming practices. “Getting better at getting players in and out (adjustments), snaps, running the right routes and making the right reads defensively,” he said.
Despite the struggles Davis expressed complete confidence in his team to rally back in its next game against Hartford.
Homestead’s Drake Zortman won his first game as head coach of the Highlanders having replaced the team’s previous head coach, the legendary Dave Keel who resigned in 2020 after 30 years coaching.
Germantown (0-1) will take on Hartford (1-0) at home Friday, August 27, 2021, at 7 p.m. in a non-conference game. Homestead (1-0) will travel to take Arrowhead (1-0) next Friday at 7 p.m. in its second non-conference game.
