Cardinals fall in football opener

By Mark Anderson

News Editor

The Staples-Motley football team lost 39-16 to Pequot Lakes in their season opener at home on Sept. 1. The Cardinals ran the ball well, made some big plays on defense, but two fumbles, an interception and poorly timed penalties proved costly for the team.

The Cards took the lead in the first quarter. After PL scored on a well-placed passing play, Staples-Motley marched down the field behind the running of Hunter Berggren. He punched it in for a touchdown and added the two point conversion on another run, giving the Cardinals a 8-7 lead.

The defense stuffed PL on their next drive, led by Jacob Bendson’s sack and Braden Tyrrell’s tackle for a loss.

But S-M punted it back and PL went on a long touchdown drive to make the score 8-15 at halftime.

Staples-Motley received the second half kickoff and promptly fumbled it away. Again the defense held on fourth down, but a roughing the passer penalty gave the ball back and PL took advantage with their third touchdown.

The Cardinals opened up their offense and went on a long drive. Matt Miller made a first down catch on a fourth and 10 play, but the drive ended with a fumble at the one yard line.

PL got the ball at the one, and the Cards held them for three straight plays, including one where Alex Erpelding dropped the runner in the end zone but the referee ruled the ball had crossed the line and wasn’t a safety. On third down, a Cardinal penalty gave PL breathing room.

In the fourth quarter, Staples-Motley got the ball back but an interception led to another Pequot Lakes touchdown. 

Miller took the next kickoff back up the middle and raced 80 yards for a touchdown. He also caught the two point converson from Mason Rychner to give the team hope with the score 16-31. 

PL scored on their next drive to put the game out of reach.

Team results

S-M 8 0 0  8 - 16

PL  7 8 8 16 - 39

Total yards: S-M 242, PL 304

Rushing: Berggren 28-103, 1 TD; Rychner 6-14; Dalton Holmberg 4-24

Passing: Rychner 11-18, 101 yards

Receiving: Miller 5-41, Berggren 3-7, Holmberg 1-17, Isaiah Ross-Bahn 3-31, Mason Nyhus 1-5

Tackles: Bendson 4, Braden Tyrrell 10, Miller 8, Erpelding 10, Scout Strickland 1, Josh Lombard 1, Holmberg 3, Rychner 1, Kyle Serich 3, Nyhus 1, Hunter Carlson 2, Skeesick 1, Isaac Swensrud 2, Jasiah Paskewitz 1, Derek Kennedy 1.