103.9 KNZA Broadcast - Holton at Baldwin (4A-DII Playoffs 1st round) - click here to listen

Brooks Barta wasn't happy one year ago when Holton was called for 10 penalties and more than 75 yards in a 20-14 opening round playoff win at Baldwin.  However, the Wildcats were able to make plays and overcome their mistakes with a defense that stepped up when they had too.  In the rematch Thursday night, it was Baldwin that had eight crucial penalties for 70 yards and they could not avenge for the errors, also struggling to score against the Wildcats until the final play of the game as Holton prevailed 9-8 and advanced to the second round of the post season for a sixth straight year.  Holton recovered a Baldwin fumble on the opening kickoff and two plays later scored on an AJ Haussler eight-yard-run, then settled for a 25 yard field goal by Paul Kuffner as time expired in the fist half.  Although both teams had other lengthy drives and scoring opportunities, it wasn't until senior quarterback Luke Laskowski scrambled for a meaningless 47 yard Baldwin touchdown as time expired and tossed a two-point pass to make the final score 9-8.  

Baldwin had only ran for 98 yards total until that final scramble and Laskowski was 11-19 passing for 123 yards.  Hunter Ramirez had seven catches for 59 yards and added 15 yards on five carries before Baldwin ended their season 6-4.  The Bulldogs got only five offensive drives all night and the penalties were all costly, including one early in the fourth quarter that took a touchdown off the board. On the next play, Mason Strader intercepted a pass in the endzone to protect Holton's 9-0 lead.  The Wildcats then took seven minutes off the clock with another long drive before turning the ball over on downs.  Holton drove inside the  Baldwin 35-yard-line three times and came up empty and also threw an interception at the Bulldog five-yard-line on their second possession of the night.

Still, Holton ran for 249 yards and only had one penalty for five yards.  AJ Haussler led the way with 91 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown while Jackson Martin carried 14 times for 75 yards, Dylan Aeschliman added 51 yards on 12 totes and Mason Strader ran for 25 yards as well.  Colby Roush had a big sack and third and long to stop the opening drive for Baldwin and Roush (5' 4, 135) seeing significant minutes on the defensive line earned the Denison State Bank "Lineman of the Game" honors.  Haussler, who also had a big night defensively was the Citizens State Bank and Trust Company of Hiawatha  "Player to Bank On." 

Holton's 20th straight playoff campaign will continue with a home game on Friday, November 10th and could be another annual rematch if Frontenac (6-3) beats Girard (4-5) for the second time this season.