MACA athletics are off to a lively start for 2012. The football Tigers have shone both at home and on the road. They're 2-0 now.
Click on the permalink below to read about the volleyball Tigers' 1-2 start in the new autumn. That win came 3-1 over Benson. This post is on my companion website, "Morris of Course." Thanks for reading - B.W.
http://www.morrisofcourse.blogspot.com/2012/09/maca-girls-looking-to-get-into-groove.html
http://www.morrisofcourse.blogspot.com/2012/09/maca-girls-looking-to-get-into-groove.html
Football: Tigers 26, Paynesville 24
The football Tigers headed east for their second challenge. They were coming off an offense-filled win over Minnewaska Area at Big Cat Stadium. Challenge No. 2 would have the Tigers on the road tangling with the Bulldogs of Paynesville.
Again the offense looked mighty healthy. It was explosive when Chandler Erickson scored on an 82-yard pass reception, having caught this pass from Jacob Torgerson. This was the Tigers' final score in their most savory 26-24 win on Friday, Sept. 7.
The Tigers scored in all four quarters. They overcame a Paynesville team that had crushed Montevideo 42-0 in the opener. Monte managed just two first downs vs. a vaunted Bulldog defense.
Paynesville made state last season. They had Josh Bungum in their ranks then. Player of note Bungum is now a freshman starter at St. John's University.
The Tigers took the field Friday without Darion Helberg who had a practice injury.
The Bulldogs in their striking green uniforms took the field striving to move the ball with an option attack that has the quarterback in the shotgun mode. How potent would it be? Would the Bulldogs be able to pick up where they left off from the Monte game?
Things didn't start out well for MACA. Their first possession was a three-and-out: two modest Tom Holland carries and a dropped pass.
The Bulldogs took over after a punt and brought cheers from their fan gallery instantly with a 36-yard run by the quarterback on an option play. The Tigers were going to have to buckle down on this.
With time the Tigers found their stride. They had the capable and seasoned Jacob Torgerson running the show. Torgerson would pass for just over 200 yards on this night. He was somewhat erratic with eleven completions in 28 attempts but his yardage was nothing to sneeze at. That big hookup with Erickson was highlight reel stuff.
Paynesville may have powered forward on its fist play from scrimmage but it was the Tigers scoring first. Tanner Picht penetrated into the end zone from the two. He also carried successfully on the conversion. There would be no other scoring in the first quarter.
Each team put up six points in the second quarter. Paynesville struck with a 35-yard run by Nathan Meyer. The Tigers kept the lead due to a failed conversion play.
It was Picht scoring again for the Tigers on a run from the four. The conversion try went awry so now the score is 14-6. The horn sounds for halftime.
The third quarter story was a 12-6 advantage for the host Bulldogs. The green crew struck with an eight-yard run that had Anthony Johnson carrying the football. The conversion pass try was no good.
The Tigers answered when Torgerson kept the ball himself and found the end zone from the one. The conversion was no-go on a pass.
Then the green crew struck suddenly with a kickoff return good for six. Caleb Burris sprinted 85 yards with the football. The Bulldogs came up empty on the conversion. The Tigers now cling precariously to the lead, 20-18.
The stage is set for the biggest play of the night: that 82-yard pass hookup from Torgerson to Erickson. Erickson broke loose down the sideline. The situation was somewhat grim when the Tigers came to the line to execute this play. They were looking at third down and eight yards to go from their 18 yard line. The Tigers found the magic to escape that seeming hole and get the refs to signal "touchdown," putting a sudden pall over the home crowd. The conversion pass try was unsuccessful. So the score is now 26-18.
This game would be put away had MACA found the formula to do better on conversions. As things stood, Paynesville was within a touchdown and a two-point conversion. They got that touchdown on a 52-yard pass from Matthew Quade to Caleb Burris.
Now the Tigers were going to have to bear down to thwart the conversion. They did! Paynesville tried a pass that didn't work. The final horn would sound with Morris Area Chokio Alberta up 26-24 and savoring their 2-0 start to the season.
The Tigers had 17 first downs compared to Paynesville's eleven. Three Tigers were at the fore of a balanced rushing attack. Tom Holland carried the football 17 times for 89 yards. Tanner Picht charged forward for 48 yards on 11 carries. And Jordan Staples bulled forward for 43 yards on ten carries.
Torgerson passed for 204 yards and had no interceptions. Erickson's big catch was part of his 136 receiving yards for the night, on six catches. Logan Manska hauled in five passes good for 68 yards.
Nathan Meyer surpassed 100 rushing yards for the green crew. Quarterback Quade struggled in passing with but three completions in eleven attempts, plus he was picked off once. That big completion from Quade to Burris constituted almost the whole passing game for Paynesville. They learned they will need a more diversified offense.
Both teams were penalized five times.
The Tigers next play the Streeters of Sauk Centre. I hear this game has been shifted from Sauk Centre to here. Sharon Martin told me and that makes it authoritative.
Click on the link below to view the MACA football Maxpreps page:
http://www.maxpreps.com/high-
Click on the link below to view the MACA football schedule page on Pheasant Country Sports:
Click on the link below to view my coverage of the Tigers' season opener win over Minnewaska Area. Thanks for reading. - B.W.
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnsota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
No comments:
Post a Comment