EMF Earns Win At N.C. Lourdes CC
By Leesa K. Bartu
A full moon on Friday the 13th seemed to be the good luck charm for the Exeter-Milligan-Friend Bobcats. Although the game started out with Nebraska City Lourdes intercepting the Bobcats on the third down and scoring quickly, the Bobcats held their ground and denied the two point conversion.
After the kick-off, EMF benefited from several Knights penalties including a face mask and a helmet to head penalty. Max Zeleny broke free and ran the ball into the endzone with 8:03 left in the quarter. EMF didn’t make the two point either and the score was 6-6
The penalties stacked up as EMF was called for pass interference and the Knights were penalized for an illegal substitution on second down and 20. They came roaring back for a first down and on the third down fumbled the ball. It was recovered by Bobcat Keegan Newsome.
The Bobcats had their turn to fumble and it was recovered by the Knights at the Bobcat 35-yard line. Before things could go too far, Jackson Beethe intercepted a Lourdes pass but a block in the back penalty after the interception took the ball to the Bobcat four yard line.
On fourth and just two to the endzone the Bobcats went for it and pushed into the endzone on a Christian Weber plunge. Weber would then pass to Casey Jindra for the two points with just 3:22 left in the half 20-18.
A Knight fumble was recovered by Nick Hayek on the 29 yard line. Weber passed to Beethe and Beethe shrugged off tackles and into the endzone. Now the Bobcats were up 26-18 with the two point attempt denied. 1:23 left in the quarter.
Lourdes got loose with 4:38 left in the game and tacked on six 42-32. An on-side kick by Lourdes backfired when Zeleny picked it up on a hop. The Bobcats had a few nervous moments as Damon Honeysuckle snatched an EMF fumble and tacked on six for the Knights. Lourdes got the two points and were sitting 42-40 with 3:33 left in the game. The Bobcats held on and ran the clock down to pick up their first win of the season.
Jindra rushed for 61 yards and Weber had 31. Beethe had 40 yards receiving. EMF had more yards in the contest, 378-250. Both teams turned the ball over five times. The Bobcats had a huge advantage in the first-down department, 30-12.
The Bobcats will meet Thayer Central in Milligan Friday night. The E-M Homecoming court will be introduced on the field after the game and the Exeter-Milligan Booster club will have their Tailgate feed starting at 6 p.m., until halftime.
