The Adrian Dragon football team used touchdowns in each of the third and fourth quarters to defeat MCC by a score of 14-6 last Tuesday, October 24, in the opening game of the 3A playoffs.
The Dragons won the opening toss and elected to defer. The defense was up to the challenge early as the Rebels punted after three plays and three yards. The defense of the Rebels returned the favor by forcing a three and out of their own.
After a Dragon punt of 31 yards, the defense again forced a three and out. The Dragon offense earned the first-first down of the game, but failed on a fourth down attempt from the Rebel 30 yard line.
The Dragon defense proved that the first two three and outs were not a fluke as they forced another one, making it three straight. The Rebels would get the ball back when the Dragons threw an interception on the MCC 22 yard line. The interception came on the second play of the second quarter. The Rebels then gained their first-first down in the game on a run of 24 yards. The Dragons then stiffened to force a punt, which went 49 yards. The long run and good punt flipped the field position to favor MCC.
The Dragons couldn’t get anything going and had to punt after three plays. The defensive battle went on as a three and out from MCC was followed by a three and out from Adrian. The next Rebel drive started at the Adrian 44 yard line. With 45 seconds left to play in the half, the Rebel tail back got loose along the left sideline for a 27 yard touchdown run. The PAT was wide left to keep the game at 6-0.
The Dragons threatened to score on their next drive. A Ryan Wieneke reverse took the ball all the way down to the Rebel 12 yard line for a 43 yard run. With time running out, Wieneke rolled right and threw back to Brendyn White, who caught the ball but was tackled on the one yard line to end the half.
The Dragons received the second half kickoff and both teams promptly traded three and outs. When the Dragons got the ball back they finally got the offense going and scored a touchdown on a Landon Rogers 11 yard run. The drive covered 61 yards on 14 plays and gained 4 first downs. Dominiq Canales converted the PAT to give the Dragons a 7-6 lead with 1:26 to play in the third quarter.
The next Rebel drive lost 5 yards as MCC punted on a fourth and 15. The Dragons gained a first down but punted from midfield. The short drive took the game to the fourth quarter. The Rebel offense then started to move the ball. The drive amassed four first downs and covered 40 yards. But the Rebels turned the ball over on downs on the Adrian 39 yard line when a short pass fell incomplete.
The Dragon offense then got a huge first down when a Rebel defensive lineman was called for encroachment on potential fourth and one play. Rogers then put some distance between the two teams as he took the ball off tackle and scored on a 46 yard run. Caneles PAT was again good and the Dragons led 14-6 with 2:01 to play in the game.
The Dragons squib kick wasn’t handled by the MCC returner and he was tackled on the 27 yard line when he finally gained control of the ball. The Rebel’s last ditch effort to score and tie the game ended when Rogers intercepted a batted ball. The Dragons took a knee twice to end the game and keep the Dragon season alive.
Rogers led all rushers with 16 carries totaling 108 yards and 2 TDs. Wieneke ended with 63 rushing yards on nine attempts. Brandon Schnoor carried nine times for 28 yards. Nick Harder amassed 19 yards on seven attempts. Lance Luettel and Dakota John rounded out the rushing game with three yards on one carry each.
Wieneke was two of seven passing for 13 yards. Rogers had one reception for four yards, while White had the other for nine yards.
The Adrian defense was led by Dakota John who had 11 tackles in the game. Rogers and Scot Edwards each tallied a sack while Rogers had one interception. The rest of the Dragon tackle chart was; Harder 7, Rogers 7, Edwards 7, Luettel 5, Schnoor 4, White 3, Wieneke 2, Chance Turner 2, and Michael Preuss 1.
The Dragons look to keep the season going Saturday in New Ulm as they visit the second seeded New Ulm Cathedral Greyhounds.
