The Waterloo Bulldogs were most likely going to be playing in the playoffs next weekend either way, but Friday night’s 40-32 win at Mater Dei guaranteed a postseason invite. At 6-3, the ‘Dogs will play at Marion (7-2) 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, it was announced by the IHSA on Saturday night.

It was an eventful first quarter on Friday night in Breese, with seven touchdowns scored between the two teams. Waterloo quarterback Aaron Laskowski started the scoring spree with a 37-yard touchdown scamper at 10:05. After Mater Dei scored twice within 30 seconds to go up 12-7, Laskowski connected with Sam Dodd for a 17-yard touchdown reception at 3:31.

Mater Dei (5-4) scored again at 2:09, but Waterloo’s Rick Wiegand — who finished with 246 yards rushing on 22 carries — answered with an 85-yard TD run just 15 seconds later.

Dodd put the Bulldogs up 27-18 at the end of one quarter with his 24-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Both defenses settled in from there, with Wiegand scoring from 8 yards out midway through the second quarter following a Ryan Aycock field goal. Mater Dei scored late in the half to keep it close.

Following a scoreless third quarter, Mater Dei quarterback Sam Toennies scored on a 2-yard run early in the fourth to cut Waterloo’s lead to 37-32.

Aycock added a late field goal, and the ‘Dogs snapped a three-game losing streak with a 40-32 road victory.

Laskowski finished with 8-for-10 passing and a TD to go along with his early rushing TD in limited action. He did not play in the second half after being removed following a sack in the second quarter. Sophomore Austin Patton filled in at quarterback. Laskowski was lifted due to concussion-like symptoms. His status for next week is questionable.

Read more on the game in the Oct. 29 print edition of the Republic-Times newspaper.