Going the distance: Patterson caps a thriller

Posted: Sept. 7, 2010

Sussex Hamilton junior Nick Patterson said it was his fault Mukwonago's football team was able to take a lead with 22 seconds showing on the fourth-quarter clock Friday in a classic nonconference battle.

There's no better way to atone than returning the ensuing kickoff for a game-winning touchdown.

Patterson went 78 yards on a squib kick, sucking the air out of a rejuvenated Mukwonago sideline in a heart-stopping 31-27 outcome at MHS. After Mukwonago quarterback Derek Hasanoglu found a wide-open Nate Tanguay for a five-yard touchdown on what appeared to be the final drive of the game, Patterson quickly replenished the advantage.

"That was actually my blown coverage, so I kind of had to get it back," Patterson said. "Basically I just saw a little seam left. I was going to get down, but then I saw a cut to the right, and I just went with it."

Mike Kelty, who made good on both of his carries for long touchdowns during the game, pulled in an interception on Mukwonago's long last attempt in the final 10 seconds. The stunning turn of events gave the Chargers a 2-0 record heading into this week's conference opener against Brookfield East.

"We were just working for field position," Chargers coach John Damato said. "We felt like we had a good game plan. We thought maybe we could get into good field position because our kicker, Tim Biron, has a strong leg. We wanted to get within 40 or 35 yards."

The Chargers got much closer than that, thanks to Patterson.

"Everybody has a responsibility, and if he thinks that was his responsibility (on the late Mukwonago touchdown) and took it on his shoulders, well I'm glad he did, because he ran with a vengeance out there and pulled away from the pack," Damato said.

Mukwonago drew first blood, rolling to a 14-0 lead by the end of the first quarter. The Chargers scored the next 17 points in a span of 7:18, capping the half with a 6-yard run from Dan Jaskolski that gave the Chargers a 17-14 lead in the locker room.

MHS took the lead twice in the second half, including once in the final minute of play. Kelty rattled off a 79-yard scamper to give the Chargers a 24-20 lead in the fourth quarter.

"They were doing a good job pinching on the front, so we thought we could do a little bit of counter action on the outside, and fortunately it was the right time to call it," Damato said of the reverse play that led to both of Kelty's scores. "He's got some great speed. He's a track guy."

Aaron Clinton-Earl rushed for a team-high 117 yards, and Hasanoglu ran for 143 on the other side.

"I'd like to see how other teams defend them; I'll be honest," Damato said. "That quarterback is special."

Mukwonago also battled Hamilton in a barn-burner last year, when the Chargers won in triple overtime. The Indians went only 2-7 last year but topped a talented Badger team resoundingly in Week 1.

"I think we proved to everyone now that we are a good football team," Mukwonago coach Bill Schulte said. "It just went up and down. That was heartbreaking. That was the last guy we wanted on the field to have the ball. That right away, you get that lump in your throat, and all of a sudden, there he goes."

Said Patterson, "It was awesome. I've got nothing else to say."

On a down note, the team lost lineman Tanner Brown for the rest of the season with a knee injury.

"He's our stud," Damato said. "We're good (on the line), but we're thin."

Box score

Sussex Hamilton 31, Mukwonago 27

Statistics	HHS	MHS
First downs	14	18
Yards rushing	295	322
Yards passing	31	52
Total yards	326	374
Passes	3-5-0	6-16-1
Fumbles	3-2	2-1
Penalties	7-59	3-26
Punts	1-55	2-34

Scoring

MHS - Derek Hasanoglu, 1, run (Darin Howell, kick)

MHS - Hasanoglu, 1, run (Howell, kick)

HHS - Tim Biron, 22, field goal

HHS - Mike Kelty, 28, run (Biron, kick)

HHS - Dan Jaskolski, 6, run (Biron, kick)

MHS - Derek Hasanoglu, 6, run (kick failed)

HHS - Kelty, 79, run (Biron, kick)

MHS - Nate Tanguay, 5, pass from Hasanoglu (Howell, kick)

HHS - Nick Patterson, 78, kickoff return (Biron, kick)