When you're playing a Top 10 team, mistakes are one thing you can ill afford.
Against Alden-Hebron on Friday night, Mooseheart lost three fumbles and suffered 45 yards in penalties while garnering only 94 yards in total offense.
And still, the Ramblers had a legitimate shot at winning the game until the late running, when it became apparent the host Green Giants were going to hold on and win the 10-0 contest.
``How could you be upset with your team going in at half only down 3-0?`` asked Mooseheart coach Gary Urwiler. ``We take the (second half) kickoff and we were driving down the field were second and three and we go offside. You just can't have those mistakes when you're in championship play.``
The Ramblers (2-1) weathered all those miscues and stayed close on the back of a scrambling defense that forced a pair of turnovers itself.
``We never gave up,`` Urwiler said. ``We were outmatched at the end.``
Alden-Hebron (3-0), ranked No. 9 statewide in Class 1A, scored the only points of the first half on a Pat Denker field goal with 99 seconds left in the first half.
Those were the only points until Denker ran in a fourth-down, 17-yard pass reception from quarterback Zach Engelbrecht with 2:51 left in the third quarter.
Mooseheart's rushing attack found limited openings. Floyd Mays had 32 yards, Gabe Kendor added 27 yards while Jonell Crump added 20 yards in a 68-yard rushing attack
``Our game plan was to come in and take as much time as we could between plays and keep our drives alive and keep the ball moving,`` Urwiler said. ``Those (3) fumbles killed us.``
The game was played despite the death of Alden-Hebron senior end Alex Zank-Bauman in the 24 hours preceding the ballgame.
``I didn't find out until we were on the road,`` Urwiler said. ``When I got off the bus, I went to (Alden-Hebron coach John Lalor) right away and said `John, there's no pressure here. We have no problem getting back on the bus and going home.` He said the boy's mom came in and said she wanted them to play.``
After the game, the two teams met at midfield for a prayer in memory of the young man.
``They have a great program; I respect (Lalor) and I think he respects us,`` Urwiler said. ``In that type of situation, you throw down out the X's and O's and you become a friend.`` Mooseheart 0 0 0 0 - 0 Alden-Hebron 3 0 7 0 - 10 Scoring: AH - Denker 21 field goal AH - Denker 17 pass from Engelbrecht (Denker kick)
| Mooseheart |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Alden-Hebron |
3 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
10 |
Scoring: AH - Denker 21 field goal
AH - Denker 17 pass from Engelbrecht (Denker kick)
|
