The Mauston Golden Eagles varsity football team opened up their South Central Conference schedule on the road at Wautoma Friday night. The Hornets are looking to repeat as conference champions with their star quarterback, Johnny Eagan, after sharing the title last year with Nekoosa. After averaging 56 points in their three victories so far this season, Mauston held them to a 43-25 final score.

Wautoma got out to a quick start as they scored on the opening possession going 67-yards on four plays. The drive was highlighted by senior Tad Davids’ 52-yard run for a touchdown. Eagan would stretch across the goal-line to tack on the 2-point conversion. Mauston would answer later in the first quarter with a 2-yard touchdown run by senior JD Lierman. The scoring drive for the Golden Eagles was set-up by junior Ross Thompson’s interception of Eagan at the 50-yard line. The point after was blocked by the Hornets, and Wautoma would hang onto an 8-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Hornets put two scores on the board in the second quarter to distance themselves from the Golden Eagles. Wautoma would score on an 8-yard pass play from Eagan to sophomore Bryce Bennot after a Mauston fumble on their own 10-yard line. Eagan would also break free for a 65-yard touchdown run to give the Hornets a 20-6 lead at halftime after failing twice on the 2-point conversion attempts.

Both teams would score three times in the second half with Wautoma scoring quickly in the third quarter to extend their lead on a 37-yard pass from Eagan to senior Mitch Girdauskas. Mauston would answer with a 21-yard touchdown pass from senior Steve Ferguson to Lierman for his second touchdown of the night. Ferguson was named the starting quarterback after battling Thompson in the non-conference part of the schedule for the starting role.

Davids picked-up his second touchdown of the night for the Hornets on a 1-yard run, and then added on the 2-point conversion. Eagan would then wrap-up Wautoma’s scoring on a 62-yard pass reception from Bennot, and then added the 2-point conversion himself. Eagan finished the night throwing for two touchdowns, running for one, and catching another.

Mauston would score twice late in the fourth quarter as Lierman picked-up his third touchdown of the night on a 37-yard run, and junior Cameron Dahlgren caught a 30-yard pass from Ferguson with 32-seconds left to go in the game. The Golden Eagles’ final touchdown was set-up by a fumble recovered by senior Erik Delmore.

The Golden Eagles set a season high in scoring with their four touchdowns, and even though Lierman scored three time, it was senior Kyle Jirousek who carried the work-load rushing for around 100-yards. Mauston falls to 0-5 on the season and 0-1 in conference play. Wautoma improves to 4-1 and 1-0 in the South Central Conference. The Hornets remain tied with Nekoosa at the top of the conference standings after Nekoosa shut-out Adams-Friendship 56-0. Wautoma will be at Adams-Friendship next week while the Golden Eagles will be on the road again next week to take on Pioneer Westfield. Westfield is coming off their win against Wisconsin Dells, 32-28, and will enter the game with a 2-3 overall record while the Golden Eagles continue to search for their first win of the season.