Late surge not enough for Norse in loss to Pirates

The flow of the game was different for the Whitehall football team, but the end result was the same as they lost to undefeated Cochrane-Fountain City 42-27 on the road Friday night.

Throughout the season, Whitehall has been competitive in the first half before its opponent has pulled away in the second. On Friday, however, Whitehall trailed 21-7 at halftime and 35-7 through three quarters before scoring three touchdowns in the fourth. It was too little, too late, as the Pirates still won comfortably.

The loss dropped Whitehall’s record to 0-6 on the season and 0-4 in Dairyland Conference play, but all four games have come against the top four teams in the conference — three of which are undefeated in DC play. The scheduled lightens up a bit this week when Whitehall hosts Eleva-Strum (1-6, 0-4) in a battle to get out of last place in the DC. 

Then Whitehall’s last two games will be against Independence/Gilmanton and Melrose-Mindoro, two teams that have only defeated E-S this season.

C-FC 42 Whitehall 27

A balanced offensive attack was too difficult for Whitehall to stop early in the game.

Tanner Schieffer had touchdown runs of 26 and 19 yards in the first quarter and the ensuing extra points made the score 14-0. Quarterback Austin Arnburg scampered in from 14 yards out in the second quarter and the ensuing point after made the score 21-0.

Whitehall got on the board late in the first half as Eric Kleinhans surged in the end zone from a yard out. Devon McCune’s point after made the score 21-7 at halftime.

Any hopes of a comeback were dashed in the second half as Arnburg threw two touchdown passes in the third quarter. The first was a 39-yard strike to Gavin Rich and the next a 14-yard pass to Schieffer. The extra points gave C-FC a 35-7 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Kleinhans found the end zone again early in the fourth, again from one yard away. The point after was no good.

Arnburg and Schieffer connected again, this time a 60-yard touchdown. The ensuing point after put C-FC ahead 42-13.

McCune had two touchdowns before the end of the game for Whitehall, one from six yards out and the other from one.

Arnburg passed eight-for-10 with 214 yards and three touchdowns, he also ran for a touchdown. Schieffer had more than 200 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns as he ran for 116 yards and two scores and caught three passes for 105 yards and two more touchdowns. 

McCune and Kleinhans both topped 100 yards rushing for the Norse as McCune led the way with 150 yards and Kleinhans finished with 109.

Whitehall —

Rushing (att./yds.) — McCune 25/150 Kleinhans 19/109 Sluga 2/-5

Receiving (rec./yds.) — Kleinhans 1/30 Katzman 1/30

Passing (comp./att./yds.) — McCune 2/5/60

Tackles (solo/total) — McCune 2/4 Sartor 2/2 Flores 2/2 Sluga 0/2 Katzman 1/1 Hansche 1/1 Aguilar 1/2 Kleinhans 7/13 Mateja 0/1 Smith 1/4 Moats 2/2