Fondy 31, Kimberly 28. The Streak is Over

Jared Scheberl drilled a 26 yard field goal as time expired to give the Fond du Lac Cardinals a 31-28 win over Kimberly at Papermaker Stadium Friday night to halt Kimberly’s 70-game win streak.

Fond du Lac had had several chances at ending that 70-game streak several times in the last three seasons, losing 32-29 in round three of the playoffs in 2016, 35-28 in week one last year, and 28-21 in round three of the playoffs last year. That streak has included five consecutive state championships – one in division two and the last four in division one.

In Friday’s contest, Fond du Lac took an early 14-0 lead on a 20-yard touchdown run from Zavier Ellis and an 18 yard touchdown pass from Carson Raddatz to Adam Hopper. Kimberly would then get on the scoreboard with a short touchdown run from Will Fischer – the first of three on the day for Fischer. Another touchdown run from Zavier Ellis gave Fondy a 21-7 lead with 3:30 left in the first half. Kimberly would battle back, pulling within 21-14 on a 35 yard pass from Cody Staerkel to Jack Kieffer with 45 seconds left in the half.

The second half would start with the Cardinals and Papermakers trading scores about midway through the third quarter. Fischer ran one in from nine yards out to tie the game at 21, then Carson Raddatz scored on a 74 yard run to make it 28-21 Fondy. Fischer’s third score of the game made it 28-28 with 2:59 left, then Fondy drove into position with one second left to give Scheberl the chance to win. A chance he delivered on.

“Jared’s been a hard worker. We made him a captain because he spent so much time on his own becoming better at his craft. He got rewarded” head coach Steve Jorgensen said of Scheberl.

Fond du Lac hosts D.C. Everest Friday night – kickoff is 7pm from Fruth Field.