HJ Sports Blog

By Aaron Schultz
Sports Editor
On paper, the Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity and West Lutheran football game at Brooklyn Center High School Friday should have been a tight game.
Well, games don’t get played on paper, but on a field instead. And on that field Friday night it was all LP/HT from the start as they went on to beat West Lutheran 48-7.
Dominating from start to finish, LP/HT rushed for 372 yards in the win, while staying perfect in Minnesota Christian Athletic Association play this year.
LP/HT is now 2-0 in conference play, and are 2-1 overall.
That 2-0 record for the Bulldogs puts them in a tie with Providence Academy (2-0) at the top of the MCAA standings.
This week, LP/HT will be back home to host Concordia Academy/Bloomington at 7 p.m.
Concordia Academy/Bloomington is 0-1 in MCAA action, and is 0-3 overall.
Last week, Concordia Academy fell to Bethlehem Academy 42-18 in non-conference action.
Prior to the game in Lester Prairie Friday, there will be a tailgate party from 6 to 7 p.m. at the field LP/HT
where Garber Meats will provide pork chops on a stick for $3, with all of the profits going to the LP/HT football program.
Back to the big win over West Lutheran, where LP/HT dominated on the ground, rushing for 372 yards as a team.
Leading the way for the Bulldogs on the ground was junior captain Brandon Mork, who carried the ball 18 times for 129 yards and two touchdowns.
“Brandon seems to be getting better each week,” head coach Joe Scoblic said.
While Mork and his fellow ball carries ran well against West Lutheran, much of the thanks should go to the offensive line, which controlled the line of scrimmage all game long.
“That says a lot for our linemen Travis Maese, Eric Eiden, Cody Fiecke, Jeremy Quaas, Josh Artmann, Eric Dietel, and Brandon Schaust,” Scoblic said. “Five of the seven are new this season, and they seem to be jelling.”
However, it wasn’t just a one horse show Friday, as LP/HT’s defense also controlled their side of the football.
The defense for the Bulldogs allowed just 105 rushing yards to West Lutheran, and one score, which came in the third quarter after the game was already well in hand.
“I thought the defense played outstanding,” Scoblic said.
In fact, when Mork intercepted a pass and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown, the defense equalled West Lutheran’s scoring output by themselves.
LP/HT’s defense also held West Lutheran to just 73 passing yards, and a grand total of four first downs in the game.
The Bulldogs got on the board first in the first quarter on a 14-yard touchdown run by Mork.
Later in the quarter, Scott Theimann ran one in from 6-yards out, and after two successful two-point conversion attempts, LP/HT had themselves a 16-0 lead heading into the second quarter.
LP/HT extended its lead to 22-0 in the second quarter on a 4-yard pass from senior quarterback Chris Neumann to fellow senior Cory Dammann. The two-point attempt failed.
The scoring in the first half was wrapped up when Mork returned an interception 50 yards for a score. This time the extra point kick was no good.
No matter, LP/HT still had total control of the game entering halftime, leading 28-0.
The Bulldogs put the game out of reach with a big third quarter, outscoring West Lutheran 20-7 in the quarter to cruise to the win.
Mork started the scoring in the third with a 42-yard touchdown run, his third touchdown of the game.
Next up was Theimann, who scored his second touchdown of the game, this time on a 56-yard punt return.
After West Lutheran finally got on the board with a 41-yard touchdown run, LP/HT ended the scoring when freshman Shawn Gebhardt scored from 9-yards out.
Game Stats
Passing
• Chris Neumann: 5-for-11, 24 yards, 4.8 yards-per-completion, 1 TD.
Rushing
• Brandon Mork: 18 carries, 129 yards, 7.0 yards-per-carry (ypc), 2 TD.
• Scott Theimann: 10 carries, 51 yards, 5.1 ypc, 1 TD.
• Chris Neumann: 3 carries, 30 yards, 10.0 ypc.
• Aaron Ruwersma: 1 carry, 13 yards.
• Shawn Gebhardt: 5 carries, 46 yards, 9.2 ypc, 1 TD.
• Sam Scoblic: 6 carries, 38 yards, 6.3 ypc.
• Ben Madsen: 5 carries, 60 yards, 12.0 ypc.
• Eric Schommer: 3 carries, 15 yards, 5.0 ypc.
Receiving
• Cory Dammann: 3 receptions, 10 yards, 3.3 yards-per-reception (ypr), 1 TD.
• Brandon Schaust: 2 receptions, 14 yards, 7.0 ypr.
Defense
• Brandon Mork: 1 INT, 1 TD.
• Zach Fasching: 1 fumble recovery.
• Cory Dammann: 1 INT.