LAMOURE, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – It was a sophomore ane two freshmen that lead LaMoure/Litchville-Marion to a 22-20 win over Enderlin/Maple Valley in the 9-man season opener for both teams.
Sophomore quarterback Corban Potts was 7 of 14 passing for 78 yards and two touchdowns for the Loboes. Both touchdowns went to Freshman tight end Colton Ness. Ness had five catches for 55 yards and those two scores. He also added a 35 yard pass and catch on a fourth down that set up the Loboes second touchdown.
The Loboes scored first on Brett Wendel’s 36 yard touchdown run nine seconds into the second quarter. The two-point conversion failed and LLM lead 6-0.
Enderlin/Maple Valley, dropping down to 9 man from Class A this year, would take the lead on a 22 yard town pass from Zach Gruba to Carson Hovelson. Gruba would run in the extra point making it 8-6 Falcons.
The Loboes would get the lead back on the ensuing drive when Ness and Potts hooked up for their first score, a nine yard scoring strike. It capped an 11 play, 69 yard drove that took 5 1/2 minutes off the clock. The two combined for the two point conversion putting the Loboes up 14-8 with 1:15 to go in the second quarter.
After a short kick and nice run back by Hovelson, the Falcons were set up in the Loboes territory. They would score on a 34 yard hail mary pass that was tipped in the end zone right into the hands of Grady Karges who held on. The conversion failed and the two teams headed into halftime tied at 14.
Neither team scored in the third, despite LLM using up eight minutes in the quarter but the drive stalled on the Falcons 10. The Loboes used 11 plays to drive 40 yards before giving up the ball on downs at the 10. But the Falcons could do nothing on the drive and the Loboes had a short 32 yard drive to score the tie breaking touchdown.
The Falcons had a chance to tie the game though. On fourth and 15 on their own 15 the Loboes tried a fake punt but Benji Heyd was stopped well shy of the first down marker and E/MV took over at the Loboe 18. Four plays later, Gruba hit a wide open Ty Fountain in the end zone for a 10 yard score with 1:41 to go. But on the two-point conversion attempt. Gruba was rushed and Freshman Brady Lettenmaier sacked him to preserve the win.
When the on-side kick failed to go ten yards, quarterback Potts took three knees and the game was over.
Brett Wendel lead the rushing game with 31 carries and 115 yards and a score.
Zach Gruba was seven for 12 for 97 yards and three touchdowns for the Falcons. He also led the running game with 57 yards on 18 carries.
LaMoure/Litchville-Marion will travel to Richland to play the Colts next Friday. Enderlin/Maple Valley will host Tri State in Buffalo.