Mounders stunned by Warriors in second half with late field goal
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THE MOUNDERS’ Ethan Johnson (#2) headed up field after making one of his seven catches in the Cloverbelt football opener in Neillsville September 2. Johnson finished with 130 yards and a touchdown. —photo by Joel DeWitt
by Joel DeWitt
Sports Correspondent
NEILLSVILLE – As September breaks, the Mounders find themselves jumping into conference play. Coming off a tough loss in the final non-conference game against St. Croix Central, they were looking to rebound against a scrappy Neillsville/Granton Warrior team that was hungry for a home win.
To win in football, you need a little luck, a lot determination, and most importantly good line play; and that is exactly what the Warriors brought to the field last Thursday.
“I give their defensive and offensive lines a lot of credit, they really brought it,” Mounders Coach Dave Lew said. “Ours didn’t bring it like they should have.”
That would result in a 15-14 loss on September 2nd, as the Mounders fell to a motivated squad from Neillsville/Granton in pain staking fashion. A late miscue on a punt would set up the Warriors for the eventual game-winning field goal as time expired. The loss puts the Mounders at 1-2 on the season.
Elk Mound would find the going tough early and often. On their first three possessions they would be held to two turnover on downs and would go three and out on the other. However, the fourth would be fruitful.
Starting on their own 36-yard line, Elk Mound would find pay dirt using the run to set up the pass. After three successful runs, QB Kaden Russo would find End Ethan Johnson open for the 31-yard reception and the touchdown. The ensuing point after attempt would find Russo connecting with Ryan Bartig for the conversion to put Elk Mound up 8-0 with 4:50 remaining in the second quarter.
The celebration didn’t last long for the Mounders. The following kickoff would see Neillsville/Granton take possession of the ball and use only three plays to push the ball into the endzone. The drive was capped by Micah Zoschke who had runs of 51 and eight yards, the latter for a touchdown, to put the Warriors on the board. The rushing PAT attempt would fail and leave the score at 8-6.
The next two possessions of the half would find Elk Mound getting oh so close. The Mounders would push the next possession down the field, and on fourth and goal Russo would throw a pass that would fall incomplete in the endzone.
After the Mounder defense held and forced a punt, they would once again be on the verge of scoring. Starting on the Warriors 35-yard line, the Mounders would take it down to their own 7-yard line before a Warrior defender would intercept a Russo pass in the endzone to end the half.
The third quarter would find both defenses take over. Each team traded possessions until 22 seconds left in the quarter. That is when Warrior QB Bryce Erickson connected with Jace Pekol for a 63-yard touchdown reception to put Neillsville/Granton up 12-8 after the failed PAT.
It wasn’t until an interception by Ethan Johnson, that the Mounders would find themselves back in business. The pick would set them up at the Warrior 30-yard line. Five plays later Avery Kaanta would push it in from one yard out to give Elk Mound the lead once again. The failed PAT would set the score at 14-12, and leave the door open for Neillsville/Granton.
On the Warriors next possession, Bartig would intercept a pass by Erickson that would put Elk Mound in position to run the clock out. However, the Warrior defense would hold the Mounders on three rushing attempts and force a punt. A misplayed snap on the punt attempt would cause the Mounders to turn the ball over to Neillsville/Granton on their own 34-yard line with 1:51 remaining in the game.
Neillsville/Granton would capitalize on that mistake. Using a combination of passes and rushes, and an untimely penalty on fourth down by the Mounders, the Warriors would push the ball down to the 8-yard line and would kick the game-winning field goal as time expired to escape with a 15-14 win.
“It didn’t bounce our way tonight. I really think these guys wanted it tonight, they really wanted to play hard tonight,” Commented Lew. “My hat’s off to them. They beat us straight up.”
Offensively, Elk Mound totaled 312 yards with 189 coming from passes completed by Russo. His leading target with Johnson with seven receptions for 130 yards and one touchdown. Kaanta led all rushers with 93 yards on 27 carries and the 1-yard score.
The Mounders will have a week to get things right before hosting the Rambers of Regis on September 10th.