Tigers win wild 38-36 game at Litchfield

What a high school football game at Litchfield Friday night! Our MACA Tigers took on the Dragons of Litchfield. And what a scoring showcase it was! No room for boredom in this game. And best of all, the Tigers emerged as the winner! the score was 38-36. 

Suspense to the maximum! Anthony Taylor of Litch scored a promising touchdown for his team in the fourth quarter. It was promising in the sense that the ensuing conversion play would have tied up the score. Fans watched with anticipation as the Dragons assembled along the line of scrimmage. Could the MACA 'D' bear down here? The Dragons attempted a pass play. Incomplete! 

Litch had a last-gasp opportunity and this would have produced the win, as it was a field goal. The try was pretty hefty, from 40 yards out. Odds not good. But you never know. Bladimir Becerra -Serrato was poised to put his foot to work. Wide right! Wide right! The exhausting night of football wound down and MACA fans could return home feeling the satisfaction of victory. 

Our quarterback Ozzy Jerome produced lots of offensive highlights, passing and running. The West Central Tribune of Willmar always refers to us as "Morris/CA." We of course are "Morris Area Chokio Alberta." 

The first quarter ended with Litch having the lead 7-3. Taylor of the Dragons broke loose for a big 75-yard run for six. The kicker Becerra-Serrato added the PAT. The MACA kicking game got on the board with a 31-yard field goal by Riley Saito. 

The game took on a wild complexion in the second quarter. This was our best quarter offensively with 18 points. Litch scored 14. Jonah Huebner put the ball in the air and connected with Jace Kleindl for an 18-yard TD. The PAT kick try was blocked. 

Litchfield proceeded to wrest the momentum back. Adrian Miller scored on a 20-yard run. Then it was Alex Medina plunging into the end zone from the one. The kicker Becerra-Serrato succeeded for the PATs. 

Jerome found the end zone for the Tigers on a run from the one. 

The passing game clicked for our next score: Jerome passing to Jack Kehoe on a big 34-yarder. Our conversion plays came up shy. Looks like the halftime score was tied 21-21. 

  

The second half 

Keep an eye on the kicking game - it was mighty pivotal. Becerra-Serrato brought cheers from the Litch side with his 35-yard field goal. MACA answered that with a mighty important two-point safety. 

MACA put it together with a touchdown and two-point conversion: Jerome passed to Huebner for six yards and a score. Jerome's arm was on the money again for the two-point conversion. Kehoe was on the receiving end. 

Litch's Taylor scored on a run from the one. The two-point conversion try failed on a run. Then, wow! MACA struck big play-style as Jerome connected with Alex Asmus on a 79-yard TD pass! Saito kicked for the PAT. 

Litch scored its last-gasp touchdown with Taylor clutching the football, but the highly dramatic 2-point conversion pass play failed. And the long field goal attempt as the time wound down missed the mark. Tigers win! Whew! 

We accumulated 15 first downs in this game. We had two standouts in ballcarrying: Kye Suess with 74 yards on 20 carries, and Huebner (17-71).  Jerome was 10 of 14 passing the football for 229 yards and one interception. Huebner was two-for-three for 24 yards. Here's the pass receiving corps: Asmus (seven catches, 171 yards), Huebner (2-24), Kleindl (1-18) and Kehoe (2-40). 

On the defensive side, Saito performed an interception. 

Litchfield "Dragons"

Litchfield's Taylor carried the ball 19 times for 193 yards. Medina completed five of nine passes for 62 yards, one INT. Taylor made noise with his one pass catch for 42 yards. 

Cole Palmer intercepted a pass. Ty Penk sacked the quarterback. 

The Tigers' last two games have been mighty high-scoring. We're right at .500 now in season won-lost: 3-3. We're 2-2 in conference. Our next game is at Glencoe-Silver Lake. I've never been there. 

Let's see, what does the kmrs-kkok site have on last night's game? Actually it's better than the usual. In addition to the score they give some offensive leaders. A tepid compliment to them. 

I invite you to compare the coverage you see here to what's on the Stevens County Times website. The top SCT headline is "Owl football dominates in first win." 

Incidentally I attended the UMM Homecoming volleyball match last night at the P.E. Center. Had a great time. UMM definitely gave the impression of vitality. One has to wonder. The stage floor at the HFA recital hall has "buckled." When it rains it pours for the music dept. I guess.

   

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