Titans give stiff challenge to W/L

Griggs/Midkota knows now that they have the horses to improve on last year's one-win showing.

Now it's all about learning how to finish.

G-M earned some respect from longtime southeastern power Wyndmere/Lidgerwood in Wyndmere on Friday, September 6, taking a late 28-26 loss to the Warbirds.

"We knew this game would be tough," G-M Head Coach Ryan Dockter said. "W/L is a well-coached team by [Scott] Strenge, and always puts a good team on the field."

Dockter said he and his staff felt G-M matched well on paper, and they got on the board first in the second quarter on an 11-yard touchdown from the short, but shifty, Cole Vincent. Each team traded scores in the quarter, as the Warbirds' John Dexter responded with a 65-yard kickoff return and the Titans' Brady Dewald punched it in from two yards out. W/L finished the scoring for the half when quarterback Brian Quam found Peyton Theis for a four-yard pass. Both of the Warbirds' conversions in the first half were good and the Titans' attempts failed, leaving the score 16-12 at the break.

The 'Birds would extend the lead to 10 on a Quam three-yard strike to William Gutzmer in the third, but Vincent hit on a pair of 14-yard touchdowns and added the two-point run on the second score to give G-M a 26-22 advantage heading into the final 12 minutes of play.

However, the home team would not be denied, as Quam delivered the backbreaker with a 31-yard game winner to Hunter Dunn for the final margin.

"Multiple times this game, we found ourselves in great position," said Dockter. "We had them right where we wanted them, and a few big plays held us back."

Vincent finished with 66 yards on 11 carries, and senior Titan quarterback Brady Haugen had 158 total yards of offense through the air and on the ground.

On the X-side of the ball, Levi Kautzman had seven solo tackles, and Lakin Ronningen added an interception.

This Friday, the May-Port-CG Patriots come to Cooperstown for a 7 p.m. kickoff, as two teams who have a shot for the top spot in a parity-dominated Region 2 collide.

Nonregion Nine-Man Football

Wyndmere/Lidgerwood 28,

Griggs/Midkota 26

G-M. 0 12 14 0 26

W/L 0 16 6 6 28

Second Quarter

G-M: Cole Vincent 11 yard run (pass failed)

W/L: John Dexter 65 yard kickoff return (pass good)

G-M: Brady Dewald 2 yard run (run failed)

W/L: Peyton Theis 4 yard pass from Brian Quam (Quam run)

Third Quarter

W/L: William Gutzmer 3 yard pass from Quam (pass failed)

G-M: Vincent 14 yard run (pass failed)

G-M: Vincent 14 yard run (Vincent run)

Fourth Quarter

W/L: Hunter Dunn 31 yard pass from Quam (pass failed)