Panthers score big victory at Beckman

     Monticello played from behind in its season opener Aug. 24 against Cascade.

     In Week Two, at Dyersville Beckman, the Panthers were ahead from the mid second quarter on, and went on to score a 27-13 victory over the Trailblazers Friday, Aug. 30.

     Quarterback Jeff Carlson passed for 325 yards, Lake Stahlberg rushed for 153 yards and two touchdowns, and the Panthers answered every challenge, offensively and defensively, that the Blazers had to offer.

     “We just shored some things up defensively,” Monticello coach Wes Wilson said. “And I think we controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides, and when you can do that, that’s a pretty good recipe for victory.

     “Jeff has done a fantastic job. He has stepped up and made some big throws. And it’s hard to tackle Lake. He punishes people.”

     The teams played to a scoreless tie in the first quarter, but in the second quarter, the Panthers served notice that this game might be a bit different from previous Beckman contests.

     A 69-yard drive that started near the end of the first period lasted 12 plays, and ended with a seven-yard touchdown run by Stahlberg.

     Monticello (1-1) stopped Beckman on downs at the Panther 18-yard-line in the next series, and then drove 82 yards for another score.

     On that drive, a fake punt on fourth-and-14 from the Monticello 26 was successful, as punter Tony Wallerich found enough room on the right side to run for 15 yards and a key first down.

     Three plays later, Carlson rolled left and threw down the left sideline to Gavin Cooper, who leaped to make the catch, broke a tackle, and scored to complete a 48-yard play.

     Monticello led 14-0 with 1:52 left in the first half.

     Beckman answered that score with a 48-yard scoring pass of its own, and Monticello led 14-7 at the break.

     But the Panthers took control again in the third period. They took the opening kickoff and marched 68 yards, six of the runs by Stahlberg, including the one-yard plunge at the end that put Monticello ahead 21-7.

     “That was huge,” Wilson said. “We took control of the momentum.”

     Wallerich’s interception in the end zone ended a Beckman threat, and then the Panthers drove 80 yards in seven plays. A 48-yard pass play from Carlson to Tyler Luensman brought the ball to the Blazer 15, and three plays later Stahlberg had his third touchdown, on a three-yard run.

     On the next series, Tyler Luensman intercepted a pass and ran 25 yards near midfield at the Panther sideline, where players and coaches yelled for a horsecollar penalty. None was called, but players from both sides soon erupted in a pushing match that resulted on three personal foul penalties – two on Beckman – and the ejection of  a Blazer player.

     “You hate to see that in a high school game. We talked to our kids about not getting in that situation (again), so hopefully that will be the last one we have to deal with,” Wilson said.

     Beckman scored early in the fourth quarter to cut the margin to 27-13, but didn’t threaten again. Monticello stopped the Blazers on downs at the Beckman 46 with 4:15 to go, and was able to run out the clock.

     The Panthers will play their first home game of the season Sept. 7 against Bellevue.

JV wins

     Monticello’s junior varsity finally got to play a game, and was victorious as well, with a 22-6 win over Beckman. Details are scheduled to appear in the Sept. 12 Express.

Aug. 31

Monti    0 14 13   0 – 27

Beck.      0   7    0   6 – 13

SCORING SUMMARY

FIRST QUARTER

     No scoring.

SECOND QUARTER

     Monti – Stahlberg 7 run (kick blocked), 8:16 remaining.

     Monti – Cooper 48 pass from Carlson (Wallerich pass from Stahlberg), 1:52.

     Beck – Feldman 48 pass from O’Connor (O’Connor kick), 0:31.5.

THIRD QUARTER

     Monti – Stahlberg 1 run (Wallerich kick), 9:27.

     Monti – Stahlberg 3 run (run failed), 3:23.

FOURTH QUARTER

     Beck – Grover 1 run (kick blocked), 8:12.

TEAM STATISTICS

                                Monti      Beck

First downs            15             11

Rushing yards     185           137

Passing yards       325          163

Comp.-att.-int. 18-27-1   7-19-2

Total yards           510           300

Penalties              6-50          6-45

Fumbles lost          1                0

MONTICELLO STATISTICS                                         

     Rushing – Stahlberg 30-153, Wallerich 1-15, Bowser 2-11, Cooper 2-10, Brokaw 1-0, Carlson 2-(-4).

     Passing – Carlson 18-27-325-1-1.

     Receiving – Cooper 4-140, T. Luensman 5-103, Recker 3-58, Kraus 2-16, Stahlberg 4-8.

     Sack – Weber.

     Tackles-for-loss – Weber 1.5, C. Luensman 1, Picray 0.5.

     Interceptions – Wallerich, T. Luensman.