ELGIN — One could feel Fall in the air Friday afternoon as the Wolfpack played their final home game of the season.
A cool breeze filled the air and temperatures were in the 50s for a 3 p.m. kickoff.
Burwell proved to be everything their one-loss record indicated and, by the end of the game, the scoreboard read 56 to 8.
“There were a lot of little things we could have done different. I’m not saying they would have won the game,” Co-Coach Matt Euse said as he walked off the field after the game.
The first half saw the Longhorns score touchdowns on all six of their possessions. Doing most of the damage was senior Brody Jensen. He scored three touchdowns in the first half and quarterback Drew Dawe added two. All six of the Longhorns first half touchdowns came on runs, the longest being 37 yards.
As for the Wolfpack, their best chance to score in the first half came early in the second quarter. On first down at their own eight yard line, Michael Selting dropped back to pass and saw Max Henn running free behind the Longhorns’ defense. However, before he could get the pass off, Selting was sacked.
Burwell opened the second half with a 52-yard touchdown run by Jensen on the second play.
The Wolfpack answered back with their only sustained drive of the game. Starting on their own 20-yard line, Selting connected with Henn for nine yards, then ran a quarterback keeper 21 yards to the Longhorns’ 30-yard line. Five plays later, from the nine-yard line, Selting carried the ball again, this time finding the endzone.
EPPJ was successful on the two-point conversion when 280-pound Jayvin Erickson did his best ‘Refrigerator Perry’ impersonation, running straight forward to score.
From that point on, the Wolfpack played reserves to get them some valuable experience. Braxtyn Eisenhauer and Carter Selting played quarterback in the fourth quarter. Cecil Shavlik had a nice run from scrimmage.
One drive by the reserves ended on the Longhorns’ 14 yard line as they turned the ball over on downs.
Having been eliminated from the state playoffs with their 3-5 record, the Wolfpack will wrap up the season this week. Coach Euse said he expects the team to turn in a strong effort to go out on a high note.
“We play another good team this week (Twin Loup),” Euse said. If we can do the little things better we can make them work for it.”
The Wolfpack will attempt to close out the season on a winning note Friday night when they face Twin Loup at Sargent. Twin Loup enters the game with a 7-1 record.
The game will be the last for the Wolfpack’s four seniors – Gavin Kallhoff, Michael Selting, Justice Blecher and Brayden Burenheide.
….see more at this week’s Elgin Review.
