POWER — Power-Dutton-Brady advanced to the second round of the 6-Man playoffs with a 46-15 win over Denton-Geyser-Stanford last weekend. It always feels good to win in the playoffs, but for the Titans, it feels especially good to break a cold spell for the program.
It was Power-Dutton-Brady’s first playoff win since 2011, when the Titans played 8-Man. Head coach Tom Tranmer was on the staff for that last win.
"I'm so happy for our boys. I'm so happy for the past players that have had good programs," Tranmer said. "I just want these boys to succeed and do the best they can from here on out."
To do it, the Titans had to shake off a sluggish first half. DGS, with just seven players dressed out, used a heavy dose of 310-pound Xander Houseman in the backfield to control the pace and take a 7-6 lead into halftime.
"They had us in the first half. I'll admit that they had us in the first half," PDB senior Nicholas Widhalm said. "It was different seeing a big boy in the backfield. But we adjusted to it, and we slowed him down and neutralized him."
Numerous Titans stood out during PDB's third-quarter explosion, but perhaps none more than Spencer Lehnerz. The junior had four total touchdowns, two of which came on defense. Lehnerz's third-quarter interception return for a touchdown sealed the momentum in PDB's favor, while he also tallied a fumble recovery for a score.
"I like playing defense more, like reading stuff a lot better, and just getting hits on people, I like that a lot more. Defense, definitely," Lehnerz said.
Now that it's broken through, Power-Dutton-Brady is looking forward. With just one loss on the season, the Titans are finding their form. They'll take on Shields Valley on the road in the second round.
"Our kids are starting to gel a little bit. I expect good things. I know Shields Valley is going to be ready for us," Tranmer said.
"I feel like we're the dark horse. I think people got to put some respect on our name and I think we can play in that last game of November," Widhalm said.
