Glenwood City narrowly escapes shutout by Durand
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FLOATING IN MID AIR — Glenwood City freshman Maxwell Janson stretchs out in an attempt to catch this Gabe Knops pass. Despite Janson’s tremendous effort, the pass fell incomplete. But, just five plays later, Maxwell Janson and Gabe Knops did hook up for a 31-yard touchdown pass play for the Toppers’ lone score of the contest. —photo by Shawn DeWitt
Laura Giammattei
Sports Correspondent
GLENWOOD CITY — The Glenwood City Hilltoppers are still on the hunt for their first win of the 2019 season following a 35-8 Friday night home loss to the Durand Panthers.
Durand (2-2, 1-1) jumped on Glenwood City (0-4, 0-2) early and often, including a 69-yard run by Lucas Zeilinger on the Panther’s first drive of the game. Later, Durand added a 47-yard scoring pass from Joey Biesterveld to Kadin O’Keefe to go ahead 21-0 with 2:11 left in the first quarter.
Durand earned a running clock in the second half after scoring all 35 points of its points in the first half and accumulating 424 of their 448 total yards.
It was only with 3:03 remaining in regulation that the Hilltoppers’ junior varsity unit stepped up to avoid the shutout, as freshman quarterback Gabe Knops hooked up on a 31-yard aerial to freshman Maxwell Janson. Sophomore Brady McCarthy then drove home the 2-point conversion for the final score.
GLENWOOD CITY defenders Justin Moe (left) and Dan Loring combined to stop Durand running back Simon Bauer for a short gain during last Friday night’s Dunn-St. Croix football game in Glenwood City. The Panthers led 35-0 at halftime and went on to win 35-8.
—photo by Shawn DeWitt
“Durand controlled the line of scrimmage the entire game,” Glenwood City head coach Shane Strong remarked. “We must be more disciplined to our read keys on defense. I feel we got caught up in their misdirection.”
Glenwood City finished the night with 143 total yards, 112 rushing and 31 passing. Janson led in rushing yards with 39, followed close behind by Dan Loring with 31.
“I was pleased with our younger kids when they came into the game,” Strong said. “They fired off the ball determined to play physical Glenwood City football.”
The Hilltoppers have their work cut out for them the next two weeks as they prepare to meet with two undefeated conference teams. They will first hit the road to clash with the Cardinals (4-0, 1-0) at Spring Valley High School before returning home to host Mondovi (4-0, 2-0) on September 27. Both teams are ranked in the latest state coaches poll.