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H-BC Patriots fall at home to MLA Wolverines 19-12

Lead Summary
,
By
Dan Ellingson for the Star Herald

On Friday night the 4-1 Hills-Beaver Creek Patriots hosted the 3-2 Mountain Lake Area Wolverines in a Section 3 9-man showdown.
The Patriots were looking to bounce back from last week’s setback, while the Wolverines were riding a 3-game win streak.
Mountain Lake Area held on for the win in this closely contested game by a score of 19-12.
The young Patriots played through the game with some key players sitting out portions of the game because of the physical play on both sides of the ball.
Head coach Rex Metzger said he felt the Patriots missed a couple of opportunities on offense as the team defense kept them in the game.
But the Pates struck first when freshman quarterback Jamin Metzger sneaked the football into the endzone with 11 seconds to go in the first period for an early Patriot lead.
It was H-BC’s third possession of the game.
While the Wolverines had the ball twice on offense during the first quarter, the stingy Patriot defense gave up only eight total yards to the Wolverines during the quarter.
The second quarter proved to be a pivotal period in the game. The Pates forced a Wolverine punt on the first possession, but the Patriot drive stalled at midfield. After Cameron Allen’s punt, MLA took over on their own 32-yard line.
On first and 10, The Wolverines’ speedy and shifty back took the ball over the goal line to tie the game at 6-6. A successful point after gave MLA the lead at 7-6, and it was a lead they never relinquished.
Hampered by two penalties, the Patriots could not move the ball on the subsequent drive. The home team was forced to punt.
After a combined tackle for a loss by Patriots’ Brayden Metzger and Riley Tatge, and a Cooper Gehrke pass breakup, the Patriots forced the Wolverines into a third and 15 from H-BC’s 22 yard-line.
However, with 5:18 left in the half, the MLA running back sprinted for 22 yards and extended the Wolverine lead to 13-6.
The Patriots could not get the offense going on the next drive, but the defense stopped the MLA offense with some big hits by Beau Bakken and Luke Fuerstenberg, thus causing a Wolverine punt.
The Patriots’ offense gained possession of the ball with just 2:36 left in the half. The Pates then went on a 9-play, 61-yard drive with Jamin Metzger scoring his second touchdown of the game with just three seconds left until halftime. The two-point conversion attempt fell incomplete, and MLA held a 13-12 halftime lead.
The falcons scored on their second possession of the third quarter on a 20-yard run, boosting the Wolverine lead to 19-12.
Patriot linebacker Sawyer Bosch sprinted from his left outside position and blocked the extra point kick, keeping the Patriots down by seven.
In the final quarter, the H-BC offense started the last drive of the game with just over three minutes on the clock.
Behind the passing of Jamin Metzger, the receiving of Cooper Gehrke, Brock Harnack, Riley Tatge and the rushing of Sawyer Bosch, the Patriots advanced the ball to a first and goal from the 9-yard line with just 1:56 left in regulation.
But after a quarterback scramble by Jamin Metzger, a short run by Sawyer Bosch and a quarterback sack, the Patriots faced a fourth and goal from the 20-yard line with just 4 seconds left.
On fourth down, Jamin Metzger completed a pass to Bakken who was stopped short of the goal line at the 8-yard line.
The Wolverines came out on top with a 19-12 victory. The Patriots dropped to 4-2 for the season, and with the win, MLA also sits at 4-2.
The Patriots will travel to Red Rock Central Friday to face the 4-2 Falcons, who coach Metzger expects to be a physical team.
The outcome of that game will help bring into focus the seeding for the post-season Section 3 tournament. Game time is 7 p.m. in Lamberton.
 
Team statistics
HBC-78 rushing yards, 144 passing yards, 222 total yards, 16 first downs, seven penalties for 55 yards, one turnover.
MLA-203 rushing yards, six passing yards, 209 total yards, nine first downs, eight penalties for 45 yards, zero turnovers.
 
Individual statistics
Rushing: Sawyer Bosch 8-27, Justin Roelfs 6-26, Beau Bakken 7-19, Cooper Gehrke 2-12, Brock Harnack 1-(-2), Jamin Metzger 13-(-4).
Passing: Jamin Metzger 11-24 for 144 yards, Sawyer Bosch 0-1.
Receiving: Riley Tatge 3-68, Beau Bakken 2-30, Cooper Gehrke 2-29, Brock Harnack 1-9, Justin Roelfs 3-8.
Defense: Beau Bakken 10.5 tackles, Brayden Metzger 5 tackles, Sawyer Bosch 4.5 tackles, Alex Harris 4 tackles, Luke Fuerstenberg 3.5 tackles, Cody Moser 3.5 tackles.

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