Blazers' late scores top MHS

   It came down to two big plays in the fourth quarter.

   Dyersville Beckman quarterback Cayden Gassmann scored on a 25-yard run with 6:24 to play to put his team ahead. Then, Nick Wulfekuhle broke free for a 97-yard scoring run with 2:44 left.

   Those scores were the difference, as the Monticello football team lost a 28-14 decision to the Trailblazers Sept. 9 in Dyersville.

   “Beckman is a really good football team and very well-coached,” Monticello coach Wes Wilson said. “There is a reason they played in the (UNI-) Dome last year, and are ranked very high this year.

   “We did a lot of very good things Friday. Our defense played extremely well again. We moved the ball consistently on offense again, but just did not capitalize.”

   The loss dropped Monticello to 1-2 on the season, but has no bearing on the team’s postseason chances. The Panthers begin the district portion of the schedule Sept. 16 at Tipton, and those five games are the only ones that count in terms of tournament play.

   Still, the Panthers would have loved to come away from Dyersville with a victory.

   “Beckman made a couple big plays when they needed them down the stretch and we were not able to,” Wilson said.

   Monticello started strong, taking the opening kickoff and driving 66 yards in seven plays for the first score of the game. Quarterback Preston Ries hit Tate Petersen on a pass play that covered 29 yards for a touchdown, and Christian Castillo tacked on the extra point for a 7-0 Panther lead.

   Beckman answered on its possession, with a 61-yard drive, capped by quarterback Cayden Gassmann’s one-yard touchdown run.

   The 7-7 tie remained until late in the second quarter, when the Blazers mounted a 59-yard drive and scored on Gassmann’s 13-yard sweep the right side, with just 28.4 seconds left. Beckman took the 14-7 lead into halftime.

   Just as they had in the first half, the Panthers scored on their opening possession of the second half. This time it was a 10-play, 67-yard drive. Dylan Roher scored on a five-yard run, sweeping to the left side. Castillo’s point-after tied it 14-14 with 6:38 left in the third.

   Neither team threatened again in the quarter; Connor Sauser made an interception that stopped one Blazer drive.

   Beckman’s go-ahead drive started at its 11-yard line, and on the ninth play Gassmann scored on a 25-yard run; his third touchdown of the game. The Blazers led 21-14 with 6:24 to play.

   Monticello then drove to midfield, but chose to punt on a fourth-and-18. Ries’ punt was downed at the Beckman 3-yard line with exactly three minutes to play.

   But the Panthers’ hopes of a stop followed by one more possession were dashed when Wulfekuhle ran through a hole on the left side, then raced down the sideline for a 97-yard touchdown and a 28-14 lead with 2:44 to play.

   Monticello drove into Beckman territory one more time, but was stopped on downs at the 26, and the Blazers ran out the clock.

   “We need to be able to finish games,” coach Wilson said. “We have had opportunities, but we have to put points on the board when we have those opportunities. Mental mistakes have really hurt us offensively and killed a lot of drives. Those are things we have to clean up in practice.”

   Ries had another strong game, passing for 217 yards and rushing for 117. Petersen caught 11 passes for 115 yards. Roher finished with 68 yards rushing.

   Ries also was the team’s leading tackler, with seven, including a sack.

At Tipton Friday

   Monticello will travel to Tipton for this Friday’s game.

   “Tipton has quite a few guys back with experience from last season,” Wilson said. “Coming into this game 0-3, we know we will get their best shot.”

Sept. 9

(at Dyersville)

Mont    7   0   7    0  – 14

DB         7   7   0  14  – 28

SCORING SUMMARY

FIRST QUARTER

     Monti – Petersen 29 pass from Ries (Castillo kick), 9:27 remaining.

     DB – Gassmann 1 run (Arens kick), 4:46.

SECOND QUARTER

     DB – Gassmann 13 run (Arens kick), 0:28.4.

THIRD QUARTER

     Monti – Roher 5 run (Castillo kick), 6:38.

FOURTH QUARTER

     DB – Gassmann 25 run (Arens kick), 6:24.

     DB – Wulfekuhle 97 run (Arens kick), 2:44.

TEAM STATISTICS

                                  Monti      DB

First downs             18          11

Rushing yds.          190        356

Passing yds.           217         93

Comp.-att.-int.   21-36-0  5-13-1

Total yards             407        449

Fumbles lost            0             1

Penalties-yds.       2-15       2-15

MONTICELLO STATISTICS

     Rushing – Ries 26-117, Roher 9-68, Jordan 1-5.

     Passing – Ries 21-36-217-1-0.

     Receiving – Petersen 11-115, Roher 4-48, Schilling 5-43, Guilford 1-11.

     Interception – Sauser.

     Fumble recovery – Jordan.

     Tackles – Ries 7, Fuhrmeister 6, Petersen 5.5, Sauser 5.5, Roher 4, Monk 3, Sternhagen 2.5, Castillo 2.5,  Graves 2.5, Prull 2, Taylor 1.5, Husmann 1, Luensman 1, Besler 0.5.

     Sacks – Ries 1.

     Tackles-for-loss – Ries 2, Roher 0.5, Fuhrmeister 0.5, Castillo 0.5, Graves 0.5.