LaMoure, N.D. (Newsdakota.com) – Shay Ness scored the first and last touchdown for LaMoure-Litchville-Marion and threw a touchdown pass and caught one in between leading the Loboes to a 35-0 win over Wyndmere-Lidgerwood in the 9-man season opener for both teams.
Ness started the scoring 12 seconds into the game by taking the opening kickoff 80 yards for a score after he and Benji Heyd pulled off a reverse. Aiden Brown added the extra point to make it 7-0 L-L-M.
On their first drive of game, the Loboes marched down field, 75 yards on 12 plays taking up nearly half of the first quarter. The drive was capped off by Ness hitting Aiden Brown with a 30 yard touchdown pass on fourth down. Brown’s extra point was blocked making 13-0 Loboes with 4:12 to go in the opening quarter.
After Caleb Hirschkorn recovered a Warbird fumble, the Loboes needed just four plays to get to the end zone on Brett Wendel’s six yard run capping the 25 yard drive. Brown’s extra point made it 20-0 Loboes with 57.6 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
The Loboes got tricky for their next score. With 14.7 seconds to go in the first half, Coach Andy Delabarre called a flea flicker. Ness took the snap from center pitched it to Heyd who was coming around on the reverse. He in turn tossed it to Brown who then heaved it down field to Ness for the 28 yard touchdown. Brown added the point after to make it 27-0 at the break.
The Loboe defense held the Warbirds to just 18 yards in the first half while amassing 201 themselves.
Not much action occurred in the second half. L-L-M capped off the scoring when Ness scored his third touchdown of the game, a 50 yard run with 8 minutes to go in the fourth quarter.
Ness ended the night with 96 yards rushing on seven carries. Brett Wendel had 78 yards on 17 carries and a score while Clark Thieges chipped in 64 yards on 12 tries. As a team, the Loboes had 244 yards rushing for the game and Coach Delabarre said he liked what he saw in the ground game.
The Loboe defense held the defending state champs to 109 total yards and caused five turnovers. Benji Heyd had two interceptions on the night and coach Delabarre says the defense is going to be a strength this season.
A lone bright spot for the Warbirds was Lane Grasto who had 85 yards rushing on 11 carries.
Next week, LaMoure-Litchville-Marion travels to Napoleon to face the Imperials in a Region 3 matchup. The Warbirds will host Oakes next week in Wyndmere.