Logan Manska, #7 of the Tigers, advances the ball during the Homecoming game against Benson. (Photo by B.W.)The teams went back and forth scoring in the 2011 Morris Area Homecoming football game.
The celebration this year had an extra dimension as the Chokio-Alberta royalty were introduced at halftime like the Morris Area royalty. The Morris Area Chokio Alberta partnership seems fully cemented.
The football could not have been more entertaining (if you disregard the outcome, Tiger fans).
Each team had an answer for the other's scores.
It was the visiting Benson Braves having the advantage at game's end, 39-28. It was quite a night for their quarterback, Matt Ahrndt.
It was the visiting Benson Braves having the advantage at game's end, 39-28. It was quite a night for their quarterback, Matt Ahrndt.
The Tigers have found victory elusive since their season opener. Win or lose they play an entertaining brand of football. They rushed for 225 yards Friday and passed for 141. Quarterback Jake Torgerson completed 13 of 23 pass attempts. The Tigers compiled 20 first downs and scored in three of the four quarters.
Tim Ostby rushed for 103 yards in 19 carries, and Tanner Picht gained 75 rushing yards in eight carries.
Benson quarterback Ahrndt was quite the nemesis for MACA. He amassed 360 total yards and was involved in all six of his team's touchdowns.
The fourth quarter was especially wild. The Tigers showed offensive focus with 14 points in the fourth. But the Ahrndt-led Braves kept pace, scoring 13 to hold an advantage.
Hopes grew among the big Homecoming fan turnout - orange all over the place - when Tommy Holland scored from the one to bring MACA to within four points (32-28).
Benson then summoned the deciding blow with a march covering 63 yards, making the score 39-28 with a little over two minutes left. Ahrndt took scoring honors for this final TD.
The Benson QB was superlative with his passing, posting stats of 21 completions in 25 attempts for 256 yards and no interceptions. It might have been a career night. But wait, it doesn't end there, as Ahrndt was Benson's top rusher with 100-plus yards.
Logan Connelly was the favorite receiving target of Ahrndt as this Brave had 13 catches for 153 yards.
Benson led 14-6 after one quarter. With some sunlight still apparent, Ahrndt ran the ball into the end zone from eight.
The Tigers answered with a two-yard TD carry by Ostby. The Tigers' woes on conversion plays continued (from the previous week) with a failed run.
Ahrndt had a three-yard TD carry later in the first quarter.
The second quarter saw coach Jerry Witt's Tigers outscore the Braves 8-6. Benson scored first in the quarter with a 22-yard pass that showcased the Ahrndt/Connelly chemistry.
Lincoln Berget then showed a deft receiving touch for MACA, hauling in a ten-yard scoring strike from Torgerson. This time the Tigers clicked on the conversion as Ostby caught a pass from Torgerson.
On to the second half: The Ahrndt-to-Connelly magic surfaced again with a six-yard scoring play.
It was MACA scoring next as Torgerson carried the ball in from the three. Again the Tigers found success on the conversion: a pass from Torgerson to Chandler Erickson.
But Benson continually found ways to answer the Tigers. The Superman-like Ahrndt ran the ball in from the two. Is he really just a junior?
The one-yard run by Holland was the next score, and Benson applied the final dagger with Ahrndt reachng the end zone. Colin Ose kicked the PAT for the evening's final point.
The Tigers are still in search of their first conference win. In overall they're 1-3. Coach Witt's crew will next play at Paynesville.
Here's a review of the MACA receiving crew from Friday: Ostby (two catches, 25 yards), Holland (3-39), Logan Manska (4-35), Lincoln Berget (1-10), Tanner Picht (2-23) and Chandler Erickson (1-9).
Picht handled the Tigers' punting. Connor Metzger and Daniel Nelson each had a fumble recovery. Ostby, Metzger and Jordan Staples each each had a quarterback sack. Standouts on the tackle chart were Metzger, Staples, Zach Gibson, Holland and Erickson.
In other action around the WCC-South, ACGC beat Lac qui Parle 20-6, BOLD thumped YME 32-0 and Paynesville prevailed vs. non-conference foe Melrose 28-12.
A personal note: I'm a little groggy as I prepare this coverage due to the CenterPoint Energy snafu. Tonight's (Saturday) low temperature is expected to be around 40 so hopefully things can get remedied in a timely way. Somehow my intuition tells me it won't be that routine.
Hopefully I'll be wrong, like I was wrong about an aspect of the MAHS Homecoming. I was concerned that if special efforts were made to acknowledge C-A's Homecoming as part of the celebration here, it might be problematic. Might the Morris Area Homecoming seem watered down?
I was totally wrong because the full acknowledgement of C-A's royal court Friday at halftime went over totally well. Congrats to all.
It was nice to see and hear the MAHS pep band. Maybe sometime they can play both pre-game and at the half, although temperatures are likely to get colder (and uncooperative) now.
It was nice to see and hear the MAHS pep band. Maybe sometime they can play both pre-game and at the half, although temperatures are likely to get colder (and uncooperative) now.
Volleyball: a mixed bag in week
The MACA volleyball Tigers got their first conference win Thursday and it was a sweep. The Tigers downed Lac qui Parle Valley at LQPV, 25-14, 25-13 and 25-9.
Jaime Bergerson delivered nine kills followed by Terianne Itzen and Sydney Engebretson each with seven. Bergerson and Engebretson each had an ace block. Mikaela Henrichs led in digs with 19 followed by Courtney Ehleringer with 13.
Katie Holzheimer and Itzen did the setting. Emily Tonn had 18 good serves in 19 attempts and chalked up an ace. Ehleringer's serving numbers were 15 good in 16 attempts and two aces.
Henrichs and Holzheimer were both 12 of 12 in serving.
The Tigers' Homecoming week match was Tuesday and on that evening, they found themselves on the short end against the ACGC Falcons. This was a surging ACGC team that came out of the night at 5-0 in conference, 9-2 overall.
Katie Knisley and Sydney Larson were effective hitters for the visitor. Both of these Falcons had double figures in kills.
MACA was defeated 0-3 but a look at the game scores indicates the Tigers put up a much stronger challenge. After the 21-25 game #1 outcome, only a hair's breadth separated the teams. Scores of the other two games were 25-27 and 24-26.
Holzheimer and Itzen set up the hitting attack where Itzen was a cog with her 28 good, 30 attempts and 12 aces. Engebretson's numbers were 22-24-8 and Bergerson contributed seven kills.
The busiest servers were Engebretson, Itzen and Holzheimer, with Engebretson and Holzheimer each notching two aces.
The busiest servers were Engebretson, Itzen and Holzheimer, with Engebretson and Holzheimer each notching two aces.
Engebretson had four ace blocks and Henrichs was busy in digs with 33.
Tennis: match vs. the Sting
The Tigers prevailed at first and second singles but the outcome was a loss against Yellow Medicine East Thursday on the YME courts.
Krista Matthews-Saugstad and Abby Olson were the victorious Tigers. First singles player Matthews-Saugstad defeated Jenna Rasmussen 6-2 and 7-6 (7-4). Olson in the No. 2 spot downed Rachel Christensen 6-2 and 6-2.
YME was the 5-2 winner on the day.
MACA was represented at third and fourth singles by Megan Wagner and Emily Moser. The first doubles team was Darcy Aronson and Carly Gullickson. At second doubles it was Shelby Marthaler and Marlee Morton vying for MACA.
The No. 3 doubles tandem was Kjersa Anderson and Kindra Cannon.
- Brian Williams - morris mn Minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
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