Monday, September 16, 2024
It turned out to be a case of too little, too late for the Manawa football team in its season opener.
The Wolves found the end zone twice in the fourth quarter, but ended up on the short end of a 22-12 score on Aug. 22 in a nonconference matchup with Rosholt on the Hornets’ home field.
Manawa had a short field to work within the first half, as the Wolves began their first three drives at the Rosholt 40-, 49- and 41-yard lines, and the first two drives ended with interceptions in the red zone and end zone.
The teams combined for nearly 20 penalties in the first half alone and headed to the locker room at halftime, tied at 0-0.
Rosholt broke the scoreless tie on its first drive of the second half, as Caleb Zick’s 45-yard run and Dylan DeLaet’s two-point conversion pass gave the Hornets an 8-0 lead with 8:10 remaining in the third quarter.
The Hornets added to their lead on the first play of the fourth quarter, as Keegan O’Donnell picked up the loose ball after a botched handoff and scored from 28 yards out. Zick added the two-point conversion run, and the home team had a 16-0 lead.
Manawa scored on its next possession, as Braison Zielke connected with Porter Gehrke for a 3-yard touchdown pass with 6:48 to go in the game that cut the Hornets’ lead to 16-6.
Rosholt began its next drive at its 3-yard line, and Zick got the Hornets out of a deep hole with a 40-yard run on third down that gave his team a first down at midfield. DeLaet capped the drive with a 33-yard scoring pass to Zick with 1:23 remaining.
Manawa wasn’t finished, as Carter Barrington returned the kickoff 80 yards for the game’s final score. The Hornets recovered Manawa’s onside kick attempt and ran out the clock.
Manawa will open a two-game home stand against St. Mary Catholic on Friday, Aug. 30, before opening Northwoods Conference play the following Friday against Northland Pines.
