Monsoon Bowl 2023: Chieftains vs. Chiefs

By Ginna Young

It’s always interesting when Lake Holcombe and Cornell meet on the football field, but Oct. 13, could be the most interesting yet, in what locals are hailing as the Monsoon Bowl. Pouring rain, a flooded, muddy field and falling temperatures didn’t slow down the action in the final conference game of the year.

In front of packed stands full of spectators, Lake Holcombe came out of the gate in high gear, pumped up for their Homecoming and the 25th anniversary of the lone State title for the Chieftains, scoring 16 points in the first quarter. They continued to pile on points in the second quarter, putting up 22 on the board, while holding Cornell scoreless.

After halftime, Cornell’s defense warmed up and held Lake Holcombe to just 6 points in the third quarter, and 12 in the fourth, but without a lack of offense, the game went to the Chieftains, 56-0, giving them their first victory of the season.

For the Chiefs, freshman Carter Pischke ended with 13 yards rushing, while senior Carter Harycki had 4 and 2 yards on receiving. Senior Jayden Joas-Shaw finished the night with 12 yards passing.

On Lake Holcombe’s side, senior Trent Nitek came up with 175 yards rushing, followed by senior Emmit Johnson, with 42 yards, sophomore Blake Winchel, with 25, and senior Branden Moore, with 21. Johnson also notched 67 yards passing.

With the win, Lake Holcombe’s record sits at 1-7 overall and 1-4 in the league, while Cornell is 0-8 on the season and 0-5 in conference action.

That finishes up the year for both teams, as they bid farewell to the senior athletes and look ahead to what next year has in store.