By COREY SAATHOFF

Editor

The Waterloo High School football squad traveled north and stunned Mt. Zion in a first round IHSA Class 4A playoff game Friday night, using defense and ball control for a 14-13 upset victory.

Bulldogs quarterback Conrad Lindhorst only threw for 20 yards and netted just one total yard of rushing, but his pair of one-yard touchdown runs were enough to win on this night. 

The only scoring of the first quarter came on an eight-yard TD run by Mt. Zion to take a 7-0 lead. Waterloo tied it at 7-7 early in the second quarter following a 14-play, 68-yard drive. Lindhorst cashed it in from one yard out. 

Mt. Zion answered with a drive of its own, but Waterloo’s defense limited the host squad to a 36-yard field goal. The Braves then recovered a Bulldogs fumble on a botched snap, but were again held by Waterloo’s defense to just a 28-yard field goal. Mt. Zion, last year’s Class 4A state runner-up, led 13-7 with five minutes remaining in the first half. 

That would be the score at halftime.

Neither team was able to accomplish much in the third quarter until Waterloo’s Cannon Richard picked off a Mt. Zion pass near the end of the frame. The Bulldogs drove into Braves territory and were in business entering the fourth quarter. 

After being stuffed by Mt. Zion’s defense on three prior attempts from just outside the goal line, Lindhorst broke the plane on fourth down from one yard out to finally give Waterloo a 14-13 lead with just seven minutes left in regulation.

The Bulldogs defense took over from there. 

Mt. Zion was forced to punt with just more than five minutes remaining, giving the ball back to Waterloo for its running game to chew more clock. 

The Braves did get the ball back for another offensive drive, but Waterloo’s Kaleb Osterhage stepped in front of a pass attempt and recorded the interception with just 2:26 remaining. 

Waterloo closed it out to improve to 7-3 on the season and survive for another week. 

Waterloo defensive coordinator Chase Guercio praised the team’s recent playoff experience as a key factor in Friday’s win.

“Our kids are pretty battle tested,” he said. “Our seniors have experienced three playoff victories since their freshman year, and that past playoff experience and the schedule we play really prepared us for this game.”

Guercio also pointed to the players being motivated by the role of being labeled as an underdog.

“Most people who talked about our game made it seem like the result was a foregone conclusion, but I can tell you those kids practiced all week fully expecting to win,” he said.

Waterloo’s defense made some adjustments following Mt. Zion’s opening drive TD, for which Guercio credited assistants Ryan Wiggers, Rodney Newbury, Brett Howard and Eric Major. 

“We made adjustments and the kids just really impressed me,” Guercio said. “We went up against a returning all-state quarterback and two FBS-level receivers. It was the best passing offense we have gone against in recent memory. Our kids just frustrated them all night and refused to be denied. They played inspired football.”

Guercio praised the defensive efforts of seniors Drake Fry, Tyler Theobald and Sayles – who hadn’t played many snaps on that side of the ball entering Friday.

“He is one of the best football players in the state,” Guercio said of Sayles. 

The interceptions by Richard and Osterhage, both juniors, were crucial to Waterloo’s victory, Guercio added.

“They have both been making plays all year and always seem to be in the right spot,” Guercio said. “Cannon’s interception in particular was one of the most athletic plays you’ll see in a high school football game.”

The defensive coach also pointed out a key fourth quarter sack by junior Tanner Chamberlain as a play that “completely changed the game.”  

The heart and soul of Waterloo’s defense, though, is Owen Niebruegge.

“I think he is an all-state player,” Guercio said. “Just so good on both offense and defense. He probably plays 160 snaps a game, and he never seems to be winded. He made his own rules during the game on Friday independent of any defensive call. He covers, rushes the passer, and tackles so well. We don’t win that game without his effort on both sides of the ball.”

Waterloo’s offense was led once again by senior running back Sayles, who carried the ball 29 times for 122 yards. With his stellar performance Friday night, Sayles became the program’s all-time career leader in rushing yards, scrimmage yards and touchdowns.

For the season, Sayles has rushed for 1,170 yards and 16 TDs. He’s averaging 6.3 yards per carry.

In addition to his defensive prowess, Niebruegge had 17 carries for 86 yards Friday night. He’s rushed for 715 yards and five scores this season. Niebruegge is also the top receiver for the Bulldogs with 316 yards and three TDs.

The Bulldogs, with longtime head coach Dan Rose at the helm, will host Rochester at 7 p.m. this Friday. A large crowd of fans wearing orange and black is expected.

The Rockets (9-1) won easily over Taylorville this past Friday, 56-7, to advance. Rochester edged Mt. Zion back on Sept. 5, 28-24.