NEW GLARUS - New Glarus-Monticello (NGM) held its own throughout the first half, but the explosive offense of Lakeside Lutheran proved to be too much in a 47-27 loss.
"Lakeside Lutheran usually puts up big numbers on offense, so we knew they were going to score," Knights head coach Jeff Eichelkraut said. "We were just proud of the way we hung on."
The Glarner Knights battled through the rain and mud with their option offense to put up big numbers early on. Junior quarterback Ryan Bright had runs of 77 yards and 60 yards on his way to nearly a 150-yard, two-touchdown first half in which the Warriors had trouble getting their footing.
However, the same could be said about NGM's defense. Lakeside Lutheran managed drive after drive of putting the ball into the end zone against the Knights. Lakeside Lutheran scored on a 72-yard drive to start the game.
The Glarner Knights fumbled on its first play from scrimmage, and Lakeside Lutheran capitalized with a 32-yard TD pass from Nate Bauer to Justin Eternick. It was already the second time Bauer and Eternick connected against the NGM defense for a gain of over 25 yards.
The Knights started their second series from their own 23, and that's when Bright decided to use his speed. Bright and the NGM offense pulled off a brilliant option left, and the QB took the ball 77 yards for the score.
Moments later, Lakeside Lutheran fumbled the ball away and NGM ran the ball 28 yards on six plays, capped with a 3-yard Bright scramble to tie the game at 14.
"The offensive line was just great tonight. They opened holes and gave us lanes to run through," Bright said.
Lakeside Lutheran then went 73 yards on nine plays to take the 21-14 lead with 1:43 left in the first quarter. It was a lead they never relinquished.
The high-scoring first quarter put fans on their feet in anticipation of the next big play. However, the Knights were forced to punt on their next drive and Lakeside Lutheran scored again on an 11-play, 65-yard drive that saw a converted fourth down.
Trailing 27-14, Bright took the next NGM ply from scrimmage 60 yards to the 5-yard line. Two plays later, Parker Havens crossed the goaline to put the Knights back into the game. However, with rain falling hard with 6:24 left in the first half, kicker Logan Lockard missed the extra point and NGM trailed 27-20.
To start the second half, with the score still stuck at 27-20, NGM was forced to punt from deep in its own territory. However, the Knights defense forced the same outcome on the other end. However, Eternick, Lakeside Lutheran's punter, dropped the ball perfectly inside NGM territory at the one-yard line.
NGM worked their way out of the mess until Bright was hit from behind on a scramble at mid-field that put the pigskin onto the turf. Lakeside Lutheran recovered and struck gold on the very next play.
NGM then went 69 yards on 13 plays and Havens ran the ball in on a 4th-and-goal from the inch line. An extra point by Lockard put the game within six points at 33-27 with just 22 second left in the third quarter.
The score would be the Knights last. Lakeside Lutheran scored on its next possession to up the ante. Midway through the fourth quarter, New Glarus took over after a fumble at the 20 yard line. However, the Knights were stripped on the very next play by Eternick, who waltz 20 yards into the end zone.
Bright & Co. tried to make things interesting with minutes left, scrambling left and right down the field. However, a sack on 4th and 17 at the Lakeside Lutheran 35-yard line ended Knights game.
"We played a good game. We're making progress. I'm proud of the way these guys came out and executed," Eichelkraut said. "With the rain, it wouldn't be surprising to put the ball on the deck 20 times running the option. But we pitched well and hung on to the ball."
"Lakeside Lutheran usually puts up big numbers on offense, so we knew they were going to score," Knights head coach Jeff Eichelkraut said. "We were just proud of the way we hung on."
The Glarner Knights battled through the rain and mud with their option offense to put up big numbers early on. Junior quarterback Ryan Bright had runs of 77 yards and 60 yards on his way to nearly a 150-yard, two-touchdown first half in which the Warriors had trouble getting their footing.
However, the same could be said about NGM's defense. Lakeside Lutheran managed drive after drive of putting the ball into the end zone against the Knights. Lakeside Lutheran scored on a 72-yard drive to start the game.
The Glarner Knights fumbled on its first play from scrimmage, and Lakeside Lutheran capitalized with a 32-yard TD pass from Nate Bauer to Justin Eternick. It was already the second time Bauer and Eternick connected against the NGM defense for a gain of over 25 yards.
The Knights started their second series from their own 23, and that's when Bright decided to use his speed. Bright and the NGM offense pulled off a brilliant option left, and the QB took the ball 77 yards for the score.
Moments later, Lakeside Lutheran fumbled the ball away and NGM ran the ball 28 yards on six plays, capped with a 3-yard Bright scramble to tie the game at 14.
"The offensive line was just great tonight. They opened holes and gave us lanes to run through," Bright said.
Lakeside Lutheran then went 73 yards on nine plays to take the 21-14 lead with 1:43 left in the first quarter. It was a lead they never relinquished.
The high-scoring first quarter put fans on their feet in anticipation of the next big play. However, the Knights were forced to punt on their next drive and Lakeside Lutheran scored again on an 11-play, 65-yard drive that saw a converted fourth down.
Trailing 27-14, Bright took the next NGM ply from scrimmage 60 yards to the 5-yard line. Two plays later, Parker Havens crossed the goaline to put the Knights back into the game. However, with rain falling hard with 6:24 left in the first half, kicker Logan Lockard missed the extra point and NGM trailed 27-20.
To start the second half, with the score still stuck at 27-20, NGM was forced to punt from deep in its own territory. However, the Knights defense forced the same outcome on the other end. However, Eternick, Lakeside Lutheran's punter, dropped the ball perfectly inside NGM territory at the one-yard line.
NGM worked their way out of the mess until Bright was hit from behind on a scramble at mid-field that put the pigskin onto the turf. Lakeside Lutheran recovered and struck gold on the very next play.
NGM then went 69 yards on 13 plays and Havens ran the ball in on a 4th-and-goal from the inch line. An extra point by Lockard put the game within six points at 33-27 with just 22 second left in the third quarter.
The score would be the Knights last. Lakeside Lutheran scored on its next possession to up the ante. Midway through the fourth quarter, New Glarus took over after a fumble at the 20 yard line. However, the Knights were stripped on the very next play by Eternick, who waltz 20 yards into the end zone.
Bright & Co. tried to make things interesting with minutes left, scrambling left and right down the field. However, a sack on 4th and 17 at the Lakeside Lutheran 35-yard line ended Knights game.
"We played a good game. We're making progress. I'm proud of the way these guys came out and executed," Eichelkraut said. "With the rain, it wouldn't be surprising to put the ball on the deck 20 times running the option. But we pitched well and hung on to the ball."
