HJ Sports Blog

Balance the name of the game in Lakers’ win over Kimball

Aaron Schultz — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:25:49 +0000

By Aaron Schultz
Sports Editor
HOWARD LAKE, MN – It was homecoming for the Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted Lakers this past week, and the football team did their part, capping off a week of celebrations in style Friday, beating Kimball 35-6.
“This was a great win for homecoming, but it also made us 4-0 on our home field this year,” head coach George Montgomery said.
By beating the Cubs Friday, HLWW improved its overall record to 4-2 on the season, and to 4-1 in the Central Minnesota. And, as Montgomery said, the Lakers are now a perfect 4-0 at Laker Athletic Field in their first year playing games on the new field.
That 4-1 record keeps the Lakers in a second place tie in the CMC with Pierz and Maple Lake.
But the road gets tough for HLWW these final two weeks of the regular season.
On the road for their final two regular season games, HLWW will travel to Maple Lake Friday, Oct. 10, and then wrap up the regular season Wednesday, Oct. 15 at Pierz. Both games begin at 7 p.m.
In the win over Kimball, the Lakers had everything clicking on this night.
The defense created turnovers, while the offense was as balanced as it was all season long.
“We were able to move the ball effectively against their 3-5 defense, which typically is difficult to adjust to. Our offensive line did a great job opening holes and protecting Cameron (Lehner),” Montgomery said. “Defensively, we recovered three Kimball fumbles, creating excellent field position for our offense.”
Talking about balance, the Lakers rushed for 194 yards, while passing for 202 yards.
Senior quarterback Cameron Lehner had a fantastic night against Kimball completing eight of his nine pass attempts for over 200 yards and two touchdowns.
Lehner’s main target was fellow senior Curtis Herbolsheimer, who caught five passes for 185 yards and both touchdowns.
Balance also carried over to the running game itself, as seven different Lakers carried the football, none more than six times.
“Getting the ball into that many players hands makes it difficult for the defense to key on just one back,” Montgomery said.
Sophomore Adam Klinkner did lead the way for the Lakers on the ground with 75 yards on just six carries.
As a team, the Lakers averaged over 8 yards-per-carry every time they handed it off.
HLWW dominated the action from the start, getting on the board just over two minutes into the game. That is when Lehner hooked up with Herbolsheimer from 50-yards out.
The Lakers extended its lead to 14-0 at the end of the first quarter when Joe Jaros ran in a touchdown from 19-yards out.
Early on in the second quarter, Lehner found Herbolsheimer again, this time from 37-yards out, giving the Lakers a 21-0 lead at the 11:41 mark of the second quarter.
Klinkner then broke off a 45-yard touchdown run at the 6:45 mark of the second quarter, and then, before halftime, John Long got into the action with a 20-yard touchdown scamper.
That made the score 35-0 at the half, and moved the game to a slightly different phase.
Due to the big lead, the game clock was put on running time in the second half – meaning that the time didn’t stop for incompletions, or out-of-bounds plays.
Kimball did manage to get on the board with just over a minute left in the game on a short touchdown run, but the game was already well in hand for the Lakers.

Game Stats
Passing
• Cameron Lehner: 8-for-9, 202 yards, 25.25 yards-per-completion, 2 TDs.
• Jace Whitcomb: 0-for-2.
Rushing
• John Long: 6 carries, 43 yards, 7.16 yards-per-carry (ypc), 1 TD.
• Adam Klinkner: 6 carries, 75 yards, 12.5 ypc, 1 TD.
• Joe Jaros: 3 carries, 29 yards, 9.6 ypc, 1 TD.
• Mitch Merges: 3 carries, 32 yards, 10.6 ypc.
• Jake Anderson: 2 carries, 8 yards, 4.0 ypc.
• Jacob Perry: 1 carry, 7 yards.
• Mitchell Lachermeier: 1 carry, 2 yards.
• Jace Whitcomb: 1 carry, -2 yards.
Receiving
• Curtis Herbolsheimer: 5 receptions, 185 yards, 37.0 yards-per-reception, 2 TDs.
• Joe Jaros: 2 receptions, 11 yards, 5.5 ypr.
• Jake Anderson: 1 reception, 6 yards.
Defense
• Jace Whitcomb: 1 solo tackle, 1 assist.
• Andrew Ghostley: 2 solo tackles.
• Joe Uter: 5 solo tackles.
• Quin Leaf: 2 solo tackles.
• John Long: 7 solo tackles, 3 assists.
• Mitch Merges: 2 solo tackles.
• Jacob Perry: 1 solo tackle, 1 assist.
• Adam Klinkner: 4 solo tackles, 2 assists, 1 sack.
• Kyle Klammer: 7 solo tackles, 2 assists.
• Zach Grangrorth: 6 solo tackles, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery.
• Matt Schmieg: 2 solo tackles, 2 assists.
• Trevor Zachmann: 8 solo tackles, 1 assist, 0.5 sack.
• Derek Youngren: 2 solo tackles, 1 assist.
• Matt Arlien: 2 solo tackles.
• Tony Hausladen: 5 solo tackles, 1 assist, 1 solo tackle for loss, 0.5 sack, 1 fumble recovery.
• Curtis Herbolsheimer: 5 solo tackles, 2 assists, 1 solo tackle for loss, 1 fumble recovery.

Huge third quarter helps LP/HT blow past Johnnies

Aaron Schultz — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:24:53 +0000

By Aaron Schultz
Sports Editor
LESTER PRAIRIE, MN – After a little bit of a slow start, the Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity Bulldogs football team turned things up a notch in the third quarter on their way to a 35-6 win over St. John’s Prep.
“I thought we played a good game. We may have started a little slow, but part of that was we were trying to establish a complete game, not just one or two things,” head coach Joe Scoblic said. “In the second half we got it all going.”
In the end, the winless Johnnies were no match for LP/HT, despite the slow start.
LP/HT ran for 273 yards in the win, improving its Minnesota Christian Athletic Association record to 4-0 on the year, while jumping to 5-1 overall.
Next up for LP/HT is the biggest game of the season, and the biggest one the MCAA has seen in its young football existence.
Providence Academy, also undefeated in MCAA play, comes to Winsted Friday, Oct. 10 to battle LP/HT with the conference championship on the line.
After a bit of a slow start to their season, Providence has continued to get better every week, and come into this showdown with the Bulldogs on a roll.
Providence dropped its opening game of the season to Montgomery-Lonsdale 41-7 in non-conference action, then snuck out a 28-20 MCAA win over New Life Academy.
But, since that game against New Life, Providence hasn’t had a close game.
In their last four MCAA games, all wins, they have outscored their opponents 216 to 25, including a 66-6 win over Concordia Academy/Bloomington this past Friday.
The Lions do most of their damage on the ground with senior Kaleb Williams being their most productive back.
Williams is averaging 9.6 yards-per-cary on the season, and has gained 806 yards on 84 carries. He has also rushed for 18 touchdowns.
In fact, Williams has rushed for over 100 yards in every game this year, except in that season-opening loss to Montgomery-Lonsdale.
The game, which will take place in Winsted for Holy Trinity’s homecoming, will begin at 7 p.m., with the winner claiming at least a share of the MCAA title.
If Providence wins, they will win the conference title outright. However, should LP/HT win, they would only claim at least a share.
The Bulldogs would then need to go to New Life Academy Wednesday, Oct. 15 and win to be the outright champions.
After Friday’s game, Providence will have completed its conference schedule, and plays a non-conference game in their regular season finale.
Prior to the game in Winsted Friday, Holy Trinity will be having a tailgate party at the field from 5 p.m. to game time, with grilled hamburgers, grilled hotdogs, and walking tacos available.
Getting back to the Bulldogs’ win over St. John’s Prep Friday, things started a little slow for LP/HT.
However, LP/HT was able to get on the board in the first quarter on a nice touchdown pass from Chris Neumann to Brandon Schaust.
Then, in quarter number two, Scott Theimann took the ball outside, around the left side, scoring LP/HT’s second touchdown of the game, and putting them up 14-0 at halftime.
In the third quarter, the Bulldogs put the game away in a big way, as senior Ben Madsen scored two touchdowns, while Shane Cory broke loose for a 75-yard touchdown run.
Those three third quarter touchdowns extended LP/HT’s lead to 35-0, as they cruised to the win.
St. John’s Prep did add a fourth quarter touchdown, but the game was already well in hand at that point.
“I thought Buddy Schaust had a good game with two catches and a touchdown,” Scoblic said.
Meanwhile, freshman Jared Kadrie was a perfect 5-for-5 on extra points.
As a team, LP/HT outgained St. John’s 340 to 149 before a large homecoming crowd in Lester Prairie.
Game notes
Prior to the game Friday, the 1998 Lester Prairie football team was recognized for its state tournament run that season.
Also, during halftime of the game, Doug Dibb was announced as the next inductee into the Lester Prairie sports hall of fame.
Additional information concerning Dibb will follow in the coming weeks of the Herald Journal.
Game Stats
Passing
• Chris Neumann: 3-for-8, 67 yards, 22.3 yards-per-completion, 1 TD.
Rushing
• Scott Theimann: 15 carries, 65 yards, 4.3 yards-per-carry (ypc), 1 TD.
• Ben Madsen: 6 carries, 59 yards, 9.8 ypc, 2 TDs.
• Chris Neumann: 3 carries, 36 yards, 12.0 ypc.
• Shane Cory: 1 carry, 75 yards, 1 TD.
• Jared Kadrie: 1 carry, 0 yards.
• Cory Dammann: 1 carry, 0 yards.
Receiving
• Brandon Schaust: 2 receptions, 65 yards, 32.5 yards-per-reception, 1 TD.
• Scott Theimann: 1 reception, 2 yards.
Defense
• Eric Eiden: 1 fumble recovery.

Football back in Winsted Friday

Aaron Schultz — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:24:01 +0000

By Aaron Schultz
Sports Editor
WINSTED, MN – It may have taken over two years, but high school varsity football will be coming back to Winsted Friday, Oct. 10.
That is when the Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity football team will be hosting Providence Academy in Minnesota Christian Athletic Association play at 7 p.m.
This game is a big one, and not just because of the two-year hiatus Weinbeck Field in Winsted has experienced from varsity football.
Providence Academy and LP/HT are the lone two undefeated teams in the MCAA, and the winner will lock up at least a share of the conference championship.
It is also Holy Trinity’s homecoming football game, something they didn’t have last year.
The reason? The field was getting a make-over.
The last time a varsity football game was played at Weinbeck Field was Oct. 6, 2006, when the then Holy Trinity Trojans hosted Hills-Beaver Creek/Ellsworth in a 9-man regular season match-up.
That night was one to forget for Holy Trinity, as they fell 62-6.
In fact, 2006 was the final year that Holy Trinity was on their own in sports, as the following fall they paired with Lester Prairie.
Thanks to the pairing, Weinbeck Field wasn’t needed in 2007, and that was a definite good thing, as the field was pretty beat up and needed to be fixed, which is was.
Following the fix-up, the field received an entire year off to get back into shape.
However, this won’t be the first football game played on the field this fall, as junior high and junior varsity games for LP/HT have been played at Weinbeck Field.
Still, bringing a varsity football game back to Weinbeck is something that was in the cards since the field was fixed, and will complete the transition for the field.
The 2006 season was a tough one for Holy Trinity, as they went winless on the gridiron, at home and on the road.
Going back to 2005 and prior, Weinbeck Field was a very good home field for Holy Trinity, as they won their final game there in 2005, beating Isle 46-20 Oct. 25 in the opening round of the Section 4, 9-man playoffs.
In 2005, Holy Trinity was 5-0 on their home field, and let’s all hope that kind of home field advantage carries over to this Friday, when LP/HT hosts Providence Academy with a conference championship on the line.
Prior to the game Friday, Holy Trinity will be selling grilled hamburgers, grilled hotdogs, and walking tacos prior to the game at Weinbeck, starting at 5 p.m.

North Star League going through some changes

Aaron Schultz — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:22:55 +0000

By Aaron Schultz
Sports Editor
Change isn’t always easy, nor does it always stick.
That was the case for the North Star League in 2008, as they went through a number of changes.
First off, the league expanded to 17 teams with the addition of Class C teams Big Lake and Elk River.
Then, the league realigned its divisions so that the five Class B teams were split up into three divisions along with the 12 Class C teams.
Then, lastly, the Class C teams in the three divisions were all dispersed into three different regions come playoff time.
All three of those moves will be tinkered with this upcoming season, with several of the changes already taking place.
The biggest news coming out of the NSL meeting Sept. 29 was the departure of Big Lake from the ranks of the NSL.
As a new team enters the NSL, they are put on a one-year probation period.
After the one-year probation is over, the league re-votes whether to allow said team to stay in the league, or to move on without said team.
The NSL voted to go their separate ways with Big Lake, while extending the probation status for Rogers and Elk River.
“Personally, I feel bad for Big Lake,” Howard Lake manager Mike Gagnon said. “I think they are a pretty good group of guys, and I hope they get accepted by another league.”
As a rookie member of the NSL in 2007, Big Lake made an amazing run, making it to the Region 7C tournament in Hamburg, before falling one game short of the Class C state tournament.
From the outside looking in, Big Lake’s 2007 season was a dream season, and probably was for the team as well.
However, things weren’t as rosy for the fellow NSL teams and officials that dealt with the White Caps.
League secretary Brian Larson said that the reason for Big Lake getting voted out was for not following league rules, and doing things their own way.
While the official line from Larson is pretty diplomatic, talking to some others in the NSL, they gave a laundry list of reasons, which include:
• claiming to have use of Monticello’s field, with lights, which turned out to be not true
• being uncooperative with other mangers while working on the schedule
• failing to turn in stats and boxscores in on time
• failing to call in game scores as the home team
• not providing water to visiting teams
• and lastly, bringing their own beer to the Region 7C tournament in Hamburg.
That last point made several NSL members feel that Big Lake was giving the league a bad name.
In the end, it just didn’t appear that Big Lake and the NSL was a good fit, and it is probably better that they both move their separate ways.
The next change for the NSL in 2009 will be the restructuring of the three divisions.
After a one-year trial of intermingling Class B teams with the Class C teams, the NSL has decided to go back to one Class B division – North Star Central, with the Class C teams split between the other two divisions.
The North Star East division will include Maple Plain, Loretto, Mound, Albertville, Rogers, and Elk River.
Meanwhile, the North Star West division will have Buffalo, Howard Lake, Monticello, Rockford, and Kingston.
The exact format, however, won’t be finalized until January.
According to Gagnon, Dave Ditty attended the NSL meeting representing Maple Grove, and inquired about adding a team to the NSL as a Class B team.
No formal application was made, as Maple Grove is still in the planning stages, and there was no assurances made that they would be accepted.
The final change that will be coming in 2009 will be Class C teams in region tournaments.
With three different divisions having Class C teams this past summer, the top two teams from each division advanced to a different region tournament.
That doesn’t look like it will be the case this upcoming year, should the NSL keep just two Class C divisions.
Take a look at the current North Star East division, which includes the likes of Maple Plain, Loretto, and Albertville.
All three teams advanced to the Class C state tournament in 2008, but now, in all likelihood, all three won’t be able to even advance to a region tournament.
However, it is still very early in the off-season, so expect some changes and tinkering to the league before everyone has a real good idea of how the 2009 NSL will round out.
NSL 2008 award winners
Most Valuable player
North Star North
Chris Volkman, St. Michael: .426 batting average, 6 doubles, 7 home runs, 29 RBIs.

Most Valuable player
North Star West
Brent Opsahl, Dassel-Cokato: .464 batting average, 4 home runs.

Most Valuable player
North Star East
Adam Gregg, Maple Plain: .451 batting average, 9 doubles.

Most Valuable pitcher
North Star North
Adam McGrane, St. Michael: 6-0, 1.31 ERA, 48 innings, 43 strikeouts.

Most Valuable pitcher
North Star West
Jake Streich, Howard Lake: 5-0, 1.50 ERA, 42 innings, 32 strikeouts. This is Streich’s sixth Most Valuable Pitcher award in his career.

Most Valuable pitcher
North Star East
Tom Traen, Loretto: 5-1, 0.62 ERA, 43 2/3 innings, 46 strikeouts.

North Star League
Manager of the Year
Dale Decker, Maple Lake: In his first season at Maple Lake manager, Decker led the Irish to a Class B state tournament berth, and a third-place finish at state.

Dickhausen named SMSU female athlete of the year

Aaron Schultz — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:21:51 +0000

By Aaron Schultz
Sports Editor
MARSHALL, MN – Southwest Minnesota State University softball player Erin Dickhausen and football player Tyler Reed have been named SMSU’s female and male Athletes of the Year for the 2007-08 academic year, while women’s golfer/basketball player Abby Oakland and football player Tyler Fischer were named the female and male Scholar-Athletes of the Year.
The awards were presented at the annual SMSU Athletics “Celebration of Excellence” program Sunday, Sept. 28, at the SMSU Conference Center.
The program honored student-athletes for their performance on the field of play and in the classroom during the 2007-08 season.
Dickhausen, a senior catcher during the 2007 season and a Watertown-Mayer High School graduate, was a four-year letter winner on the softball field for the Mustangs.
She finished her career at SMSU ranked first in hits (223), runs scored (157), triples (22), home runs (26), runs batted in (127), total bases (376), and stolen bases (72) and second in slugging percentage (.599).
A two-time NSIC Player of the Year and four-time first team All-NSIC selection, Dickhausen holds single-season records for home runs, runs scored, slugging percentage, and total bases and single-game records for hits, runs scored, triples, runs batted in, and home runs.
Her laundry list of accolades also includes nods for 2006 NFCA first team All-Region and 2007 and 2008 Louisville Slugger/NFCA and Daktronics first-team All-Region.
Wendlandt receives Dick Siebert Award
Long-time McLeod West High School baseball coach Dave Wendlandt was awarded the Dick Siebert Award for 2008.
The award recognizes a coach who has given a great deal to Minnesota high school baseball.
2008 area graduates playing college BB
Several area 2008 high school graduates will be freshman on their college baseball teams this upcoming spring.
Those area players include:
• Willie Bayuk, Dassel-Cokato, St. John’s University, Division III.
• Joe Brandenburg, Waconia, North Iowa Area CC, JC.
• Hunter Dunbar, Glencoe-Silver Lake, South Dakota State, Division I.
• Jordan Lecher, Litchfield, UM-Crookston, Division II.
New inductees to MBA baseball hall of fame
The annual Minnesota Baseball Association Hall of Fame banquet took place Sept. 20 in St. Cloud with six new inductees into the hall of fame.
Those six new inductees were Gordy Bauer of Caledonia; Dave Bell of Cold Spring; John Breuig of Jordan; Robert Hendrickson of Starbuck; Verne Radloff of Essig; and Todd Schmidtke of Blue Earth.
Class C baseball All-State Tourney team
The 2008 Class C state tournament all-tournament team is headlined by tourney MVP Brian Muell from Elko.
Muell was 3-0 with a save in 25 2/3 innings pitched. He had a 0.70 ERA with striking out 30 and only allowing 15 hits.
The rest of the all-tourney team is as follows:
• Nick Judkins, Elko
• Josh Thom, Elko
• Justin Bailey, Elko
• Tony Gabriel, Elko
• Paul Schlangen, Sauk Rapids
• John Nemec, Sauk Rapids
• Andy Henkemeyer, Sauk Rapids
• Scott Geiger, Sauk Rapids (St. Cloud Orthopedics)
• Casey Kowalski, Fergus Falls
• Ben Brimhall, Fergus Falls
• Mike Heinen, Cold Spring
• Lee Gregg, Maple Plain
• Bill Dunker, St. Patrick
• BJ Samuelson, Isanti
Class B baseball All-State Tourney team
The 2008 Class B state tournament all-tournament team is headlined by tourney MVP Travis Helling of Mankato.
The rest of the all-tourney team is as follows:
• Jay Nessler, Mankato
• Zach Danelson, Mankato
• Steve Helget, Mankato
• Travis Helling, Mankato
• Kossuke Hattori, Mankato
• Todd Mathison, Dundas
• Robin Moore, Dundas
• Rich Bordas, Dundas
• Brandon Rolloff, Dundas
• Todd Fuller, Maple Lake
• Matt Bergstrom, Maple Lake (Dassel-Cokato)
• Bobby Kneefe, St. Michael
• Adam McGrane, St. Michael
• Mark Cragmile, Marshall
• Dan Norsten, Eagan
Baseball tryout and hitting camp
Coast to Coast Baseball is inviting players ages 10 to 18 to a tryout Saturday, Oct. 18 at Extra Innings in Brooklyn Park.
At the tryout, their staff will evaluate players’ skills in four areas – hitting, fielding, arm strength, and speed.
Players, who are accepted to the program, may choose to represent the USA in competition in Puerto Rico, or work with top college coaches and pro scouts at one of their Florida Camp and Showcase events held at a MLB spring-training complex.
In addition to the tryout, a three-hour hitting camp will take place the same day.
The goal of the camp is to help players improve hitting fundamentals as well as their mental approach at the plate.
Extra Innings is located in Brooklyn Park at 9230 Xylon Ave. North.
The tryout begins at 10 a.m. with the hitting camp to follow at 2 p.m.
For more information, or to sign up, players and parents can go to www.CoastToCoastAthletics.com, or call (740) 373-4455.
2008 MN High School football rankings
(Associated Press, Oct. 1)
• Nine-Man – 1.Stephen-Argyle (5-0); 2. Kittson Co. Central (4-0); 3. Verndale (5-0); 4. Littlefork-Big Falls (5-0); 5. Houston (5-0); 6. Waubun (5-0); 7. McGregor (5-0); 8. Mabel-Canton (4-1); 8. Wheaton (4-1); 10. Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley (5-0).
• Class 1A – 1. Cook County (5-0); 1. Minneota (5-0); 3. Upsala-Swanville (5-0); 4. New Ulm Cathedral (5-0); 5. Warren-Alvarado-Oslo (5-0); 6. Fosston (5-0); 7. Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg (4-1); 8. Chisholm (5-0); 9. Royalton (4-1); 10. Mankato Loyola (4-1).
• Class 2A – 1. Luverne (5-0); 2. Hawley (5-0); 3. Eden Valley-Watkins (5-0); 4. Moose Lake-Willow River (5-0); 5. BOLD (5-0); 6. Tracy-Milroy-Balaton (5-0); 7. Zumbrota-Mazeppa (5-0); 8. Waterville-Elysian-Morristown (5-0); 9. Caledonia (4-1); 10. Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City (5-0).
• Class 3A – 1. DeLaSalle (5-0); 2. Albany (5-0); 3. Rochester Lourdes (5-0); 4. Glencoe-Silver Lake (4-1); 5. Plainview/Elgin-Millville (5-0); 6. New London-Spicer (4-1); 7. LeSueur-Henderson (4-1); 8. Jordan (4-1); 9. Foley (4-1); 10. Fairmont (4-1).
• Class 4A – 1. Mahtomedi (5-0); 2. Mankato West (5-0); 3. Orono (5-0): 4. Totino-Grace (4-1); 5. Fergus Falls (5-0); 6. Duluth East (5-0); 7. Becker (4-1); 8. Benilde-St. Margaert’s (4-1); 9. Rogers (5-0); 10. St. Thomas Academy (4-1).
• Class 5A – 1. Eden Prairie (5-0): 2. Cretin-Derham Hall (5-0); 3. Wayzata (5-0); 4. Minnetonka (4-1); 5. Champlin Park (4-1); 6. Farmington (5-0); 7. Hopkins (4-1); 8. Mounds View (4-1); 9. Blaine (4-1); 10. Woodbury (4-1).
2008 MN High School volleyball rankings
(Associated Press, Sept. 30)
• Class 1A – 1. Bethlehem Academy (11-7); 2. Windom (17-3); 3. Minneota (12-2); 4. Wabasha-Kellogg (11-0); 5. Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa (17-1); 6. Mabel-Canton (15-1); 7. Ada-Borup (17-0); 8. Southwest Christian (11-3); 9. Lakeview (14-1); 10. Martin County West (9-3).
• Class 2A – 1. St. Cloud Cathedral (11-2); 2. Jordan (13-4); 3. Marshall (14-4); 4. Hibbing (14-4); 5. Stewartville (13-1); 6. Delano (12-1); 7. Jackson County Central (15-2); 8. Belle Plaine (10-7); 9. LeSueur-Henderson (14-3); 10. Wadena-Deer Creek (9-1).
• Class 3A – 1. Shakopee (18-1); 2. Eastview (14-2); 3. St. Michael-Albertville (14-1); 4. Chaska (12-2); 5. Lakeville North (14-6); 6. Waconia (17-2); 7. Eden Prairie (15-5); 8. Blaine (9-5); 9. Woodbury (13-2); 10. Owatonna (12-6).
2008 MN High School girls’ tennis rankings
(Associated Press, Sept. 30)
• Class 1A – 1. Rochester Lourdes; 2. Mounds Park Academy; 3. St. James; 4. Staples-Motley. 5. Providence Academy; 6. Blake; 7. Park Rapids; 8. Virginia; 9. Aitkin; 10. Pequot Lakes; 10. Litchfield.
• Class 2A – 1. Rochester Mayo; 2. Edina; 3. Minnetonka; 4. Red Wing; 5. Rochester Century; 6. Centennial; 7. Forest Lake; 8. Mounds View; 9. Elk River; 10. Lakeville North.
2008 MN High School girls’ swimming rankings
(Associated Press, Sept. 30)
• Class 1A – 1. Visitation; 2. Monticello; 3. Fergus Falls; 4. Red Wing; 5. Hutchinson; 6. Sartell; 7. Benilde-St. Margaret’s; 8. Marshall; 9. Breck; 10. Orono.
• Class 2A - 1. Stillwater; 2. Edina; 3. Eden Prairie; 4. Maple Grove; 5. Wayzata; 6. Minnetonka; 7. Burnsville; 8. Lakeville North; 9. Lakeville South; 10. Elk River.
2008 MN High School girls’ cross country rankings
(Associated Press, Sept. 30)
• Class 1A – 1. Adrian; 2. Staples-Motley; 3. Perham; 4. Rochester Lourdes; 5. Holy Family; 6. Paynesville; 7. Fairmont; 8. St. Cloud Cathedral; 9. Breck; 10. LaCrescent.
• Class 2A – 1. Lakeville North; 2. Eden Prairie; 3. Minnetonka; 4. Shakopee; 5. Eastview; 6. Chaska; 7. Lakeville South; 8. Hopkins; 9. Moorhead; 10. Prior Lake.
2008 MN High School boys’ cross country rankings
(Associated Press, Sept. 30)
• Class 1A – 1. Mora; 2. Pequot Lakes; 3. Perham; 4. Adrian; 5. Minnehaha Academy; 6. Plainview/Elgin-Millville; 7. Milaca; 8. Blake; 9. Mounds Park Academy; 10. Long Prairie-Grey Eagle.
• Class 2A – 1. Wayzata; 2. Eden Prairie; 3. Edina; 4. White Bear Lake; 5. Moorhead; 6. Alexandria; 7. Minnetonka; 8. Stillwater; 9. Minneapolis South; 10. Forest Lake.
Anyone with any information for Sports Shorts, please contact me, and let me know about it.
I can be reached by e-mail at aaron@heraldjournal.com, or by phone at (320) 485-2535, or you may drop the information off at any of our offices or drop boxes.

DC looks for homecoming win against Annandale

swiblemo — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:59:22 +0000

By Stephen Wiblemo
Sports Editor
It’s homecoming week at Dassel-Cokato High School, and the Charger football team is looking to turn its two-game skid around with a big win over Wright County Conference foe Annandale.
Not only is this homecoming week, but it is also the final home game of DC’s season, which means it could also be the Charger seniors’ final game at Charger Field. This should give DC some extra incentive to win.
“We talked (to the team) about that,” DC head coach Ryan Weinandt said.” We said, hey, this could be your last game at home, do you want to end your season, or career, here on a good note. Homecoming is a big week, I think the guys are excited, and they should be fired up.”
Even though the Chargers have a good reason to win, Annandale has just as good of a reason to be a spoiler.
The Cardinals had their homecoming fun ruined last week when they fell to Glencoe-Silver Lake 34-14. They would love to return the favor to DC tonight.
Both teams have a 2-3 overall record going into this sixth week of games, but DC has a 1-3 WCC record, while Annandale is 2-3 in the conference. If the Chargers want to celebrate their second conference win tonight, it will have to start with the defense stepping up to its prior form.
“That is the thing we have been lacking a little bit,” Weinandt said. “We have to make sure we give ourselves a chance to make plays, and just stop them.”
In the first three games of the season against Mound-Westonka, GSL, and Waseca, DC allowed just 471 total yards, and only GSL had more than 200.
That lock-down defense allowed DC to win the battle of field position and put the offense in good situations to score. The Chargers went 2-1, losing a close battle to GSL.
In the last two games, however, the defense has allowed 760 yards in loses to Orono and Litchfield.
Some keys for the Charger defense against Annandale will be stopping their running horse, Brian Karg
He has carried the ball in 61 of the Cardinals’ 147 running plays and has 439 yards of the teams 674 total rushing yards.
“He is a very shifty and athletic running back,” Weinandt said. “I don’t know if we’ve faced a back that has as much speed as he does. I wouldn’t call him a power runner, but if he gets an open space he has some good moves and quickness.”
Aside from running, Annandale is also known to air the ball out quite a bit. The Cardinals have thrown the ball more than any other team in the conference, 95 times, and have completed 50 passes for 612 yards, the third most in the conference.
Stopping the pass will be another key for the defense, put it could also provide some big opportunities for turnovers.
“We saw that last year too,” Weinandt said. “They’ll get four wide receivers, spread them out, and throw the ball around. They have a lot of good athletes and they like to get the ball in their hands quickly and let them make a play.”
Offensively, DC may have to go without the legs of one of their running horses, Kurt Aho, who missed the game against Litchfield last week due to a knee injury.
“We are hopeful that he can come and play, but we aren’t 100 percent positive,” Weinandt said. “His knee is still pretty swollen, and we’ll have to see at game time.”
DC’s offense was still able to produce points, but they had to stray away from their usual game plan of running a majority of the plays.
Quarterback Andy Haataja threw the ball 32 times, twice as many as in any other game, and completed 12 for 184 yards. The ball was run just 27 times for 46 yards.
Although DC will try to work back to it’s usual game plan of controlling the ball on the ground, the Chargers will do what they have to for a win.
“We were unable to get much going right away, and Litchfield had the ball almost the whole first half,” Weinandt said. “To try and make up points sometimes you have to pass too. But we are going to do whatever we have to, and whatever works.”

NFL Pick-a-winner: Week 5

swiblemo — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:21:46 +0000

The results for the week four of the NFL Pick-a-winner contest are in and a couple players had some sub-par rounds. Leading the week was guest picker Bill Tshchida who went 10-3. Aaron Schultz, and guest pickers Becca Rue and Mike Lhotka, went 8-5. Matt Kane and Stephen Wiblemo finished in last with 6-7 records.

Aaron Schultz and the Herald Journal guest pickers now lead in the overall score as they both have 45-15 records. Stephen Wiblemo, the Delano Herald Journal guest picker, and the Enterprise Dispatch guest picker have 42-18 records, and Matt Kane sits at the bottom with a 38-22 record.

If you would like to play along online with this week’s pickers, just copy and paste the week five games below and make your picks.

NFL Week 5 Games

TITANS at RAVENS
CHIEFS at PANTHERS
BEARS at LIONS
FALCONS at PACKERS
COLTS at TEXANS
CHARGERS at DOLPHINS
SEAHAWKS at GIANTS
REDSKINS at EAGLES
BUCS at BRONCOS
BILLS at CARDINALS
BENGALS at COWBOYS
PATRIOTS at 49ers
STEELERS at JAGUARS
VIKINGS at SAINTS

Dragons burn Chargers 33-20

swiblemo — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:53:25 +0000

By Stephen Wiblemo
Sports Editor
Inconsistency plagued the Charger football team (2-3, 1-3 WCC) on both sides of the ball as it fell to Litchfield 33-20, Sept. 26 at Dassel-Cokato High School.
At times, the team seemed to be riding a high streak, as the defense created turnovers and DC quarterback Andy Haataja moved the ball through the air towards the Dragon end zone.
At other times, however, the Charger offense was stagnant, incapable of moving the ball, and the defense was out of place, giving up a pair of 73-yard touchdown runs.
It was a game full of high highs, and low lows, but the lows were simply too much for the Chargers to fight back from.
“It’s that consistent effort and consistent execution that we are looking for right now,” DC head coach Ryan Weinandt said. “There is no excuse for why we can’t do things well all four quarters.
“We have to get better at working on that. We can’t have little mistakes that cost us big.”
The Chargers went into the game against Litchfield knowing they would be a run-heavy team and wanted to control the clock.
After both teams had short possessions with the ball in the first quarter, the Dragons started to execute their plan as they grinded the ball down the field to reach DC’s 5-yard line at the end of the quarter.
At the beginning of the second quarter, after seven first downs, Litchfield finished the drive with a touchdown.
That wouldn’t have been so bad, but after DC got possession of the ball for just the second time of the game, they went just three-and-out and a muffed punt attempt put the Dragons on DC’s 35-yard line.
Four plays later, on a third-and-four play, Litchfield quarterback Aaron Solbrack emerged from the middle of a pile of players and ran the ball for a 27-yard touchdown.
“If a team is going to drive down the field picking up a couple yards at a time, there isn’t much you can do,” Weinandt said. “But then when they get into a third-and-long situation or any time when you have to make a big play, you have to execute. It is no different on offense.”
DC’s offense continued to struggle with another three-and-out series on its next possession.
One play later, disaster struck again as Litchfield’s Nic Johnson busted out the first of two 73-yard running touchdowns he had against DC.
“Big plays again. Anytime against a good team, big plays can make the difference,” Weinandt said. “That is huge, you can’t give those plays up against a good team and expect to get a win.”
DC’s offense was able to move the ball better with its fourth possession, but after driving all the way down to Litchfield’s 24-yard line, Haataja was intercepted and the Dragons kneeled the ball down to end the first half up 21-0.
Things seemed to take a swing in DC’s favor in the third quarter.
After a quick three-and-out drive from DC, Litchfield got the ball back but fumbled it and Josh Balmores recovered to put on its own 48-yard line.
Haataja spoiled the good field position, though, as he through his second interception.
The defense held again, though, and got a Litchfield three-and-out.
Finally, in its seventh possession, the Charger offense seemed to making headway as they drove from their own 17-yard line down to Litchfield’s 29-yard line.
“In that second half, the offensive line stepped up and was giving (Haataja) some time,” Weinandt said. “I think we saw what he is best at, and that is creating some space. He uses his athletic ability to juke a couple guys and then find an open receiver.
“I thought the receivers later on in the game made some nice catches and were running after the ball, but again there was that inconsistency that you can’t afford to play one half of football and expect to win.”
But DC stalled and turned the ball over on downs.
The defense held again, and with the help of some penalties, Litchfield was forced to punt.
Disaster struck again, though, as DC fumbled the punt and the Dragons recovered on DC’s 22-yard line.
Everything seemed to be getting out of control for DC until a big break went their way.
Litchfield’s quarterback, Solbrack, fumbled the ball on a short run play and Adam Smith picked it up and returned it for an 86-yard touchdown right at the end of the third quarter.
With the little bit of momentum back on their side, the DC defense held Litchfield in another quick drive and forced a punt.
DC offense was back on the field. They started on their own 45-yard line and managed to drive it all the way down to the goal line where they finally punched it in with a two-yard run from Jaibyne Braatz.
The Chargers looked prime for a comeback, but just when things appeared to be getting better Litchfield’s Johnson ran his second 73-yard touchdown and made it a two-touchdown game again.
That started another spiral for DC as they fumbled on their next possession and gave the Dragons the ball on DC’s 30-yard line where they put it in for another score.
The Chargers were able to score another touchdown thanks to a good kick return and some big receptions, including the 29-yard touchdown catch by Smith, but it was not enough to close the gap.
Offensively, the Chargers were only able to rack up 46 yards on the ground, and they were hampered by the loss of senior running back Kurt Aho. Aho popped a bursitis in his knee and was out the entire game.
“That is hard, Kurt’s been a work horse for us,” Weinandt said. “I thought Jaibyne (Braatz) stepped in and had some nice runs.”
Aho is questionable to play in the next game against Annandale.

Fri., Sept. 26
1 2 3 4 F
Litchfield 0 21 0 12 33
DC 0 0 7 13 20

First Quarter
No scoring
Second Quarter
1. (Litch) 11:14 – Damian Heairet 2-yard run (Eric Hulterstrum kick good)
2. (Litch) 7:49 – Aaron Solbrack 27-yard run (Hulterstrum kick no good)
3. (Litch) 5:01 – Nic Johnson 73-yard run (Dominic Devine pass from Solbrack)
Third Quarter
4. (DC) :17.9 – Adam Smith 86-yard fumble return (Ricardo Zavala kick good)
Fourth Quarter
5. (DC) 9:30 – Jaibyne Braatz 2-yard run (Zavala kick no good)
6. (Litch) 8:09 – Johnson 73-yard run (Solbrack pass no good)
7. (Litch) 4:31 – Johnson 5-yard run (Johnson run no good)
8. (DC) 2:58 – Smith 29-yard pass from Andy Haataja (Zavala kick good)
DC Passing (comp-att-yards-TD-int): Andy Haataja 12-32-181-1-2
DC Receiving (rec-yards-TD): Adam Smith 4-92-1, Seth Elmquist 6-74-0, Ethan Germscheid 2-18-0
DC Rushing (att-yards-TD): Braatz 15-44-1, Shane McConkey 1-0-0, Haataja 10-(-)11-0, Smith 1-13-0
Tackles: Sam Pokornowski 17, Karl Bekkala 13, Steve Koivisto 5, Nathan Anderson 8, Logan Benda 6, Tim Buerskin 3, Jasper Asplin 4, McConkey 7, Smith 6, Josh Balmores 2, Elmquist 2, Ethan Richardson 2, Tyler Leuders 1, Jeff Janckila 1
Sacks: None
nterceptions: None

Randolph no match for LP/HT

Aaron Schultz — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 12:35:36 +0000

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.

Lakers ground the Rockets

Aaron Schultz — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 12:33:38 +0000

By Aaron Schultz
Sports Editor
HOWARD LAKE – Several huge individual nights helped the Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted Lakers’ football team squeak out a 28-20 win over the Rockford Rockets Friday.
“The Lakers had to battle hard for this win, but fought until the very last play,” head coach George Montgomery said.
Seniors’ Trevor Zachmann and Curtis Herbolsheimer each had big nights on different sides of the football for the Lakers, but the night belonged to sophomore running back Adam Klinkner.
Coming off a strong game against Eden Valley-Watkins the week before, Klinkner put the Lakers on his young shoulders Friday night, helping HLWW improve to 3-1 in Central Minnesota Conference play.
Klinkner carried the ball 26 times for 259 yards – an average of just under 10 yards-per-carry.
Three of those 26 carries went for touchdowns, including a 94-yard scamper, which opened the scoring on the night.
“Adam put the offense on his shoulders and carried us to victory,” Montgomery said. “Adam did well against EVW last week, and we knew that he would have to have a great game this week. He came through in flying colors.”
Also having a big night on offense for HLWW was Herbolsheimer, who caught five passes for 101 yards, and the final touchdown of the night.
Together, Herbolsheimer and Klinkner combined to account for 381 of the 408 total yards the Lakers had in the win.
Meanwhile, on the defensive side of the ball, Zachmann was in Rockford’s backfield much of the night, especially in the second half, coming away with three quarterback sacks.
“Trevor had three sacks in the game, while making it difficult for the quarterback to feel comfortable,” Montgomery said.
HLWW is now 3-2 overall, while staying one game back of Maple Lake and Eden Valley-Watkins (both 4-0) in the CMC with a 3-1 mark.
The Lakers will look to pick up their fourth win of the season Friday, Oct. 3 when they host the Kimball Cubs for homecoming.
Kimball is 0-4 in the CMC, and is 1-4 overall.
This past Friday, the Cubs were beaten by Eden Valley-Watkins 39-8.
The early part of the Lakers’ win Friday wasn’t the prettiest football you’ll ever see, as both teams lost fumbles early on.
Actually, HLWW recovered two fumbles, one coming inside their own 10-yard line, stopping a Rockford scoring drive.
Following that second turnover, Klinkner gave the Laker fans a little taste of what they could expect from him all night long.
On a second-down play, Klinkner broke several tackles up the middle, then bounced to the right, and was gone.
Klinkner went 94 yards at the 2:28 mark of the first quarter for the opening score of the game, giving HLWW a 6-0 lead.
Rockford bounced back in the second quarter, scoring on quarterback sneak from a yard out to tie the game.
Then, after a pair of HLWW penalties on the extra point attempt put Rockford a yard away, they punched in the two-point conversion to take an 8-6 lead.
On the following possession, the Lakers moved the ball quickly into Rockford territory on a beautiful 40-yard pitch and catch from quarterback Cameron Lehner to Herbolsheimer, putting HLWW deep inside Rocket territory.
Just a few second later, Klinkner was at it again, this time carrying it in from 11-yards out to regain the lead for the Lakers.
HLWW then successfully converted the two-point play on a Lehner pass to Klinkner, giving the Lakers a 14-8 lead.
Later on in the quarter, after a HLWW fumble ended a possible scoring drive and put the ball back in Rockford’s hands, the Rockets drove the length of field.
And right before the half, Rockford threw a 6-yard touchdown pass with just nine seconds to go in the opening half to tie the game up at 14. The extra point kick was no good.
Penalties, turnovers, and some mistakes in the secondary allowed the winless Rockets to stay right with the Lakers through the opening half of play.
Coming out of halftime, the Lakers appeared to be out of sorts, as Rockford controlled the play, and with just over two minutes left in the third quarter, took the lead on a 6-yard touchdown pass. The extra point failed.
Now down 20-14, HLWW needed to get something going offensively, but things weren’t looking good.
On the ensuing kickoff, the HLWW returner slipped when picking up the football, pinning the Lakers down inside their own 10-yard line to start this crucial drive.
No worries as it was Klinkner to the rescue. Just two plays into the series, Klinkner ran the ball twice, both runs were for over 10 yards, and just like that the Lakers were out of the shadow of their own end zone.
On this big drive, the Lakers mixed in runs with Joe Jaros and John Long, as well as a few passes, but the majority of the drive was spent handing it off to Klinkner.
Klinkner then completed the drive he started with a 4-yard touchdown run, tying the game up at 20.
Derek Youngren then nailed the extra point, and the Lakers had themselves the lead back at 21-20 with 8:42 left to play.
Rockford then attempted to move down the field on their next possession, but saw their drive killed when David Luhman came away with an interception.
Following the interception, the Lakers picked up several first downs as they looked to kill time off the clock.
That is when Rockford’s defense stepped it up a notch, forcing the Lakers into a 4th and 10 from the Rockets’ 30-yard line with just over two minutes to play in the game.
Letting all the time they could run off the clock first, the Lakers then called a time-out to set up a play, and what a play it was.
On that fourth down play, Lehner dropped back to pass, and found Herbolsheimer over the middle.
Herbolsheimer caught the pass, made one Rockford defender miss, and was off to the races for a 30-yard touchdown reception.
Youngren followed with the extra point kick, and the Lakers had themselves a 28-20 lead.
But the game wasn’t over yet, as Rockford’s passing attack still had time to move the ball down the field, and were just a touchdown and two-point conversion away from tying it up.
The Rockets did move the ball into HLWW territory, but an interception by Quin Leaf deep inside Laker territory ended this threat.
However, the Lakers were unable to secure a first down after the interception, and were forced to punt from deep inside their own territory with under a minute to play in the game.
Punting from his own end zone, Jaros got off a beautiful punt, sending the Rockford returner back.
The Rockets did get a solid return, but it was brought back due to a penalty, leaving Rockford with well over 50 yards to go with just seconds to play.
That is when Zachmann made his presence felt again, picking up his third sack of the game, this one ending the game for the Lakers in victory.
Defensively, the Lakers played well against the run, allowing just 44 net yards to the Rockets.
However, Rockford was able to throw the ball against HLWW, passing for 231 yards, with most of those coming in the first half.
“Our defense did well against the run, but allowed 231 yards through the air,” Montgomery said. “Rockford’s offense exploited our secondary throughout out game. Once we switched our coverages and drops, it made it more difficult to find receivers.”
Game Stats
Passing
• Cameron Lehner: 9-for-17, 124 yards, 13.7 yards-per-completion, 1 TDs, 1 INT.
Rushing
• Adam Klinkner: 26 carries, 259 yards, 9.96 yards-per-carry (ypc), 3 TDs.
• Joe Jaros: 5 carries, 17 yards, 3.4 ypc.
• John Long: 5 carries, 6 yards, 1.2 ypc.
• Mitch Merges: 1 carry, 2 yards.
Receiving
• Curtis Herbolsheimer: 5 receptions, 101 yards, 20.2 yards-per-reception (ypr), 1 TD.
• Adam Klinkner: 2 receptions, 21 yards, 10.5 ypr.
• Kyle Klammer: 1 reception, 4 yards.
• Joe Jaros: 1 reception, -2 yards.
Defense
• Jace Whitcomb: 2 solo tackles, 1 assist.
• Joe Uter: 2 solo tackles, 1 assist.
• Quin Leaf: 1 assist, 1 INT.
• John Long: 4 solo tackles, 4 assists.
• David Luhman: 3 solo tackles, 2 assists, 1 INT.
• Mitch Merges: 2 solo tackles.
• Adam Klinkner: 6 solo tackles, 1 assist.
• Kyle Klammer: 1 solo tackle, 2 assists.
• Zach Grangroth: 2 solo tackles, 1 assist.
• Matt Schmieg: 2 solo tackles, 3 assists, 1 solo tackle for loss.
• Trevor Zachmann: 3 solo tackles, 3 sacks.
• Derek Youngren: 1 solo tackle, 1 assist, 1 fumble recovery.
• Tony Hausladen: 1 solo tackle, 1 assist, 1 sack.
• Curtis Herbolsheimer: 2 assists.