LODI - Facing a fourth and 10 in overtime, down three after forcing a field goal by Lodi, New Glarus-Monticello coach Desie Breadon and his team went for it.
"We figured 'we're on the road, let's go for the win,'" Breadon said.
Senior Jesse Halvorsen ran a fade into the end zone and senior quarterback Gabe Noyce lobbed a pass. However, Lodi intercepted the potential game winner, sending the Knights home with a 20-17 loss Friday night.
Regardless, Breadon told his team they should be proud of the performance.
"The kids played well. I'm very proud of the way they played tonight," Breadon said. "I told them that after the game, that they had nothing to hang their heads about. They played with tons of heart."
The Knights ended the first quarter with a 14-0 lead, but the Blue Devils fought back to 14-10 at the half.
"Gabe Noyce was running triple options and Spencer Jones was running it well," Breadon said. "Chenoweth and Elzen had some nice runs."
After a scoreless third quarter, the two teams fought to a 17-17 tie at the end of regulation.
Lodi took first possession in the extra frame, gaining a first down, but the Knights got a crucial third-down stop. Lodi settled for the field goal, turning the ball over to the Knights.
After getting sacked for a loss on third down, Breadon and his team didn't bother with the tie.
"They all wanted to go for it," Breadon said. "Defensively we played very well. Offensively, this is the best we've looked all year."
The Knights travel to take on Capitol South opponent Marshall next week.
Darlington 6, Iowa-Grant 12
LIVINGSTON - On paper, it's a defeat. But off the books, the Darlington football team's 12-6 loss to Iowa-Grant Friday was a sign that the young team is turning a corner.
"I think we found out today we can be a physical team," Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said. "I thought our kids really stepped up."
Iowa-Grant jumped out to a 6-0 lead with a rushing touchdown in the first quarter.
The Redbirds got on the board after sophomore Cole McDonald connected for a touchdown pass to senior Storm Wiegel. Iowa-Grant quarterback T.J. Anderson added a second rushing touchdown, and the Panthers went into the locker room up 12-6 at half. No points were scored in the third and fourth quarters.
The scoreless second half might have had something to do with fatigue due to physicality.
"It was a slugfest out there," Zywicki said. "You earned what you got. Our kids are going to be sore tomorrow."
Offensively, the Redbirds were led by Myles Leahy, who carried the ball 17 times for 87 yards. On defense, junior Michael Ruf had 10 tackles, and junior Riley Ray added eight.
Zywicki was pleased with the way his team played on both sides of the ball, especially considering the team's collective age.
"We have one senior on offense and two on defense, and the rest are sophomores and juniors," Zywicki said. "I thought we played an extremely gifted team. It was really close. No one play determined the outcome. I'd like to think our defense turned a corner."
Darlington's next game is at home against Boscobel - the team's first conference home game. Zywicki is looking forward to seeing where his team goes next.
"I'm very pleased with the progress," he said. "If we keep getting a little better each week, we'll be fine."
Black Hawk 40, Belmont 26
SOUTH WAYNE - Facing what Black Hawk coach Cory Milz called a must-win game, the Warriors picked up a 40-26 win over Belmont.
Belmont rushed for 327 total yards including an eye-opening 204 yards in the second quarter. The Braves had runs of 56, 71 and 64 yards in the second quarter.
"Momentum was with them," Milz said. "Our kids were starting to hang their heads and doubt themselves. We made a tweak on defense, and we played with more heart in the second half. This was an absolute must-win."
Black Hawk junior Tanner Sweeney rushed for 148 yards on 17 carries and scored two touchdowns. Black Hawk senior quarterback Merik Meythaler had an 8-yard TD run in the first quarter to give the Warriors an early lead. Meythaler was 10-of-19 passing for 166 yards and two touchdowns.
He then tossed a 40-yard TD pass to senior Cory Triem in the second quarter. Sweeney scored on a 55-yard run in the third quarter, and the Warriors put the game away with 21 fourth quarter points. Senior Logan Stietz had a 23-yard TD run and Sweeney scored on a 28-yard run. Meythaler also tossed a 28-yard TD pass to junior Tyler Peterson.
Edgerton 14, Brodhead-Juda 6
EDGERTON - The Cardinals are still in search of their first win after falling to the Crimson Tide.
Brodhead-Juda sophomore Reeve Lincoln rushed for 97 yards on 21 carries. The Crimson Tide jumped out to a 14-0 halftime lead. The Cardinals rolled up 216 total rushing yards but didn't score until the fourth quarter.
With the loss, Brodhead-Juda drops to 0-3. Brodhead-Juda senior Matt Trotter was 5-of-14 passing for 65 yards and two interceptions. Senior Cole Bauman had three receptions for 22 yards.
Big Foot 38, Evansville-Albany 0
WALWORTH - Big Foot had no problems rolling past Evansville-Albany in a Rock Valley Conference crossover game.
Big Foot's Mason Dixon rushed for 196 yards and had three touchdowns, and the Chieftains racked up 297 total rushing yards.
Evansville-Albany (2-1) was led by Michael Johnson, who rushed for 58 yards on eight carries. Evansville-Albany senior David Jenkins was 5 of 6 passing for 40 yards and one interception.
Potosi 35, Pec-Argyle 20
BLANCHARDVILLE - The Vikings' upset bid in a clash of Six Rivers unbeatens came up short.
"We figured 'we're on the road, let's go for the win,'" Breadon said.
Senior Jesse Halvorsen ran a fade into the end zone and senior quarterback Gabe Noyce lobbed a pass. However, Lodi intercepted the potential game winner, sending the Knights home with a 20-17 loss Friday night.
Regardless, Breadon told his team they should be proud of the performance.
"The kids played well. I'm very proud of the way they played tonight," Breadon said. "I told them that after the game, that they had nothing to hang their heads about. They played with tons of heart."
The Knights ended the first quarter with a 14-0 lead, but the Blue Devils fought back to 14-10 at the half.
"Gabe Noyce was running triple options and Spencer Jones was running it well," Breadon said. "Chenoweth and Elzen had some nice runs."
After a scoreless third quarter, the two teams fought to a 17-17 tie at the end of regulation.
Lodi took first possession in the extra frame, gaining a first down, but the Knights got a crucial third-down stop. Lodi settled for the field goal, turning the ball over to the Knights.
After getting sacked for a loss on third down, Breadon and his team didn't bother with the tie.
"They all wanted to go for it," Breadon said. "Defensively we played very well. Offensively, this is the best we've looked all year."
The Knights travel to take on Capitol South opponent Marshall next week.
Darlington 6, Iowa-Grant 12
LIVINGSTON - On paper, it's a defeat. But off the books, the Darlington football team's 12-6 loss to Iowa-Grant Friday was a sign that the young team is turning a corner.
"I think we found out today we can be a physical team," Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said. "I thought our kids really stepped up."
Iowa-Grant jumped out to a 6-0 lead with a rushing touchdown in the first quarter.
The Redbirds got on the board after sophomore Cole McDonald connected for a touchdown pass to senior Storm Wiegel. Iowa-Grant quarterback T.J. Anderson added a second rushing touchdown, and the Panthers went into the locker room up 12-6 at half. No points were scored in the third and fourth quarters.
The scoreless second half might have had something to do with fatigue due to physicality.
"It was a slugfest out there," Zywicki said. "You earned what you got. Our kids are going to be sore tomorrow."
Offensively, the Redbirds were led by Myles Leahy, who carried the ball 17 times for 87 yards. On defense, junior Michael Ruf had 10 tackles, and junior Riley Ray added eight.
Zywicki was pleased with the way his team played on both sides of the ball, especially considering the team's collective age.
"We have one senior on offense and two on defense, and the rest are sophomores and juniors," Zywicki said. "I thought we played an extremely gifted team. It was really close. No one play determined the outcome. I'd like to think our defense turned a corner."
Darlington's next game is at home against Boscobel - the team's first conference home game. Zywicki is looking forward to seeing where his team goes next.
"I'm very pleased with the progress," he said. "If we keep getting a little better each week, we'll be fine."
Black Hawk 40, Belmont 26
SOUTH WAYNE - Facing what Black Hawk coach Cory Milz called a must-win game, the Warriors picked up a 40-26 win over Belmont.
Belmont rushed for 327 total yards including an eye-opening 204 yards in the second quarter. The Braves had runs of 56, 71 and 64 yards in the second quarter.
"Momentum was with them," Milz said. "Our kids were starting to hang their heads and doubt themselves. We made a tweak on defense, and we played with more heart in the second half. This was an absolute must-win."
Black Hawk junior Tanner Sweeney rushed for 148 yards on 17 carries and scored two touchdowns. Black Hawk senior quarterback Merik Meythaler had an 8-yard TD run in the first quarter to give the Warriors an early lead. Meythaler was 10-of-19 passing for 166 yards and two touchdowns.
He then tossed a 40-yard TD pass to senior Cory Triem in the second quarter. Sweeney scored on a 55-yard run in the third quarter, and the Warriors put the game away with 21 fourth quarter points. Senior Logan Stietz had a 23-yard TD run and Sweeney scored on a 28-yard run. Meythaler also tossed a 28-yard TD pass to junior Tyler Peterson.
Edgerton 14, Brodhead-Juda 6
EDGERTON - The Cardinals are still in search of their first win after falling to the Crimson Tide.
Brodhead-Juda sophomore Reeve Lincoln rushed for 97 yards on 21 carries. The Crimson Tide jumped out to a 14-0 halftime lead. The Cardinals rolled up 216 total rushing yards but didn't score until the fourth quarter.
With the loss, Brodhead-Juda drops to 0-3. Brodhead-Juda senior Matt Trotter was 5-of-14 passing for 65 yards and two interceptions. Senior Cole Bauman had three receptions for 22 yards.
Big Foot 38, Evansville-Albany 0
WALWORTH - Big Foot had no problems rolling past Evansville-Albany in a Rock Valley Conference crossover game.
Big Foot's Mason Dixon rushed for 196 yards and had three touchdowns, and the Chieftains racked up 297 total rushing yards.
Evansville-Albany (2-1) was led by Michael Johnson, who rushed for 58 yards on eight carries. Evansville-Albany senior David Jenkins was 5 of 6 passing for 40 yards and one interception.
Potosi 35, Pec-Argyle 20
BLANCHARDVILLE - The Vikings' upset bid in a clash of Six Rivers unbeatens came up short.
