Now Woodstock can focus on this season.

After an entire offseason of talk centered on last year's run through the state playoffs, the Wolverines did the best thing to build off of that momentum by playing one of their most complete defensive games in years.

The Woodstock defense held Kell to fewer than 70 yards of total offense and held the Longhorns the entire game to take a 17-0 win Friday at the Wolverine Den.

"This is big," Woodstock coach Mike O'Brien said. "We tried to come into this year with different things to keep the excitement from last year's team alive. We played hard and got that first win, and now we have the students behind us and the fans excited, and it is a good thing."

With an offense that was handing the mantle at quarterback from Taylor Trotter to junior Kevin Bolak, O'Brien knew that his defense would have to give his offense time to grow. The offense shouldn't consider itself rushed to grow up in a hurry after a dominating defensive performance against Kell.

The Longhorns' spread attack sorely lacked its big-play receivers from last year, and the Wolverines dominated the line of scrimmage. Kell had just two first downs the entire game, and the passing attack never got on track with the Longhorns gaining just 26 yards through the air.

"You have to give them credit," Kell coach Derek Cook said. "That is a great Woodstock defense over there. Their defensive front controlled the line of scrimmage. I thought that our defense played well, but Woodstock took control of the line when we had the ball."

O'Brien called this year's defensive unit perhaps the best that he has fielded since he came to Woodstock in 2003.

"We had a lot of confidence and knew that this defense could be a good one if you get kids that make the play," O'Brien said. "The way both defenses were playing early, you were just sort of waiting for someone to make a mistake."

Fortunately for Woodstock, Kell made the mistakes and the Wolverines were ready to take advantage.

A 26-yard punt return by Tanner Skogen midway through the second quarter set up a 24-yard field goal from Brad Sullivan, and it looked at times as if that would be the final score. Woodstock's longest drive of the night managed just 32 yards, but it went for a score with Bolak diving over the goal line from the 1. The big play on the scoring series came when Bolak hit Skogen in the flat for an 18-yard completion, the longest of the night.

Woodstock scored again in the fourth when a bad snap on a punt gave the Wolverines the ball at the Longhorn 7. Three plays later, Skogen scored from 5 yards out.

"The offense didn't play a great game, but I thought (Bolak) managed the game very well," O'Brien said. "He missed a few throws, but those will come. He was a little nervous, but he did a fine job."

Besides, the offense didn't have to be stellar. The 17 points were more than enough with the way the Wolverine defense was playing. Kell crossed midfield just once in the second half and never mounted an offensive threat after missing a field goal early in the second quarter.