S-B gridmen now advance to Friday playo game against Arcadia

Deer blinds. Duck and geese calls. Such was the tenor of competition Friday night when the Stanley-Boyd Orioles faced off with the Elk Mound Mounders at Elk Mound Friday, October 15. After the neck and neck competition was over, Coach Jeff Koenig shared some of his thoughts on how the night had gone.

“Elk Mound played their best game of the year on Friday and it was another exciting test for our team,” Koenig said of Friday’s win by the Orioles over Elk Mound 27 – 21. “The boys fought hard through adversity and never gave up. We were able to get the win in overtime and now advance to the playoffs, he said. “This week will be a tough test against a good Arcadia team.” As to Friday, it was hard fought—on both sides.

The Mounders scored first, so that as half time approached the score stood 7 – 0 in Elk Mound’s favor. Then a touchdown followed by an extra point for the Orioles brought things even at 7 – 7, just in time for the break.

When the break ended, it was Elk Mound making the kickoff, followed shortly with another touchdown to bring things 13 – 7, while an attempted two point conversion, was deemed no good.

Following the score advance by Elk Mound, the Orioles received the kickoff and advanced to the 35-yard line after a false kick out of bounds on the Mounders part came off in Stanley-Boyd’s favor. Lucas Smith advanced 11 yards to bring the ball to the 46- yard line. With a touchdown and extra point on the Oriole’s part bringing the score to 14 – 13, the advantage shifted slightly in Stanley-Boyd’s direction—but not for long.

With Elk Mound answering with a touchdown and extra point of its own it was back to business with the Mounders leading 21 – 14 against the Orange and Black Stanley-Boyd Orioles. Meanwhile and in the mix, a field goal attempt on Karlen’s part was no good, bouncing off the bottom bar in the wrong direction. A series of time outs on both sides and another touchdown bringing the score 21 – 21, the clock ran out—and that’s where it got interesting.

“And that brings us to the end of regulation,” the announcer said as four Elk Mound players and four Orioles came out to center field to witness the coin toss, flanked by referees.

With Elk Mound taking the ball that was then retrieved to Stanley-Boyd, Brady Potaczek took one for the team in an extended knockdown from the Mounders, but without lasting effect or evacuation from the field.

With Carsen Hause making the final touchdown things ended 27 – 21 in the Orioles favor.

With Elk Mound behind them, it’s on the road Friday, with the Orioles facing the Arcadia Raiders in their first postseason game, with advancement or otherwise for either team dependent on Friday’s game outcome.

Shoudl the Orioles win this Friday against Arcadia they will then advance to play the winner of a faceoff between Aquinas and Spencer, with the Level 2 football playoff scheduled for October 29.

The final score when the dust settled last Friday. Photo by Joseph Back.