Missing QB no problem for Lancers

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C.T. Kruger

Brookfield Central's Steven Ambrookian checks the referee's call on what he thought was a fair intereception against Milwaukee Hamilton at home in the first round of WIAA Division 1 playoff on Oct. 22.

C.T. Kruger

Brookfield Central's Steven Ambrookian checks the referee's call on what he thought was a fair intereception against Milwaukee Hamilton at home in the first round of WIAA Division 1 playoff on Oct. 22.

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Playing without their starting quarterback didn’t bother Brookfield Central as the Lancers rolled over Milwaukee Hamilton, 62-24, on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Brookfield.

Senior Jason Meichtry sat on the sidelines with a sprained ankle - he could have played if needed - so sophomore JV quarterback Riley Richarz stepped in and never missed a beat for the Lancers, who scored nine rushing touchdowns.

Richarz worked with the first-team offense all week, and he didn’t seem phased by the opportunity.

“I thought, 'I gotta help our team,'” he said. “Gotta help them win. It was exciting; a playoff game, first time I started at quarterback, I loved it. My linemen blocked everybody. They were perfect.”

Central coach Jamie Meulemans was happy with the sophomore’s performance.

“He really did manage the game well,” he said. “He wasn’t rattled at all. He showed some good savvy today. I was very proud of him."

Richarz rushed 12 times for a team-leading 83 yards and rushed for two touchdowns (5, 21 yards). He also was 3-for-5 passing for 129 yards.

Running back Marcus Crum ran for two touchdowns (4, 80) and rushed for 82 yards on three carries before leaving the game because of illness. RB Charlie O’ Dwyer ran for a 9-yard score before leaving when he tweaked his knee when tackled after a 62-yard reception.

Craig Jordan scored two touchdowns (1, 10), Robert Rossmiller scored on a 21-yard run and then left with a minor injury, and Jason Toney scored on a 1-yard run.

Milwaukee Hamilton QB Larry Williams threw scoring passes to Lashawn Goode (25, 56) and Isaiah Williams (47), finishing with 11-for-29 for 243 yards.

Larry Williams also rushed for 57 yards in 17 carries, and Goode caught four passes for 123 yards.

Central led 35-0 after the first quarter and 56-16 at halftime despite putting in third stringers in the first half.

Each team had a touchdown in the final quarter after a scoreless third period.

BC sophomore Steven Knopp, filling in for Meichtry at kicker, was a perfect 8-for-8 before another kicker missed the last PAT.

“You want to come out, play crisp, come out with the same intensity no matter who you are playing,” Meulemans said. “You always respect your opponent, play hard, and play physical.”