LITTLE FALLS – The boys on the varsity football team at Sherburne-Earlville high school stood in the face of adversity and rose to the challenge on the road last Saturday, Sept. 17.
Tied at the half at 14-14, the Marauders would grind their way to a third quarter score, lifting them to their 20-14 win. Matt Hull would tally his third score of the night with a game winning four yard run. However, despite the impressive runs from Hull all game, it was the defensive stands that were made that truly ensured a victory on the day.
Proud of our kids and how they handle adversity,” said S-E head coach Ed Holmquist.
With the game on the line, and up 20-14 – following a missed extra-point kick on the Hull touchdown – Little Falls responded with vigor as they drove down the field in the fourth quarter inside the S-E 10-yard line.
“They faced a third and goal from our two with under a minute to go. There quarterback Kobe Jackson (Little Falls) rolled to his left, but Matt Hull was our outside backer and dragged him down behind the line for a sack to set up fourth and goal,” said coach Holmquist.
On fourth and goal, following the sack, Jackson looked to the air for what he hoped would steal the win from S-E. Instead Jackson's pass to his tight end Parker Tooley would be off target, floating, as S-E would secure the fourth down stop for the victory.
Prior to the fireworks in the second half it was Little Falls tight end Tooley who did in fact find the end zone first, scoring off a four yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. S-E's Matt Hull would rip off a 31-yard strike to the end zone by way of the ground when he gained the first points for the Marauders.
With Little Falls up 8-6 in the second quarter– following a completed two-point conversion for Little Falls and a failed one for S-E – the Mounties would look to their quarterback to use his legs when he ran one in for the score from nine yards out.
S-E would hand the ball to Hull once again in the second quarter, as he bulled his way in from two yards out for the equalizing score, raising it to 14-14 at the half.
