Trojans stop Tigers on the road

Ipswich dropped a 24-6 Lake Region Conference varsity high school football decision on a very warm evening to say the least last Friday in Faulkton.

Ipswich was indeed able to move the football into the red zone inside the 20-yard line especially during the second half.

But the Tigers were able to produce only one touchdown drive all evening that being a third-quarter four-yard scamper by quarterback Max Kulesa. The PAT play failed, though, leaving Ipswich down 16-6 at that stage of the third quarter. And Spencer Melius then elated the home team fans with a 87-yard kickoff return TD. That would boost the Trojans edge to 22-6 capped by a Gian DiMaria PAT run leaving the hosts up 24-6. And that would be how the game ended!

The Faulkton defense was being stingy all evening and so was Ipswich's especially early in the game. Neither team was able to dent their goal line during the first quarter and Faulkton would then cap a second-quarter drive with a five-yard scoring run by Garrett Cramer. Layne Cotton added a PAT run putting his team up 8-0. (And that would be all the hosts really needed.)

Faulkton unofficially gained 84 rushing yards, led by Tristan Baloun with 49 and Cramer added 20 yards on the ground.

The hosts were also able to finish 4-8 through the air, all by Cotton that totaled 52 aerial yards. DiMaria had one catch for 32 yards followed by Melius at 2-11.

Ipswich responded with 72 rushing yards, paced by Casey Geditz with 41 of them. The Tigers were also 20-41 through the air for 218 yards from Kulesa. Kyle Hettich had six catches for 117 yards followed by Trevor Heinz with four catches for 49 yards.

Ipswich managed 13 first downs and Faulkton only nine. Melius led Faulkton with five tackles. Ipswich was led by Chet Peterson with seven solo tackles.

Ipswich will next host Northwestern on August 25.