Loyal-Greenwood’s running game dominates Warriors

By Cheyenne Thomas and Valorie Brecht The Loyal-Greenwood (LG) football team came back from their opening season loss last week to Abbotsford to overcome the Neillsville-Granton (NG) Warriors at Neillsville on Aug. 30. The LG team had a very strong running game that allowed them to score multiple times on multiple drives, while their defense kept the Warriors out of the end zone and made their passing game struggle to get off the ground.

“It was a good morale booster for our program. The kids had a great attitude and were enthusiastic throughout the whole game. They brought a level of intensity that was nice to see,” said co-head coach Chris Lindner.

LG set the tone quite early in the game. Getting the ball first, LG’s opening drive started on a short field with Cain Toufar’s kickoff return to the 46-yard line. Tryn Scheel ran the ball down to the 15-yard line on the next play and after two more short carries from Marshall Schultze and Toufar, LG broke into the end zone with a final run by Schultze. Scheel completed the 2-point conversion to give LG an 8-point lead with 10 minutes to go in the first quarter.

“It was important that we get a score right away, and we were able to do that. In the first quarter, offensively we did well for the most part,” said Lindner.

In contrast, the Warriors’ opening drive was over almost as soon as it began, after LG’s Eli Zettler caught an interception on the first play to give the ball back to LG. The team took full advantage of that interception and quickly went back down the field to score again, this time off a run by Toufar. Another 2-point conversion attempt was successful, putting LG ahead 16-0.

The Warriors’ next possession almost had another strike of misfortune, as the ball was fumbled on an attempted lateral play. The Warriors recovered the ball and continued the drive, but were unable to move the ball and were forced to punt. LG didn’t fare any better on their next drive, making it down to the Warriors’ 13-yard line before turning the ball over when they couldn’t convert on a fourth-and-9.

“From the end of the first quarter into the second, we were not as efficient (on offense) as we needed to be,” Lindner noted.

On the next drive, LG’s defense went right back to work against NG, pushing them farther and farther back towards the end zone on each play. On a third-and-19, LG took down the Warriors’ quarterback in the end zone for a safety. LG got the ball back but was unable to get far and was forced to punt.

As the second quarter started, the Warriors still were not able to hold onto the ball for long. A set of incomplete passes stalled the team’s next drive and they punted. LG took the ball back down the field on their next drive, scoring on a run by Scheel and completing the 2-point conversion to lead 26-0.

A fumble on the Warriors’ next drive was recovered by LG’s Aubin Clark to give them a short field and another scoring opportunity before the end of the first half. LG completed a series of runs, capped off by a touchdown pass from Zettler to Toufar. With a comfortable lead, LG attempted a field goal but the kick wasn’t good, keeping the score 32-0.

“We mostly relied on running on offense, and sprinkled in some passing in the first half,” said Lindner.

With about four minutes left in the first half, the Warriors tried to change the momentum of the game. They were able to hold onto the ball for a longer drive, crossing into LG territory on a set of passes and even attempting a pass to the end zone that was incomplete. The drive stalled after LG’s Rhett Lamovec got a sack on the Warriors’ quarterback, and another sack made by Jake Luchterhand a few plays later guaranteed the Warriors wouldn’t score before the first half concluded.

In the second half, LG worked to maintain their lead and let the defense do its work to keep the Warriors’ offense in check. LG also had the opportunity to put in some reserve players to get them game experience.

On their opening drive on the second half, the Warriors did manage to go down the field, but incomplete passes doomed the drive and allowed LG to take over at the 20-yard line. This started LG’s last scoring drive of the game, which was done in just four running plays. Colten Sandelier started the drive with a 6-yard run and followed up on the next two plays with a 10-yard run and a 14-yard run to get the team to midfield. Toufar carried them the rest of the way, breaking through the Warriors’ defensive line on the next play to run all the way down into the end zone to score. This time, the field goal attempt was good and LG led 39-0.

LG’s defense continued to hold the Warriors during the remainder of the game. Lamovec got another two sacks before the game concluded, while the Warriors struggled with incomplete and dropped passes that led to the end of several drives. LG’s drives at the end of the game didn’t score any points, but they did eat up the clock and the game concluded in LG’s favor.

Lindner said he was relatively happy with the team’s performance on both sides of the ball.

“The offensive line had a nice game — they were really physical. They were able to move the line of scrimmage and our backs had some nice holes to run through. Defensively, we were able to shut their run game down. They did have some passing game, especially in the second and the third. But, there were at least two occasions where they got down to the 20- or 25-yard line and we were able to get a stop. So I was proud of those plays.

“Overall, it was a good game for our players.”

This Friday, LG will face fellow Central Wisconsin Conference — Large opponent Marathon at Greenwood.

“Marathon is 1-1 just like us. They are an athletic team and throw the ball well. So we will need to tune up our pass defense this week,” said Lindner.

Colten Sandelier prepares to give a stiff arm to Neillsville-Granton’s Collin Knoff while competing a run. Sandelier was crucial in LG’s final scoring drive of the game, running several plays to move the team upfield.

CHEYENNE THOMAS/STAFF PHOTO

LG’s Cain Toufar gets himself through an attempted tackle on a running play in the team’s game against Neillsville-Granton on Aug. 30. He scored three of the team’s touchdowns in the game, two on runs and one off a pass from quarterback Eli Zettler.

CHEYENNE THOMAS/STAFF PHOTO