Loyal offense completely shut down in last league game at Gilman

The Loyal football team put up 160 points in its seven Cloverwood Conference games this season. None of them came in the final game at Gilman.

Loyal managed only 28 total yards all night, in fact, on 37 plays from scrimmage. The usually potent Greyhound ground attack was completely stuffed, picking up just 28 net yards. Nathan Buchanan and Matthew Szymanski, third and fourth in the conference in rushing, respectively, on the season, were held to just 36 yards on 24 carries.

While Loyal was never able to get untracked in a game that decided second place in the season Cloverwood standings, Gilman generated enough offense to slowly build its lead. The Pirates got their first score of the night on a 1-yard Kade Kroeplin run with 4:49 left in the first period and that 6-0 lead held until just before the half.

Gilman went up 12-0 just 16 seconds before the break on Gabe Gunderson’s 5-yard pass to Blake Wisocky.

The final Pirate score came on a 10-yard Gunderson run with 1:49 left in the third period.

Loyal did not have trouble with turnovers, as it had neither a fumble nor an interception. Penalties were not a big problem, either, as the Greyhounds were flagged only four times for 40 yards.

Loyal actually won the turnover battle, as it recovered one Pirate fumble and Trevyn Wilke intercepted a pass. The defense did allow 275 total yards. Gilman threw 17 times with 10 completions for 113 yards.

The loss left Loyal at 5-4 overall on the season. It was given a #5 seed in its 8-team regional pool, and will start the Division 7 playoffs on Oct. 25 at #4 Hurley. The winner plays either #8 Greenwood or #1 Edgar on Nov. 1.