Randolph no match for LP/HT

By Aaron Schultz
Sports Editor
RANDOLPH – In their final non-conference test of the regular season, the Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity Bulldogs’ football team traveled to Randolph Friday, and passed with flying colors.
After falling behind 7-0 to the Rockets, LP/HT scored the final 34 points of the game to come away with a relative easy 34-7 win.
The win for the Bulldogs improves their overall record to 4-1 on the season, while they remain 2-1 in the Minnesota Christian Athletic Association.
The Bulldogs will be back home Friday, Oct. 3 to host St. John’s Prep in Lester Prairie for Lester Prairie’s homecoming. Game time is 7 p.m.
Prior to the game against the Johnnies, the 10-year reunion for the 1998 Lester Prairie state team will take place, with the team getting announced at 6:30 p.m. At that time, they ask that those from the 1998 team line-up in the west end zone.
Also prior to the game the Lester Prairie Lions will be selling barbecues, chips, brownies, and pop for $3 per person. All of the proceeds go to the LP/HT football team.
Looking at LP/HT’s opponent for Friday’s game, St. John’s Prep has struggled this season.
This past Friday, St. John’s Prep fell to Providence Academy 61-0, and are 0-4 on the season having been outscored 184-14.
Getting back to the Bulldogs victory over the Rockets Friday, LP/HT didn’t get off to the best of starts.
After driving the football inside Randolph’s 20-yard line, the drive stalled, giving the ball to the Rockets.
Then, on Randolph’s first play from scrimmage, they threw a swing pass and were gone.
The Rocket caught the pass and went 80 yards for the opening touchdown of the game, putting LP/HT down 7-0 early.
On LP/HT’s next possession they fumbled the ball away to Randolph, and it looked like it just might be a long night for the Bulldogs.
However, LP/HT got the ball right back on a Randolph fumble of their own, and from that point on it was all Bulldogs.
Senior Ben Madsen got the Bulldogs on the board with a nice touchdown run, which was followed by a short touchdown run by quarterback Chris Neumann. Madsen also ran in a two-point conversion.
In just a four-minute span in the first quarter, LP/HT had put up 14 points to take a 14-7 lead while not having the best of the starts.
The Bulldogs extended its lead to 20-7 in the second quarter on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Neumann to fellow senior Eric Dietel.
With a 13-point lead at the half, LP/HT came out in the second half and were determined to put the game away, which is what they did.
Neumann hooked up with Dietel again, this time from 22 yards out to put LP/HT up 26-7. Max Pichotta followed with the extra point to make the lead 27-7.
The scoring was capped for LP/HT in the fourth quarter when Shane Cory punched it in from a yard out, and with Pichotta’s extra point, the Bulldogs had themselves a 34-7 lead, which is how the game would end.
Defensively, LP/HT played a very strong game, and if not for that one big play to start the game, would have pitched their first shutout of the season.
“Our defensive ends, Taylor Schultz and Pichotta, played an exceptional game for us,” head coach Joe Scoblic said. “Jared Kadrie (freshmen) filled in at a safety spot and had some big hits.”
Kadrie was playing for junior captain Brandon Mork, who is out for the season with a knee injury.
That secondary for LP/HT had two interceptions in the game, one by Madsen, and the other by fellow senior Aaron Ruwersma.
“Ben (Madsen) had another big interception, which turned the momentum our way,” Scoblic said.
LP/HT’s defense, beside holding Randolph to just one score, limited the Rockets to 123 yards rushing, and a mere 227 total yards in the game, with 80 of those coming on one play.
Turning to the offense, it started and ended with the offensive line, which continues to play well for the Bulldogs.
“On the offensive side of the ball the offensive line started to dominate the line of scrimmage to give us big holes to run through,” Scoblic said.
Behind that strong offensive line, LP/HT gained 301 total yards, with 206 of those coming on the ground.
Leading the way on the ground for the Bulldogs were Madsen and Scott Theimann.
Madsen rushed for 80 yards, while Theimann gained 78.
“Ben (Madsen) and Scott (Theimann) both ran the ball well,” Scoblic said. “Chris Neumann also had a good game throwing the ball with two big TD throws to Eric Dietel.”
Neumann had a strong night leading the offense going 7-for-11 in the passing game with two touchdowns, while not throwing an interception. He also ran in a score.
Game Stats vs. Randolph
(9-26)
Passing
• Chris Neumann: 7-for-11, 95 yards, 13.6 yards-per-completion, 2 TDs.
Rushing
• Scott Theimann: 16 carries, 78 yards, 4.9 yards-per-carry (ypc).
• Chris Neumann: 5 carries, 29 yards, 5.8 ypc, 1 TD.
• Shane Cory: 3 carries, 5 yards, 1.7 ypc, 1 TD.
• Ben Madsen: 15 carries, 80 yards, 5.3 ypc, 1 TD.
• Cory Dammann: 2 carries, 17 yards, 8.5 ypc.
Receiving
• Scott Theimann: 1 reception, -1 yard.
• Brandon Schaust: 3 receptions, 19 yards, 6.3 yards-per-reception (ypr).
• Eric Dietel: 2 receptions, 47 yards, 23.5 ypr, 2 TDs.
• Cory Dammann: 1 reception, 30 yards.
Defense
• Aaron Ruwersma: 1 INT.
• Ben Madsen: 1 INT.
Game Stats vs. Concordia
(9-19)
Passing
• Chris Neumann: 11-for-14, 131 yards, 11.9 yards-per-completion, 1 TD, 1 INT.
Rushing
• Brandon Mork: 1 carry, 20 yards.
• Scott Theimann: 17 carries, 84 yards, 4.9 yards-per-carry (ypc), 2 TD.
• Chris Neumann: 4 carries, 16 yards, 4.0 ypc.
• Shawn Gebhardt: 2 carries, 4 yards, 2.0 ypc.
• Shane Cory: 4 carries, 12 yards, 3.0 ypc, 1 TD.
• Sam Scoblic: 3 carries, 6 yards, 2.0 ypc.
• Ben Madsen: 6 carries, 60 yards, 10.0 ypc.
Receiving
• Cory Dammann: 6 receptions, 99 yards, 16.5 yards-per-reception (ypr), 1 TD.
• Eric Dietel: 1 reception, 20 yards.
• Brandon Schaust: 1 reception, 3 yards.
• Aaron Ruwersma: 1 reception, 2 yards.
• Scott Theimann: 1 reception, -1 yard.
• Brandon Mork: 1 reception, 2 yards.
Defense
• Aaron Ruwersma: 1 fumble recovery, 1 TD.
• Shane Cory: 1 fumble recovery.
• Ben Madsen: 1 INT, 1 TD.