Pregont catches on

JANESVILLE — JoJo was on the go-go Friday night.

Craig High senior JoJo Pregont hauled in 10 receptions for 205 yards from quarterback Zach Beyreuther and scored three touchdowns as Craig trounced a depleted Sun Prairie squad, 42-13, at Monterey Stadium.

The coming-out party started early as the Cougars posted 16 straight points to close out the second quarter for a 28-6 halftime lead in the Big Eight Conference and season opener.

“The defense was playing about 15 yards back trying to stop the deep ball, and it opened up every single short pass that we got,” Pregont said. “Zach threw good balls tonight.”

Pregont dragged Jacob Baker for the final yards for his first touchdown from 25 yards out to hand the Cougars a 12-0 lead for his first score. The 6-foot, six-inch split end added a 43-yard catch and run off a bubble screen with 1:30 left in the first half, then added 32-yard touchdown to open the third quarter off a hitch route. Pregont shook off one tackle before racing up the sideline for 35-6 Craig lead.

“When you throw the ball to JoJo there is a good chance he is going to make a play,” Craig coach Bill O’Leary said. “He is just an athletic kid.”

In his first game as the Cougars starting quarterback Bayreuther finished with 346 yards passing after completing 26 of 43 passes and four touchdowns.

Defending conference co-champion Sun Prairie pulled within 12-6 following a 68-yard touchdown reception by Will Sickels, but Craig answered on the ensuing possession as Bayreuther found Bentley Geldard on a post pattern from 15 yards to start the onslaught.

“Their quarterback did some great things with the football. He got rid of the football on time and threaded the needle when he needed to, and their receivers broke some tackles,” Sun Prairie coach Brian Kaminski said. “They did a great job on offense tonight.”

On the other hand, Sun Prairie was handcuffed with 22 players missing from the lineup, mostly from athletic code violations.

Craig took advantage by posting 481 yards of offense, which included 80 yards on 11 carries by Kelly Keegan, including the opening score from two yards out and never allowing the Cardinals back in the game.

CRAIG 42, SUN PRAIRIE 13

Sun Prairie 0 6 7 0—13

Janesville 6 22 7 7—42

First Quarter

JC – Kelly Keegan, 2 run (kick failed), 5:06.

Second Quarter

JC – JoJo Pregont 25 pass from Zach Bayreuther (pass failed), 11:39. SP – Will Sickels 68 pass from Phil Klaas (kick blocked), 11:32. JC – Bentley Geldard 15 pass from Bayreuther (Mike Valentine kick), 7:46. JC – Jason Davis tackled in end zone for safety, 2:37. JC – Pregont 43 pass from Bayreuther (Valentine kick).

Third Quarter

JC – Pregont 32 pass from Bayreuther (Valentine kick) 8:09. SP – Karl Huemmer 1 run (Tyler Patterson kick) 2:57.

Fourth Quarter

JC – Keegan 5 run (Valentine kick) 5:50.

Team statistics

First downs – SP 9, JC 20. Rushing – SP 33-175. JC – 28-135. Yards passing – SP 103, JC – 346. Passes – SP 14-5-1. JC 43-26-0. Fumbles SP 2-0, JC 1-0. Penalties – SP – 6-71, JC 7-50.

Individual Leaders

Rushing – SP – Karl Huemmer 25-150. JC - Kelly Keegan 11-80. Passing – SP – Phil Klaas 5-14-103. JC – 26-43-346. Receiving – SP – Eric Wilberding 3-29. JC JoJo Pregont 10-205.