The Orioles varsity football team headed to Elk Mound Friday, fighting to the finish but ending in an 18-22 loss in the final minutes.

Orioles Head Football Coach Brody Mahr reflected on the season after results.

“Friday night was a tough one to swallow. Elk Mound is a team built very similarly to us, physical up front and committed to the run game and it came down to the last possession. We finished the game on their 5-yard line with a chance to take the lead, but came up just short.

I'm extremely proud of how our kids competed. They battled on both sides of the ball and never backed down from the moment. Statistically we played them very well, we put up 462 yards of offense to their 233 but a couple costly turnovers and several empty red-zone trips were the difference in what was otherwise a very evenly fought game.

“Our seniors deserve a ton of credit for the way they handled this season and this game in particular. They showed up every week, kept leading, and continued to compete in tough situations. Their example is a big part of the foundation we are building on.

“Even in a loss you could see signs of growth. We matched a well coached physical team play for play. With the experience our underclassmen gained this year and the standard our seniors set, we feel very optimistic about the direction of this program heading into the off season. The future is bright.”