Onalaska wins defensive battle to claim MVC crown
The Onalaska High School football team is the outright Mississippi Valley Conference champions.
In a game that featured two offenses that averaged 29 points in Onalaska and Holmen, it was a strong defense that made the difference in a hard fought 17-10 Hilltopper victory.
It was an offensive struggle for both teams in the first half, with Holmen scoring first, on a Brekan Turner 35-yard field goal with 3:57 remaining in the first half.
Onalaska, however, answered, matching with a Ben Faas field goal with 30 seconds to go in the half.
In the second half, Onalaska’s offense came alive, after stopping a long Holmen drive out of the locker room.
With a mix of running and passing, quarterback Austin Larson found Landon Peterson for a 12-yard touchdown to put the Hilltoppers up 10-3.
Onalaska took advantage of a Holmen fumble minutes later, and Nathan Lubinsky took it in from 12 yards out.
Holmen seemed to get back into the contest with just over 6 minutes remaining with a 6-yard touchdown run by Jaedon Abraham, but Onalaska’s defense would shut the door the rest of the way for the victory.
Holmen outgained Onalaska 232-195.
Lubinsky led the way with 73 yards on 19 carries, while Larson added 71 yards on 14 carries.
Both teams are in position to receive home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs next week.
Coaches seeding meetings are held Saturday morning.
Other MVC Scores:
Logan 30, Tomah 7
Central 26, West Salem 25
Marshfield 24, Sparta 10
