Posted: 10/5/05
Football team fails to convert
|
|
 |
Joe Drennan
Sports Editor
The Forest Lake High School football team was trying to spoil the Stillwater Ponies homecoming by upsetting the undefeated Ponies Friday night. The Rangers came close.
ìIt was a well played game on both sides of the ball,î Rangers head coach Matt Cleary said. ìStillwater was clicking and we started to click. Forest Lake had a big crowd so it was a fun night for high school football.î
The Rangers had a field goal blocked on their first drive of the game, resulting in the only scoring threat of either team in the first quarter.
Stillwater was able to manage a touchdown late in the second quarter when running back Matt OíKeefe ran the ball in from four yards out. Stillwater converted the extra point attempt and had a 7-0 lead at the half.
Junior running back Trip Schultz ran the ball 19 yards into the end zone to cap off a 46 yard scoring drive for the Rangers. Muhamad Halavacís extra point attempt was good, tying the game at 7-7.
Over midway through the third quarter Stillwater regained the lead when Andrew Warren ran the ball 12 yards. The extra point attempt was good.
Early in the fourth quarter it looked as though the Rangers were going to tie the game again after Schultz took the ball one yard to cap off a 36 yard scoring drive, but Halavac missed the extra point and the Rangers trailed 14-13.
ìIt was a close kick and he (Halavac) didnít miss by much,î Clear said. ìHeís been pretty automatic all season for us.î
Stillwater added another touchdown with 7:39 to play in the game and converted the extra point to take a 21-13 lead.
With 4:46 left to play in the game Schultz caught a pass from senior quarterback Dustin Kendrick that covered 92 yards, ending in the Stillwater end zone. To make up for the failed extra point on the Rangers previous touchdown, Cleary opted for a two point conversion in an attempt to tie the game. The conversion failed and the score remained 21-19.
ìWe could have been better prepared,î Cleary said. ìWe havenít practiced the two point conversion too much and we just didnít execute.î
The game ended 21-19 with the Rangers narrowly missing out on acting as Stillwater homecoming spoilers.
ìYou can go through the whole game and pick out missed opportunities, but on paper it looks like the missed two point conversion cost us the game,î Cleary said. Thatís the beauty of football though, itís a bunch of individual plays that ends up with a grand result.
Homecoming game
Friday night the Rangers host the new Lakeville South in their only non-conference game of the regular season for their homecoming. Lakeville South lost 35-21 to Eastview Friday and are 1-3 on the season with their only victory coming against Lakeville North. The Cougars of Lakeville North won 24-19.
ìLakeville is good and theyíve been in all their games,î Cleary said. ìThey have a hall of fame coach and itís not like theyíve got a bunch of new guys that came out for football for the first time, theyíve got a bunch of juniors just like us.î
Cleary points out that Lakeville South is a passing team that will help prepare the Rangers for their game the following week at Cretin-Derham Hall, another team that likes to pass the ball.
ìWe both have relatively young and competitive teams,î Cleary said of the Rangers and Lakeville South. ìWeíre both trying to shore the ship before the playoffs.î
Kickoff for Friday nightís homecoming game is at 7 p.m.
Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
Fax 651-464-4605