A stalemate was endured between the Eden Valley-Watkins Eagles (AA) and the Maple Lake Irish last Friday in Eden Valley. This was a matchup between two top-ten teams in Class AA. The game went into the final minutes of the fourth quarter, until a final run from quarterback Tony Goelz gave the Irish an eight-point lead giving the defense room to breath with one minute remaining in the fourth quarter. Three safeties and constant pressure gave the Eagles their first loss of the season.
The Irish were playing for more than victory last Friday. They played for their unconscious brother, Morgan Moeller, lying in a hospital bed at North Memorial Hospital. Morgan was involved in a terrible car accident early Thursday morning.
The Irish started the game receiving the kickoff. Their first two drives were bogged down by false starts and amounted to one first down and two punts. The Eagles capitalized scoring twice on two separate drives. The first came on a quarterback draw for a 60-yard run for a touchdown and the second came off a huge reception from the Eagle's Desuan James for 30 yards, but was knocked out of bounds by Cal Redemske. They later scored making the score 14-0. Maple Lake's offense had to answer with a score on the next drive. The running combo of Redemske and Dusty Strub put the ball on the Eagle’s 25. The next play, Goelz connected with a leaping Ryan Kalinowski for Maple Lake's first score of the night. The Irish opted for a two-point conversion after the Eagles jumped off sides, cutting the deficit 14-8.
As the first quarter came to an end, the Eagles had the ball on their own 40 and with poor tackling from the Irish defense the Eagles again scored. The EVW lead increased to 21-8. However, it would be the last time Eden Valley would enter the end zone. On the ensuing drive, the Irish, led by an audible calling Goelz, manufactured a 60-yard drive for a touchdown. The next drive was nearly identical. The Irish offensive line looked in control and fresh to push back the Eagle defense. Also, the combination of speed and strength of Redemske and Strub gave the Irish a chance in the red zone. Head coach Tim Knudsen called for pass on fourth and long. In the clutch, Goelz connected with Kalinowski for their second touchdown of the night. The Irish had clawed back into the game and took the lead 22-21.
More information appears in this week's Messenger.
Be the first to comment