Starting the game with the ball, the Mainstreeters suffered a lost fumble on their second play from scrimmage. The Lakers proceeded to drive 49 yards on seven plays to post the first touchdown of the game. With about nine minutes left, Greg Helander ran 20 yards for a touchdown and a 6-0 lead.
On Sauk Centre's second drive of the game, they managed just seven yards of offense and punted.
As the first quarter was coming to a close, Minnewaska converted third down with an 18-yard reception. Then with 11:13 left in the second quarter, Helander ran in another touchdown for the Lakers, this time from three yards out. Austin VerSteeg hauled in the two-point conversion for a 14-0 lead to cap a 14-play, 63-yard drive.
On Sauk Centre's third drive of the game, they started from their own 40 with great field position after the kickoff. Austin Nelson plowed his way for seven yards on a fourth-and-inches play at midfield. Later on third-and-nine on the Minnewaska Area 29-yard line, an incomplete pass brought fourth down. The Lakers then earned a quarterback sack with a 12-yard loss.
The Lakers ended up punting on their next possession to the Sauk Centre 19. Cole Neubert then converted his team's first third down of the game at their own 31-yard line. A few plays later Sauk Centre attempted to convert a fourth-and-two play near midfield but got stuffed on the play.
Minnewaska Area capitalized on the miscue when quarterback Michael Gruber hit VerSteeg with a 37-yard touchdown catch with 18.8 seconds left. VerSteeg ran in the two-point conversion and gave the visitors a 22-0 lead going into halftime.
With about one minute left in the third quarter, Minnewaska Area got a four-yard touchdown run for a 28-0 lead.
With about 9:30 left, Nelson busted up the shut out with a one-yard touchdown run. The failed PAT kick made it 28-6.
In the final minutes, Sauk Centre drove 99 yards and scored on a seven-yard reception by Will Funk from relief quarterback Jay Friedrichs with just eight-tenths of a second on the clock.
Unofficial statistics:
Sauk Centre ball carriers totaled 220 yards of rushing on 38 rushes. Leading rusher was Austin Nelson with 155 yards on the ground.
Sauk Centre's quarterbacks combined for 75 yards of passing on 20 attempts. Starter Matthew Moritz had seven pass completions on 14 attempts for 36 yards, while Jay Friedrichs had two pass completions on six attempts for 39 yards. Leading Sauk Centre receiver Cole Neubert caught four receptions for 51 yards.
Up next for the Mainstreeters football team: a road trip to Benson next Friday, Sept. 6 to face an 0-1 Braves team that lost 38-7 at Montevideo in their season opener held tonight.
Update from Morris: at Big Cat Stadium, the Melrose Area Dutchmen have a slim 6-0 lead at halftime against the Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta Tigers.
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| Austin Nelson scored one of two touchdowns in Sauk Centre's 28-12 loss to Minnewaska. |
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| Ben Barhorst had a long run that was called back due to a holding penalty. At the time the Streeters were down 6-0 and driving. |
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| Jay Friedrichs gets the punt off before a Minnewaska player can get his hands on the way. |
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| Senior Cole Neubert zeroes in on a Minnewaska receiver. |
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| Austin Nelson gets dragged down by a Minnewaska player. |
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| Matthew Moritz hands off to Austin Nelson. |
