MLA 00-06-00-06 = 12
WWG 08-06-08-00 = 22
An already-thin Mt. Lake Area football team got even more so Saturday afternoon, as the Wolverines dropped a 22-12 decision to Westbrook-Walnut Grove in Westbrook.
Wolverine senior quarterback/linebacker Ethan Rahn suffered what appeared to be a significant knee injury late in the first half.
WWG got on the scoreboard first, scoring on its opening drive of the game on a 10-yard Connor Jackels run and two-point conversion pass for an 8-0 lead.
MLA answered, scoring on the opening play of the second quarter on a 31-yard run by Rahn. The two-point conversion failed, leaving WWG with an 8-6 lead.
The Chargers stretched the lead on their next drive, scoring on a 25-yard pass from Kyle Curry to Drew Swanson. The two-point conversion failed, leaving the score at 14-6.
MLA was able to move into Charger territory on its next drive, but turned the ball over on downs.
On the next series, disaster struck for the Wolverines, when Rahn was injured while providing pass coverage. MLA was able to force a WWG punt and ran out the clock to end the half.
After the teams traded punts to start the second half, WWG expanded its lead when Jackels hit Swanson for a 24-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion run by Neil Kuehl gave WWG a 22-6 lead.
The Wolverines were able to trim the deficit early in the fourth quarter, as backup quarterback Tryton Khounsanthone hit receiver Jordan Khamkhaykeo over the middle for a 46-yard touchdown strike.
But MLA’s final attempt to cut into the deficit was turned away as Kuehl intercepted a pass from Khounsanthone, allowing the Chargers to run out the clock.
Khounsanthone completed 5-of-8 passes for 102 yards in the loss.
Rahn led MLA on the ground with 106 yards on 14 carries.
Khamkhaykeo had two catches for 49 yards in the loss.
Next games: Check for updates after each game.
Windom: vs. Luverne, Sept. 12
MLA: at Edgerton, Sept. 12
RRC: vs. RCW (at Lamberton), Sept. 12
