STRONG TEAM EFFORT = ANOTHER WIN FOR THE PHOENIX
As was the case in the season opening game at Burke one week earlier, Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy used a strong second half to slam the door on their gridiron opponent and pull off another inspiring win — this one in Freeman against Iroquois/Lake Preston Friday night, Aug. 26.
Leading 12-8 at the half, the Phoenix went on a 32-0 run to emerge with a 44-8 win.
In two games as a program, F/M/FA has outscored their foes 58-6 in the third and fourth periods.
The Phoenix struck first Friday night when freshman quarterback Riley Tschetter found senior Maddox Kihne for an 11-yard touchdown strike late in the first quarter, but the two-point conversion attempt was no good and the Sharks answered on their first possession of the second period to go up 8-6.
But it was all F/M/FA after that.
Junior Evan Scharberg caught an 11-yard touchdown pass late in the second quarter and the Phoenix reclaimed the lead 12-6;
Sophomore Dominic Sperling ran for a 4-yard touchdown and Tschetter completed the two-point conversation attempt to Kihne to make it 20-8 early in the fourth quarter;
Kihne got loose for a 61-yard touchdown run and a Tschetter completion to Christopher Aasen for the conversation made it 28-8;
A touchdown pass from Tschetter to freshman Jackson Donlan and another from the freshmen duo for the two-point conversation made it 36-8;
And an 11-yard touchdown run by freshman Luke Peters and a two-point conversion run by freshman Karter Weber capped the scoring late in the fourth quarter.
F/M/FA’s defense held Iroquois/Lake Preston to 210 total yards and the Sharks were a combined 0-for-9 on third and fourth down conversion attempts.
Freshman Tate Sorensen and Kihne led the defensive attack with four solo tackles each. Freshman Dom Grear had two solo tackles and four assists and senior Jayden Jacobsen had four tackle assists and recovered a fumble.
The Phoenix, meanwhile, tallied 437 total yards, 261 of which came on the ground. Sperling carried the ball 16 times for 146 yards and Kihne had four rushing attempts for 78 yards to lead the ground attack.
Tschetter threw for three touchdown and 176 yards passing, with 88 of those yards going to Kihne. Matt Hagen caught three passes for 27 yards, Rocky Ammann caught three passes for 25 yards and Scharberg hauled in three balls for 24 yards.
The Phoenix didn’t turn the ball over but were penalized seven times for 70 yards.
The Sharks were penalized nine times for 65 yards.
F/M/FA travels to Avon next Friday in what will be a battle of two 2-0 teams.
Watch the game here.
