Toppers succumb to Pirates second-half surge, suffer first loss of this season

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GLENWOOD CITY — On an evening that recognized and honored the parents of the Glenwood City football and cheer squad members, the Hilltoppers rewarded their faithful supporters with a rousing first-half, home performance September 13.

For much of the first half, Glenwood City stood toe-to-toe with the Grantsburg Pirates, who are listed as ninth in the most recent Division 6 state football poll. At intermission, the Hilltoppers trailed the state-ranked Pirates by a field goal, 17-14, despite having given up a fumble that resulted in six points for the opponent.

Although it was Friday the 13th, superstition likely had little to do with the final outcome. Instead, a balanced offensive attack that simply wore down the Glenwood City defenders coupled with a pair of  interceptions that led to touchdowns allowed Grantsburg to score 21 unanswered, second-half points to claim a 38-14 victory.

The Parents’ Night loss was the Hilltoppers first of the season as it fell to 3-1 and 1-1 in conference play as all of this year’s crossover games with the Lakeland Conference, which Grantsburg is a member, count as league games.

Glenwood City took the opening kickoff and quickly moved down field on seven straight pass completions. Junior quarterback Brody Olson hit Brody Riba for 4 yards, Ryley Dickmann for five and Brady Thompson for a dozen and a first down. Olson continued to go to the air. On first down, he found Brock Wood open for nine yards and followed with an 18-yard completion to Riba that took the Toppers into Pirate territory at the 32 yard line.

An illegal motion penalty pushed Glenwood City back five yards, but Riba and Thompson hauled in passes for gains of nine and three yards, respectively, to set up a third and short yardage situation. Olson, however, suffered his first incompletion. But, instead of fretting, the Toppers and their quarterback went right back to the passing game. On fourth and three, Olson completed the throw to Andrew Blaser for eight yards  and a first down on the Pirate 15. On the ensuing play, Olson handed the ball to senior Mitchell McGee who turned the Toppers first rush of the game into a touchdown at the 6:44 mark of the first quarter. Senior Tyler Harrington sent the PAT kick through the uprights for a 7-0 Topper lead.

It took Grantsburg just two and a half minutes to knot the game. The Pirates first offensive possession was setup by Dane Lozier’s 40-yard kickoff return to the GC 36. Senior running back Ian Burkman ran the first-down play 13 yards, junior quarterback Brock Matheny passed to Lozier for eight yards and back Daxter Schultz rushed to the GC nine to set up a first and goal. A five-yard run by Burkman was erased when the Pirates lost five yards on an ensuing pass play when Brady Thompson hit the receiver behind the line of scrimmage. But, on third and goal at the nine, Matheny connected with Lozier for the touchdown. Senior Alex McCormick, who would later demonstrate his leg strength and accuracy, booted the PAT and it was tied at seven all with 4:01 left in the opening frame.

The Toppers would mishandle an exchange on the kickoff and the Pirates pounced on the loose pig skin to take possession at the GC 17. Two plays later Daxter Schultz ran the football into the end zone from 14 yards out to give Grantsburg its first lead at 3:06. McCormick’s kick made it 14-7 in the Pirates’ favor.

Taking over at its own 20 following the touchback, Glenwood City would embark on a 12-play drive that culminated with a little swing pass from Olson to McGee that the Toppers’ running back turned into a 34-yard touchdown at 9:16 of the second quarter. Additional key plays on the scoring drive where a trio of passes to Riba that tallied 27 yards and a 22-yard run by McGee. Harrington put his kick through the uprights and the game was once again knotted this time at 14-14.

Pass completions of 16 and 26 yards aided Grantsburg in driving down to the GC 16 yard line. Vinnie Wheeler broke through the Pirate line and hit the ball carrier, who had fumbled, for a 12-yard loss. The Pirate drive stalled after that and McCormick came on the field with a fourth and 16 and drilled a 39-yard field goal to put Grantsburg in front 17-14 with 6:10 left in the first half.

Glenwood City took over at its own 20 following another touchback. Olson ran for nine yards and then passed to McGee for three yards and a fresh set of downs on the fourth and one play. McGee then rushed five times for 30 yards and Olson added a 19-yard jaunt of his own to move inside the Grantsburg 20 yard line. But, Glenwood City turned the ball over on downs at the 14 after McGee netted just two yards on a fourth-and-five run.

With just 57 seconds, the Pirates moved inside the Topper 40. With just four ticks left until halftime, McCormick attempted a 53-yard field goal that fell short as time expired.

Grantsburg set the tone for the entire second half as they took the third-quarter kickoff and marched to the goal line. Glenwood City’s defense rose up and stopped the Pirates at the half yard line to take possession.

The reprieve was short lived.

Glenwood City threw three straight incompletions and had to punt away the football.

Grantsburg returned the kick to the GC 24. Burkman rushed for 13 yards on first down and on the very next play, quarterback Brock Matheny called his own number and ran nine yards to pay dirt. McCormick’s kick upped the Pirate advantage to 24-14.

Three plays into the Toppers ensuing possession, Dane Lozier intercepted Olson at midfield and went down to the GC 45. On the very next play, Burkman took the ball and sprinted 45 yards to the end zone. McCormick added yet another PAT and Grantsburg was ahead 31-14 with 2:28 left in the third.

The game’s final score would come midway through the fourth quarter when Lozier again picked off Olson and this time returned the interception 56 yards for the touchdown. McCormick’s fifth point after made the final count 38-14.

The Hilltoppers finished with 263 yards in the game. Olson threw for 176 yards on 17-of-30 passing with two touchdowns and two picks. Mitchell McGee rushed 13 times for 85 of Glenwood City’s 87 yards. McGee also had another 53 yards receiving. Brody Riba led with seven catches for 75 yards and Brady Thompson added 24 yards on four receptions.

The Pirates finished with 356 yards in the game. Matheny was 11-for-14 passing for 111 yards and two touchdowns. Burkman ran for 187 of the Pirates 245 rushing yards and had a TD.

Glenwood City will host rival Boyceville, who is currently on an 11-game conference winning streak, this Friday, September 20.