Sam Mentkowski helps Falcons hold on for win

Hales Corners - Many Whitnall fans showed up Friday night expecting to see the Falcons easily handle the fifth-place Cudahy Packers. Instead they saw the Sam Mentkowski show.

The senior wide receiver/defensive back/kick returner caught two touchdown passes, had a 90-yard kickoff return, ran in a two-point conversion and, when the Packers scored with seven seconds left in the game, he knocked away quarterback Ty Ramirez' two-point conversion pass that would have tied the game and sent it into overtime.

"It was Sam Mentkowski 22, Cudahy 20 in a nutshell," Whitnall coach Jeff Wallack said afterward.

The win for the Falcons (5-2) helped them remain in a first-place tie with Brown Deer (5-2), but they should have had an easier time against the 1-5 Packers.

Struggles continue for Whitnall

Wallack pointed out that his team struggled against Brown Deer the week before in a 34-13 loss and it seemed to carry over against the Packers.

"It started against Brown Deer," he said. "We had about 12 drops (against Cudahy) and I think we left about five scores on the field. We played a team that gives up 230 yards rushing and we were 19-for-64 yards rushing. The score really didn't indicate the role we had."

Six players handled the ball for Whitnall, but Nick Simler's 28 yards in seven carries was the best they could offer. The defense held the Packers to 64 yards passing and 149 yards rushing, with 84 coming from Ramirez on keeper plays.

But then there was Mentkowski, who grabbed seven passes for 138 yards, a 19.7 average, and two touchdowns.

Giving up quick lead

The Packers jumped out to an early lead when Angel Ramirez return the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown and a quick 7-0 lead.

With 6 minutes, 11 seconds left in the first quarter quarterback Zach Sutton connected with Mentkowski for a 27-yard touchdown pass. Mentkowski then ran for a two-point conversion and an 8-7 lead.

Then Ty Ramirez scored on a 9-yard run with 51 seconds left in the quarter and the Packers led 14-8 with 37 seconds in the half.

But then Mentkowski returned the kickoff 90 yards for the score and Nate Stemo's point after sent the Falcons into the locker room with a 15-14 lead at intermission.

After a scoreless third period, the Falcons got some insurance points when Sutton and Mentkowski hooked up for a 59-yard touchdown score and Stemo's extra point made it 22-14.

But the Packers didn't quit and battled back when Ty Ramirez ran in a 3-yard score to cut the lead to 22-20, setting up Mentkowski's final heroic act.

"Cudahy competed," Wallack said. "I feel we were the better team."

But Wallack was not happy with his team's performance.

"But we're happy we got the win and got a bid into the playoffs which we haven't had for a couple years," he said. "We're still tied with Brown Deer, both 5-2. We're at New Berlin West and Brown Deer at Greendale."

- Tom "Sky" Skibosh