Falcons fall to Elks in season opener
by Steve Ottman
Falls News Correspondent
Elkhorn’s Kyle Banta returned an interception 43 yards for a touchdown, with 3:06 remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Elkhorn Elks a 15-3 victory over the Sheboygan Falls Falcons in the nonconference football season opener for both teams Friday, Aug. 27, in Sheboygan Falls.
The Falcons trailed 7-3 late into the fourth quarter, when senior quarterback Jason Fenner had the Falls squad on the move. After picking up 19 yards on a third down play, Fenner led the Falcons out to their own 42-yard line.
Facing a third down play, Fenner had the ball tipped on his throw and was intercepted by the Elks’ Banta, who took the ball 43 yards for a touchdown. Elkhorn added a two-point conversion, after the kick attempt was fumbled.
The Elks took their first lead with 9:38 left in the second quarter, when Jake Mountford ran six yards for the score. Chris Fryman added the extra point to give Elkhorn a 7-0 advantage.
Fenner, in his first career start for Falls, completed 3-of-9 passes for 48 yards and was intercepted three times.
“The fact that we weren’t able to scrimmage hurt us on offense,” said Falcons coach Mike Nikson. “We could of cleaned things up a little better, but the kids fought hard.
“The late interceptions hurt us as the kids are still learning the new triple-option offense,” he said.
The Falcons were on the move in the second quarter. With the ball on the Falcon 40, Fenner connected with senior Jeremiah Kramasz for 14 yards and a first down at the Elks’ 46.
Three Elks penalties during the drive gave the Falcons the ball on the 29. On fourth down, Fenner ran for nine yards to the 20 for a first down. On the next play before the end of the first half, Fenner was picked off for the second time in the first half.
The Falcons’ defense recovered a fumble by Elkhorn quarterback Chris Fryman on the first play of the second half at the Elks’ 26.
“The defense is getting used to the 3-4,” remarked Nikson. “They’re making adjustments. We had some big sacks from Nick Roelse, Cole Heili and Sean Mueller on that first drive in the first quarter.”
After the Falls offense was unable to push the ball into the end zone, sophomore kicker Will Meyer nailed a 37-yard field goal to cut the lead to 7-3, with 9:50 left in the third quarter.
Fenner finished with 64 rushing yards on 10 attempts to lead the Falcons. The Falls rushing attack gained 136 yards.
Kramasz led the Falls receivers with two catches for 27 yards and Roelse made one catch for 21 yards. Mountford led the Elks with 94 yards rushing. Fryman completed 8-of-13 for 78 yards and Ryan Bowes caught four passes for 44 yards for Elkhorn.
| FOOTBALL | | |
| ELKHORN | 15
| |
| SHEBOYGAN | 3 | |
| FALLS | | |
| | | Elkhorn S.F. |
| First | Downs………………11 | 8 | |
| Rushing Yards ………..101 | 136 | |
| Passing Yards………… .78 | 48 | |
| Comp-Att-Int…………..8-13-0 | 3-11-4 | |
| Penalties-Yards………11-67 | 8-60 | |
| Punts-Averages………..3-36 | 5-34 | |
| Fumbles-Lost……………4-1 | 2-0 | |
| | | Score by Quarters |
| Elkhorn…………..………….0 | 7 0 8 - 15 | |
| Sheboygan Falls……...….0 | 0 3 0 - 3 | |
| | | Scoring |
| Elk - Jake Mountford 6-run | (Chris Fryman | kick) |
| SF - Will Meyer 37 field goal | | |
| Elk – Kyle Banta 43 interception | return | (Fryman pass Hayden Forrestal) |
| | | INDIVIDUAL LEADERS |
| Rushing – Elkhorn, Jake | Mountford | 18-94. Sheboygan Falls, Jason Fenner10-64, Andy Ansay 12-20, Bobby Musil 4- |
| 19. | | | |
| Passing - Elkhorn, Chris | Fryman 8-13-78-0. | Sheboygan Falls, Fenner 3-9-48-3. Zach Van Engen 0-2-0-1. |
Receiving – Elkhorn, Ryan Bowes 4-44. Sheboygan Falls, Nick Roelse 1-21, Jeremiah __________________________________ Kramasz 2-27.
