Week 2 | Galena @ Forreston
A game which featured two teams returning from strong playoff campaigns a year ago, and squared off in the semifinals two seasons ago, was set to show us just how good they were and would provide us a look at who would challenge for the conference crown. However, this game would turn in favor of the # 4 ranked Cardinals in a hurry.
Galena would win the coin toss and chose to take the ball to start the game. Misfortune struck right away, as on the first play from scrimmage from their own 40 yard line, fullback Dalton Bauer would take the ball up the middle and immediately fumble the ball and the Cards would recover the ball on the Pirates 45 yard line. A minute later, Forreston halfback Anthony Christensen would put the Cardinals on the board with an 8 yard TD run for an early 6-0 lead after a failed extra point try.
The Pirates would start their next drive from their own 39 yard line and drive the ball to their own 48 yard line before being forced to punt. The Cardinals would start drive number 2 at their own 14 yard line and would drive the ball 71 yards to the Pirate 15 before turning the ball over on downs. Disaster would strike again as Galena stalled their next drive at their own 13 yard line, but a muffed punt would see Forreston take over on the Pirates 1 yard line and Cardinal fullback Matt Akins would punch the ball in on the very next play. The two point try would be good as Forreston jumped out to an early 14-0 1st quarter lead.
Forreston would not punt the ball once the entire 1st half, and would convert five their 6 first half drives into points, scoring 3 more TD's on a 62 yard TD run by Gavin Fuchs, a 58 yard TD run by Christensen for his 2nd TD of the night, and a 44 yard TD run by Hunter Daws, giving Forreston a 35-0 halftime lead.
Opening up the second half Lane Henneman would take the opening kickoff 95 yards for another Cardinal TD to cap off the scoring for the Cardinals on the night. The extra point try would fail and Forreston would lead 41-0.
Galena would find the end zone on their next drive, moving the ball 56 yards that would result in a 7 yard TD pass from Mickey Lorento to Hunter Holland to make the score 41-7 in favor of Forreston. Galena would punch in one more TD in the 4th quarter on a 10 yard TD run by half back Colton Bauer, and failed two point try would bring the final total to 41-13 in favor of the Cardianls.
Forreston would out gain Galena 349 yards to 159 yards on the night. Forreston was led by Fuchs, who had 6 carries for 158 yards and a TD, Christensen who would end the night with 89 yards on 6 carries and 2 TD's, and Daws who had 2 carries for 48 yards and was 1-2 passing for 3 yards on the night. Galena was led by Holland who had 11 carries for 28 yards and 3 receptions for 52 yards and 1 TD. Lorrento would finish 5-10 passing for 68 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT.
Forreston improves to 2-0 on the year and now has to prepare for the # 5 state ranked Dakota Indians next week, while Galena drops to 0-2 on the season and will take a trip to East Dubuque next week to face the Warriors.
Up Next
Forreston @ Dakota | Galena @ East Dubuque