The Dragons used two rushing touchdowns from Dakota John and one from Brandon Schnoor to beat the Sleepy Eye Indians by a score of 23-14.
The Dragons received the opening kick and were unable to gain a first down before punting the ball to the Indians. Adrian would get the ball back after one play. The Indian QB lost the ball on the handoff and Skylar Dingmann was there to jump on it. Adrian used the turnover and good field position to score the game’s first touchdown when Schnoor rushed in from five yards out. Schnoor also had a key fourth down conversion when Marshall Wagner found him on a screen pass for 19 yards. Dominic Canales made the point after touchdown to make the game 7-0 Adrian.
Sleepy Eye moved the ball down the field to the tune of two first downs on their next possession. A hard hit on the running back by Schnoor jarred the ball loose and John fell on it to end the threat. The Dragons moved the ball down the field, gaining four first downs in the process. However, an interception on third down ended the drive.
The Indians wasted little time, scoring on a 59 yard run when the runner broke free down the right sideline. Their two point conversion was successful, putting the Indians up 8-7.
The Dragons again were able to move the ball down the field, this time gaining three first downs. A penalty would put the Dragons behind the sticks and force a punt down to the Indian eight yard line. The Indians had little time to work with in the half and time ran out on their drive at the Dragon 39 yard line. At the half, Sleepy Eye 8, Adrian 7.
Sleepy Eye received the ball to open the second half. The Dragon defense held tough only allowing two first downs before the Indians had to punt. Adrian started their next drive from their own 10 yard line. The Dragons were able to move the ball out to 50, before a pass on a fake punt was intercepted.
The Indians quickly turned the turnover into points when the running back ran off tackle for a 54 yard touchdown. The PAT was blocked by Scot Edwards to keep the game at 14-7 Indians.
The following kick return was only to the Dragon 15 yard line. The Dragons were able to move the ball to the Indian 43 yard line when Ian Stamer hit Canales for a 42 yard pass play. Adrian continued to move the ball down to the 18 yard line when a fourth down pass fell incomplete, turning the ball over on downs.
Adrian got the ball back quickly when Schnoor took the ball away from the ball carrier on a forced fumble and recovery. John would score on the very next play when he ran off left tackle, Lance Luettel, for a 40 yard touchdown. Schnoor carried in the two point conversion, giving the Dragons a 15-14 edge.
The Dragon defense got off the field in four plays when the Indian fourth down pass was knocked down by Canales. Adrian scored the final touchdown of the game when John rushed for a seven yard touchdown. Schnoor again converted the two point try, giving the Dragons a 23-14 lead.
With time running out on the Indians, Canales sealed the game for Adrian with an interception.
Offensively the Dragons were lead by running backs John and Schnoor. John finished with 24 carries for 130 yards and two touchdowns. Schnoor rushed 22 times for 78 yards, a touchdown, and two, two point conversions. Preston Nelson carried four times for 10 yards, while Canales carried twice for six yards.
Wagner completed three passes for 43 yards while Stamer completed one pass for 42 yards. Trace Kremin caught one pass for 15 yards, Stamer one for eight, Schnoor one for 18, and Canales one for 42.
The offensive line of Luettel, Bryce Wilson, Dingmann, Tucker Wieneke, Braxton Vortherms, Edwards, and Devin Frodermann, along with tight end Brady Vortherms provided excellent running lanes for the Dragons all game.
Defensively, the Dragons were led by Schnoor with 11 tackles, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. Logan Taylor contributed from his linebacker position with nine tackles. Edwards (a sack, 2-TFL) and Luettel each had eight tackles. Nelson and John took down the ball carrier seven times each. Canales (INT) had six tackles. Stamer made four tackles while Frodermann and Braxton Vortherms were credited with three tackles each. Brady Vortherms and Dingmann each made two tackles. Christian Weidert and Kremin rounded out the tackle chart with one tackle each.
The Dragons will look to win another game on Friday when they travel to New Ulm to take on the Greyhounds of New Ulm Cathedral.
