Turnovers hurt Indees in loss to Mustangs
Chase Back of Independence/Gilmanton tried to get to the outside on a run during the team’s loss to Melrose-Mindoro on Friday. (Times photograph by Andrew Dannehy)
The Independence/Gilmanton football team had nearly as many total yards as Melrose-Mindoro, but four turnovers contributed to a 47-8 loss in Independence on Friday.
I/G’s first drive of the game was a sign of things to come as the team drove deep into Mel-Min territory before an interception was returned for a touchdown. The Mustangs were efficient, building up a 33-0 lead by halftime and going ahead 47-0 before the Indees scored late.
I/G fell to 0-4 on the season and 0-2 in Dairyland Conference play. They’ll face the only other two teams who have failed to get a DC win the next two weeks. First up is in Whitehall, which lost to Eleva-Strum, 28-14, last week. The Norse are 1-3 on the season and 0-2 in conference play.
Next week the Indees return home to face Augusta, a winless team who I/G defeated last year.
Mel-Min 47 I/G 8
After the Mustangs broke a long run to take the lead, I/G looked ready to respond.
Grant Klimek returned the kickoff just past midfield and ran for a first down at the Mel-Min 34. Quarterback Chase Back surged for a first down run to the Mel-Min 21, but the drive stalled from there.
Back’s next pass was tipped at the line, he then completed a screen to Klimek, but Klimek was tripped up for a six-yard loss. A penalty negated a good run and moved I/G back to a third-and-21. On the next play, Back was drilled as he released the pass, the ball floated in the air before being caught by Mel-Min’s Mavin Blank-White. The Mustang junior sprinted for a touchdown return and the ensuing point after made the score 14-0.
The Mustangs scored on a two-yard run early in the second quarter then returned a fumble for a touchdown to go ahead 27-0. A 31-yard touchdown pass made the score 33-0 at halftime.
Two touchdown runs in the third quarter put Mel-Min ahead 47-0.
The Indees got on the board in the fourth when Chase Back had a three-yard touchdown run.
The Indees managed 245 total yards to 262 for Mel-Min, but four turnovers prevented I/G from scoring more points.
Back completed six-of-10 passes for 34 yards, but was intercepted twice. He also ran for 86 yards on 16 carries, while Klimek rushed for 12 yards on seven attempts. Hunter Kreibich had one catch for 14 yards, while Preston Solberg had two for 13 yards.
