Cardinals Blow Game Open in Second Half vs Mustangs

By Chad Zutter - Sports Reporter

Menomonie, WI - The Chippewa Falls Cardinals put four touchdowns on the board in the second half en route to a 36-6 victory over the Menomonie Mustangs on senior night. The victory lifted the Cardinals into the Division 1 playoffs as a #8 seed and will travel to #1 Waunakee for a level 1 matchup.

The Mustangs were the first to put points on the board. A Renner Stoll interception at the 38 yard line gave the Mustangs a short field late in the second quarter. Menomonie would not squander the scoring opportunity and touched paydirt on a 14 touchdown run by Oliver Lugo, who just returned from injury.

The Cardinals answered on the ensuing drive with a 14 yard touchdown run by Jaylyn Smith, one of the most versatile football players in the Big Rivers Conference.

Unfortunately the injury bug continued to bite the Mustangs. Charlie Mikesell, who just began working at tailback due to injuries, left the game at the end of the first half with a leg injury and tackle Parker Schauer, who has missed time with injuries already this season, was helped off the field later in the game.

Menomonie missed an opportunity for a touchdown late first quarter on a fourth down play from the Cardinals 11 yard line. A half back pass intended for Liam Asher was overthrown by Charlie Mikesell after Chippewa's secondary was fooled.

To begin the second half, Menomonie fumbled on the second play from scrimmage and gave the Cardinals the football at the 21 yard line. Chippewa would take advantage scoring on a quarterback sneak from Evan Weiler.

The Cardinals would control the line of scrimmage most of the second half as Talen Shilts ran for three touchdowns. Two big play runs of 57 and 43 yards from the speedy Shilts came in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.

The Mustangs qualifed for the WIAA Division 3 playoffs as a #7 seed and will travel to #2 Onalaska for a level 1 matchup. See the entire Division 3 playoff bracket at WIAA website.

All but one team, Superior, from the Big Rivers Conference qualifed for the playoffs. Hudson and Chippewa Falls will participate in Division 1 while New Richmond, River Falls, and Rice Lake will play in Division 2 and Menomonie in Division 3.

River Falls and Rice Lake are the 2025 co-champions of the Big Rivers Conference. They both finished 6-1 in conference play and 8-1 overall.

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th
Menomonie	0	6	0	0
Chippewa Falls	0	6	16	14

1st Quarter

No Scoring

2nd Quarter

M - 14 yd run Lugo (pass failed), 3:57

CF - 14 yd run Smith (run failed), 0:43

3rd Quarter

CF - 1 yd run Weiler (Clary run), 8:58

CF - 9 yd run Shilts (Clary run), 1:01

4th Quarter

CF - 57 yd run Shilts (Clary run), 8:08

CF - 43 yd run Shilts (kick failed), 2:30

Individual Stats

RUSHING (att-yds) – Menomonie: Lugo (6-42), Stoll (11-37), Pember (10-37), M. Erickson (3-8), Rue (1-6), Mikesell (2-6), E. Anderson (2-5), Hubble (1-1), H. Erickson (1-(-6)); Totals (45-127) Chippewa Falls: Shilts (8-132), Behnke (14-85), Zenner (11-56), Smith (9-42), Clary (5-13), Weiler (2-4); Totals (49-332)

PASSING (comp-att-td-int-yds) – Menomonie: Howard (3-6-0-0-54), Mikesell (0-1-0-0-0); Totals (3-7-0-0-54) Chippewa Falls: Weiler (2-6-0-1-30); Totals (2-6-0-1-30)

RECEIVING (rec-yds) – Menomonie: M. Erickson (1-28), Pember (1-26), Mikesell (1-0); Totals (3-54) Chippewa Falls: Kesnter (2-30); Totals (2-30)

TURNOVERS: Menomonie: INT - 0, FUM - 1 / Chippewa Falls: INT - 1, FUM - 0

Game Notes:

• Menomonie leads all-time series vs Chippewa Falls 62-49-3

• Menomonie has now qualifed for the playoffs 35 consecutive times, spanning 36 years (no playoffs in 2020 due to COVID).

• The last time Menomonie missed the WIAA playoffs was 1989.

• Coach Sinz’s overall coaching record is now 57-60; Menomonie 30-22 (2021-current), Eau Claire Memorial 17-20 (2017-2020), Mondovi 10-18 (2014-2016) 

• Records: Menomonie 4-5 (2-5 BRC) / Chippewa Falls 4-5 (3-4 BRC)