On Friday, Sept. 22 the Lennox High School football team traveled to Beresford to take on the Watchdogs.
Lennox’s offense sparked in the second half to give the Orioles a 42-13 victory. The action kicked off in the first quarter when Lennox’s Boston Katzer, connected with wide receiver Drake Mikkelsen for a 37-yard touchdown Lennox continued to score in the second quarter, as Katzer and Mikkelsen combined once again, this time for a 23-yard touchdown pass. Unfortunately, the two-point conversion failed once more but Lennox built a 12-0 lead. Beresford retaliated with a 1-yard rushing touchdown to narrow the gap to 12-7 before the half.
In the third quarter, Beresford staged a small comeback, taking a 13-12 lead after a 15-yard rushing touchdown, though they missed the subsequent extra point.
However, Lennox regained the lead with Katzer’s spectacular 58-yard touchdown run, followed by a successful two-point conversion, also a run by Katzer to regain the lead for the Orioles.
Still in the third, Katzer threw an 8-yard touchdown pass, connecting with Porter Ihnen. Ihnen’s run for the two-point conversion extended their lead to 28-13.
The Orioles didn’t let up in the final quarter, with Katzer rushing for a 9-yard touchdown and successfully converting a two-point attempt. Katzer threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Chase Faulds before night’s end sealing the 42-13 victory.
The Orioles finished with 437 total yards of offense, rushing for 151 and throwing for 286. Katzer was leading rushing and passer for Lennox. He completed 19 of 32 passes for 286 yards. He had four touchdown passes and threw one interception. Katzer also led the team in rushing yards with 56 on eight carries. Braeden Harmelink rushed twice for 15 yards.
Mikkelsen was Katzer’s favorite target on the night, grabbing five passes for 97 yards. Ihnen had four grabs for 92 yards and Faulds had six for 62.
Defensively, Tate Gerdes led the team in tackles with eight. He also had an interception in the game. Lucas Bontje had six tackles. Carter Benning had five tackles and recorded one sack. Ethan Larson had three tackles, Journey Noisy Hawk-Ellis and Teegan Musser each had two tackles and Harmelink, Emory Lefers, and Nolyn Spielman each had one.
Lennox plays host to Dakota Valley on Friday, Sept. 29. The Panthers sit at 4-1 on the season, with wins over Madison (12-7), Milbank (42-0), Chamberlain (49-13), and Vermillion (21-0). Their lone loss comes at the hands of Sioux Falls Christian (14-7). Kick-off is set for 7 p.m.