Wisconsin High School Sports | Wisconsin Sports Network | WisSports.net

Special contribution to WSN by UW-Stevens Point communications student Chris Damerell

Based on Friday night's performance, the Amherst football team appears ready for the challenge of defending the state championship it won last season.

Sophomore quarterback Garrett Groshek rushed for five touchdowns to lead the third-seeded and host Falcons (9-1) to a 42-10 victory over sixth-seeded Colby in a WIAA Division 5 playoff opener.

While Groshek provided more than enough offense, the Amherst defense did its part, too, allowing just 100 yards of total offense to the Hornets (8-2). In total, it was the kind of physical statement Falcons coach Mark Lusic expects from his team. 

"We pride ourselves on being physical," Lusic said. "Do we have athletes? Yeah. But we want to be physical. That is what wins."

Amherst wasted little time establishing itself on both sides of the ball. 

Groshek ripped off a 51-yard touchdown run on Amherst's second play from scrimmage, and the defense forced Colby's offense into three-and-outs on its first three possessions.

The Falcons, meanwhile, scored touchdowns on four of their first five drives -- Groshek added scoring runs of 4 yards and 28 yards following his 51-yarder, and junior Davis Cowden added a 4-yard TD run late in the second quarter to stake Amherst to a 28-0 lead. Colby would make it 28-3 at halftime following a field goal with one second to play in the second quarter.

But the Falcons -- behind the running of Groshek -- put the game out of reach in the third quarter. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Groshek added touchdown runs of 68 and 29 yards in a span of less than two minutes to push Amherst's lead to 42-3. Colby's Cody Parker scored a fourth-quarter touchdown to account for the final margin. 

Groshek finished with 198 yards rushing and 44 yards passing, in addition to the touchdowns. 

"To me, it is just football. I do not keep track of the stats and it is the (offensive) line that plays big," Groshek said. "The seniors on the line are the ones who allow me to score." 

Defensively, senior lineman Colton Boelte finished the game with four tackles and two fumble recoveries and senior defensive back Wyatt Brooks had a game-high seven tackles for the Falcons.

Amherst moves on to face seventh-seeded Westby in a Level 2 game next week at Westby. Westby (8-2) upset second-seeded and previously unbeaten Mondovi 16-8 on Friday night.