In Week 2 action, the Mineral Point Pointers picked up their first win of 2024, defeating Platteville 16-0.
    On offense early, Mineral Point marched down the field behind Reid Acherman, who broke away for a 38-yard triple-option keeper early in the drive. Beyond that play, however, the Pointers would be unable to move the chains, leading to a punt.
    Both offenses struggled to move the ball through the first and second quarters. The Hillmen would end the first quarter with a sustained 50-yard drive that resulted in another turnover on downs.
"With this team, we want to run the ball and play a methodical game," Head Coach Justin Leonard said. "As long as we are in a close game, we feel we will be just fine."
Following a Mineral Point turnover on downs late in the first half, Platteville put together one of their more productive drives of the night, led by an explosive run from Tyler Sasse and a 45-yard strike from TJ Pink to Jauron Blevins. However, with the ball well inside the Mineral Point 1-yard line, the Pointer defense turned the Hillmen away on four straight plays to keep the score tied 0-0 going into the half.
Neither offense would find much success to open up the third quarter. The first four drives of the third quarter would all result in punts. Late in the third, Platteville put together a couple of first downs but would once again turn the ball over on downs.
The fourth quarter, however, belonged to the Mineral Point Pointers. Early in the quarter, Freshman Quarterback Liam Carey found Brett Bossert wide-open downfield for a 29-yard completion. Two short runs from Reid Acherman would get Mineral Point into the redzone.
A block in the back penalty and incomplete pass intended for Roen Carey would result in a 4th and 4 situation for the Pointers, but on the 4th down attempt, Reid Acherman would surge forward for the 20-yard rushing touchdown. Back under center, Acherman would take the ball into the endzone on the two-point conversion to make the lead 8-0 in favor of the Pointers with just under 10 minutes to play.
"All of our skill position players are new," Leonard mentioned. "Some confidence is starting to grow amongst this group. It's starting to click. We have to be able to run play-action passes, so that's what we'll continue to work on."
Following the Mineral Point touchdown, the Platteville offense would take the field with energy. A personal foul against Mineral Point on the kickoff would move the ball up to midfield, and a 30-yard run from Tyler Sasse would move the Hillmen offense into the redzone. However, all of the Hillmen momentum came to a screeching halt on a 3rd & 10 interception by Roen Carey.
With success on the ground and in the air, the Pointer offense continued to move the ball with ease. A 14-yard laser across the middle to Brett Bossert set the Pointers up inside the 25-yard line, and a 13-yard rush from Roen Carey got the Pointers inside the 5. The Pointers would cap off the drive with a shovel pass from Reid Acherman to Roen Carey for the second Mineral Point touchdown of the night, and Liam Carey would connect with Brett Bossert on a two-point conversion jump pass to extend the lead to 16-0. The Pointers would stop the Hillmen offense one last time to come away with the 16-0 win and move to 1-1 on the season.
"Our leaders showed maturity," Leonard added. "Getting the win against Platteville built confidence; now, we have to run with it."
Tomorrow night, in the latest installment of the third oldest rivalry in Wisconsin High School Football History, the Pointers will host the Darlington Redbirds, with kickoff set for 7:00 PM at Ron Murphy Field.