Finally a low-scoring game: Tigers fall

The MACA football Tigers slid back to .500 with how they fared Friday night. This was an away game with Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted as the opponent. Does Winsted still have the annual "Winstock" country music festival? I went there one year. Howard Lake- Waverly-Winsted has the "Lakers" nickname. 

Our Tigers came up shy as the road warrior. We have now completed four games of the 2025 pigskin slate. And our record is 2-2. We fell to those Lakers in the 12-6 final. A more low-scoring game than what has been the Tigers' norm. 

We're home for the next contest which will have Dassel-Cokato as the opponent. Come to Big Cat Stadium! 

The Tigers and Lakers both scored points in the opening quarter - six points each. From there the game took on a decidedly low-scoring complexion. But the Lakers struck with a single touchdown in the second quarter and this proved to be the difference. The Tigers' offense went silent, or let's say the Lakers came on strong on defense. 

The Lakers scored the game's first touchdown on a pass from Hunter  Bush to Carlos Schmidt. The aerial netted 27 yards. The conversion play was no-go. 

Then the Tigers struck as once again the pass was showcased. It was Ozzy Jerome passing the ball and Jonah Huebner catching - a three-yard strike. The conversion try failed. 

The decisive Laker score of quarter No. 2 was yet another pass play. It went from Bush to Timmy Weber Jr. and it was a big one of 45 yards. The Lakers came up short on the conversion play. 

Fans might have yawned in the second half as no more points were scored. Each of the Tigers' three previous games featured pretty frenetic scoring. 

Ozzy Jerome ended the night with 13 pass completions in 27 attempts for 78 yards, one TD and no interceptions. The ballcarrying story had Grayson Gibson standing out with 96 yards on eight carries for a 12-yard average. Also touching the football on running plays were Jonah Huebner, Jack Kehoe, Ozzy Jerome and Kye Suess. The team rushing total was 114 yards. 

Alex Asmus had 36 receiving yards on three catches. Jonah Huebner covered 13 yards and scored a TD on his five catches. Other Tigers with catches were Jace Kleindl, Gibson and Kehoe. 

On the defensive side, these Tigers posted tackles or assists: Benjamin Hallman, Kye Suess, Huebner, Asmus, Kleindl, Gibson, Brady Mahoney and Kehoe. Hunter Westerman returned three punts. Westerman and Gibson each returned a kick, Westerman for 21 yards, Gibson for 28. Jack Kehoe put his foot to the ball five times on punts for 122 yards. 

Let's take a look at Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted individuals. Their top ballcarrier was Jaxon Ewert with 15 carries for 64 yards, average of 4.3. Benjamin Gatz covered 51 yards on eleven carries. The team rushing total was 252. 

The pass slinger Hunter Bush completed half of his attempts: 6/12 for 137 yards and two TDs, no INTs. Carlos Schmidt got his mitts on the ball for three catches good for 59 yards. Timmy Webber Jr. and Alex Stueven each had one catch. Webber had one kick return for 20 yards. Ewert was their punter and Corbin Long their kickoff man. 

Action resumes for MACA at home! Don't forget to get a burger basket.

 

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com