Big second quarters lifts Mustangs over Norse

The game couldn’t have started much better for the Whitehall football team, but Melrose-Mindoro took control in the second quarter then clinched the win with a late field goal.

The Norse scored a touchdown on its first offensive possession then got a safety to take an 8-0 lead. However, the Mustangs scored three times in the second quarter and again in the third to take a 28-8 lead and they went on to win, 31-16.

The loss dropped Whitehall’s record to 2-6 overall and 2-4 in Dairyland Conference play, likely eliminating the team from playoff contention this year. Whitehall’s final game will be at home against state-ranked and undefeated Alma/Pepin this week.

Mel-Min 31 Whitehall 16

A long touchdown run put the Norse ahead early and a big defensive play gave them more momentum, but they couldn’t sustain it.

CJ Johnston got around the right end for a 44-yard touchdown run on a third down play to end Whitehall’s first drive. The point after was no good, but the Norse had a 6-0 lead with 7:12 left.

Whitehall scored again nine seconds later. Mel-Min’s second drive of the game began at its own 13, but it didn’t even get a play off. A shotgun snap sailed high and Mel-Min’s quarterback recovered the ball in the end zone. 

Brady Blaken tried to escape after picking the ball up, but Brock Sluga closed and tackled him out of the back of the end zone for a safety. That gave Whitehall an 8-0 lead and the ball with 7:03 left in the first quarter, but they couldn’t take advantage.

The next Whitehall drive moved to the Mel-Min 23 before a penalty pushed the team back. It ended with an incomplete pass in the end zone on fourth-and-17.

The Mustangs marched 70 yards for a touchdown drive that ended with a six-yard run by Jackson Blaken. The point after made the score 8-7 with 9:38 left in the first half.

Whitehall went three-and-out on its next drive before a high snap on the punt set up the Mustangs at the Whitehall 25. A one-yard touchdown run and the ensuing point after made the score 14-8 with 4:02 left in the first half.

A long punt return put Mel-Min at the Whitehall 33 for its next drive, which began with 2:16 left in the half. A roughing the passer call on third-and-seven moved the Mustangs to the Whitehall 15. The Mustangs scored again and kicked another point after to make the score 21-8 with 34 seconds left in the half. 

Mel-Min added another short touchdown run, this time from three yards out and a point after that made the score 28-8 with 3:50 remaining in the third.

The Norse struck back with a long touchdown drive that included a 20-yard run by Bo Killian. Mason Pientok finished the drive with a three-yard touchdown then passed for the two-point conversion, making the score 28-16 four seconds into the fourth quarter.

The Mustangs milked the clock on the team’s next drive. Mel-Min pounded the ball down the field before kicking a field goal to clinch the win with 4:53 remaining. 

The Mustangs ran for 264 yards in the game, led by Jackson Blaken’s 171. It was one of the only times the Norse were out-rushed as Whitehall finished with 187 yards. Killian led Whitehall with 70 yards on the ground. 

Whitehall —

Rushing (att./yds.) — Killian 11/70 Johnston 6/62 Pientok 19/44 Przybylla 3/11

Passing (comp./att./yds.) — Pientok 0/3/0

Tackles (solo/total) — Pientok 5/6 Flores 3/6 Kulig 1/1 Katzman 6/6 Hansche 4/8 Przybylla 4/8 Sluga 6/14 Semb 2/2 Matejka 1/1 Herman 1/1 Lisowski 2/2 Smith 3/3