Posted: Sept. 4, 2009 |(0) Comments

Ill-timed penalties wiping out big plays, missed quarterback/center exchanges and bad snaps out of the shotgun formation will not get the job done when the Menomonee Falls football team enters Greater Metro Conference play next week at league co-favorite Brookfield Central.

But for the time being, it appears that the Indians have enough heart, talent and speed to overcome such miscues. They did that in an emphatic manner Friday night, when they overpowered West Bend East, 41-6, in their home opener.

"You just have to keep a level head in situations like that," said running back Cole Myhra, who had 141 yards rushing on 18 carries with two TDs. "That's what separates the great teams from the good teams."

Indian coach John Baker wouldn't describe his 2-0 squad as a great one just yet, but he was pleased with its resilience, as the Indians start included a penalty that wiped out a 70-yard kickoff return and a dropped snap on the first play from scrimmage.

"It's a process and we're only in week two of it," he said. "Hopefully we'll have quite a few more weeks left in which to get better. These are just little inconsistencies that we can eliminate."

Falls did eliminate boredom for the overflow home crowd early on the beautiful late summer night as the Indians unveiled the new front gate at Schumann Stadium.

The excitement came on the Indians third series as quarterback Max Poeske hit state 110-meter high hurdle track champion Matt Widule with a well-designed swing pass out of the backfield and Widule flew the final 19 yards down the sideline for the first score.

Widule, who finished with 106 yards receiving on seven catches, said if the Indians can work out all of their glitches, the offense could be truly explosive.

"I mean, we have so much talent on this team," he said. "We have to make sure we use it all. If we can utilize it all, we'll be hard to stop." Poeske, despite a few misfires, was still an impressive nine of 18 passing for 151 yards with one TD.

Myhra then effectively put the game out of reach on the Indians final two series of the half, hitting the edge hard for 38- and 13-yard TD runs, respectively, to make it, 21-0, at the break.

The hard-nosed back, who was also filling in a little at linebacker due to an injury to Bobby Nelessen (he is due back in a few weeks, said Baker), is the nephew of old Falls and Falls East football stars Larry and Ron Myhra.

"I occasionally talk to Uncle Ron in Colorado," Cole said, "but it's an honor to talk to Uncle Larry (who's retired and living in Hayward). He's been a big help."

Falls then scored on all four possessions in the second-half, as Kyle French, who also had five touchbacks on kickoffs on the night, hit 29 and 32-yard field goals. Back-up running back Kevin Scroggins also got in on the action with TD runs of 42 yards and one yard. The second score was set up by an interception return from linebacker Isiah Hargrove.

"I was proud of the way we bounced back from the way we started," Baker said. "The guys know that these mistakes can be fixed."