Football: Phoenix rolls Trojan 34-8, improved to 3-0 | Local sports
The Phoenix Offensive brought big profits, while the Defense created three takeaways.
These were the key ingredients in the Luther Prep soccer team’s 34-8 Capitol Conference win over Beloit Turner at Umnus Field on Friday.
Senior tailback Josiah Moore starred on the show, racking up 260 yards on 19 totes along with two touchdowns for LPS (3-0, 1-0 Capitol), extending his winning streak to nine games.
“We see that in practice,” said Justin Gregorius, Luther Prep football coach. “Tonight (Josiah) showed what he can do. It all starts at the front with the line. Josiah’s breakaway speed and willingness to move the stack were great for us tonight.
“We haven’t talked about this winning streak this year. It’s about getting better from game to game. The improvement and performance of our boys is what we’re looking for. To improve our performance in every game.”
The Trojans’ mistakes began with fiddling with the often rainy conditions on their inaugural possession. Senior defensive end Jeremiah Stanton pounced on the loose ball at the plus 43-yard line.
“Our defense kept us in the game early on and kept giving us the ball back,” said Gregorius. “That was just great. I can’t say enough about how hard it is for our defenders and coaches to give us the ball back on a short field.”
Four games later, Moore scored the gut with a 13-yard rush to make it 7-0 with 9 minutes, 10 seconds before the end of the first. The drive’s other three games were 13 yards from senior running back Tom Balge, who left with an upper body injury on the next series, and gains of nine and 10 yards from Moore.
“It was great to capitalize on this turnover, deposit it and get the score. That set the tone for us early on,” said Gregorius.
Turner (1-2, 0-1) refrained from poking the ball all evening, flipping it to downs on next possession after falling near midfield.
After a Phoenix punt, Turner threw junior quarterback Sean Fogel deep into double coverage in 3rd place and 25 was picked up by senior cornerback Judd Guse, who returned him to LPS 43.
There, junior running back Chuy Medina made 22 yards on a rumbling run and crossed 15 more for a late hit. On the third and gate from the one-yard line, senior quarterback Brett Wieting followed senior center Tim Manning for a TD on a sneak. Junior Jude Pederson, who took over the place as kicker in Balge’s absence, converted 6:21 to 14: 0 before the break.
The Trojans were on the Phoenix 24-yard line after two secondary penalties when the disaster struck again, this time in the form of a strip bag that Stanton fell on.
Moore ran 18 yards and took a screen for another 28 yards to set up a Hail Mary pass, which Wieting launched deep towards senior wideout Thomas Koelpin, but the pair failed to bond to finish halfway.
The first drive of the second half was highlighted by a 41-yard scamper from Moore via the hashes to the 19-yard line from Turner. Five games later, Wieting scored 21-0 with a goalkeeper.
A hit to the head penalty at the next whistle gave the Trojans their own 44. Junior receiver Tyler Sutherland caught a ball in traffic and brought Turner into the red zone for the first time. With places 4 and 6 out of 16, Fogel exceeded his goal for another turnover on downs.
Moore had his mic drop moment on the next series, scoring 76 yard burst on 3rd and 6th.
“This game was a quick game and we took it to the short side of the field,” said Gregorius. “Josiah got a couple of guys to miss another and hit another. We pull our tackle, the full-back made a great block and he leaves.”
Turner responded with his only points when Sutherland caught a six-yard pass from Fogel. Connor Hughes added the two-point conversion on site.
LPS, worn by its home audience for the third game in a row and with its student section in red, white and blue clothing that made a lot of sound, designed a 59 yard o’clock chew drive with 10 games, which Wieting crowned with his third Rushing Score, Paydirt out of a yard on a scramble to find the last lead with 6:44 in the game.
“Our boys did that all year round,” said Gregorius. “Just being able to walk when (the opponent hits) we go down and respond. When the offense flips the ball, the defense holds the ball. We don’t melt or give in. Proud of the way as they replied “.”
Luther Prep ran it 44 times for 353 yards.
“We have really cleaned up in the last few weeks,” said Gregorius of the offensive line. “We had so little experience on this line. You have improved from week to week. You have made tremendous progress and have got better every time. That is exactly what you want.”
Wieting was a 2-for-5 pass for 38 yards. Senior linebacker Marcus Winkel and senior defensive lineman Drew Esmay each recorded six tackles, while Wieting made five stops, including two of the team’s five tackles for loss.
The Phoenix are heading towards Lake Mills next week.
LUTHER PREP 34, BELOIT TURNER 8
Turner 0 0 8 0 – 8
Luther preparation 7 7 14 6 – 34
LP – Moore 13 barrel (bellows kick)
LP – Wieting 1 run (Pederson Kick)
LP – Wieting 1 run (Pederson Kick)
LP – Moore 76 run (Pederson Kick)
BT – Sutherland 6 Pass von Fogel (went well)
LP – Wieting 1 run (kick failed)
Total Yards: BT 226, LP 391; Rushing Yards BT 99, LP 353; First downs: BT 13, LP 18; Fumbles lost: BT 2, LP 1; Intercept thrown: BT 1, LP 0; Penalty Shootout: BT 4-43; LP 5-23.
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