Jefferson turned back by Luther Prep 28-7 in season opener

WATERTOWN -- Senior quarterback Carson Burow ran for a score and threw for a score and senior running back Caleb Acosta rushed for 200 yards and two touchdowns in Luther Prep's season-opening 28-7 victory over Jefferson on Friday at Umnus Field.

"I thought our kids played with great effort and great drive," Jefferson football coach Scott Slotten said. "We have to capitalize situationally. We had a few dropped passes and dropped picks. We also didn't win the turnover battle.

"The game is way different without those turnovers. There were a few dropped balls on third down that could have extended drives and we also have to finish drives offensively."

Burow threw a 33-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter to Seth Hanson, who won on the skinny post route with a leaping catch at the 10 and kept his feet on his way to the end zone.

Three straight penalties forced the Phoenix to kick off from their own 25 and Jefferson junior Connor Witucki returned the ensuing kick 21 yards into Phoenix territory.

The Eagles drove to Luther Prep's 12 before stalling on downs.

Luther Prep went up 14-0 in the second quarter on Burow's 1-yard scoring run.

Jefferson cut the lead in half in the third quarter on junior quarterback Bentley Wagner's 20-yard TD pass to senior tight end Ryan Lohman, who made the grab in the back of the end zone.

"It was fourth-and-10 so we called timeout knowing it was an important play upcoming," Slotten said. "Lohman is our big, strong and fast tight end out wide. It was a fade jump ball for him to go get and Bentley threw a dot to him. Lohman did a great job high pointing the ball and getting his feet down in the end zone, just like we drew it up."

The Phoenix pulled away late with rushing scores of 1 and 28 yards from Acosta in the fourth quarter.

"Their backs are solid runners and run hard," Slotten said. "We did a great job bottling them up 75 percent of the time. There would be lulls where they would hit a 25 to 30 yarder on us. That's what hurt us defensively.

"Trailing 14-7 in the fourth quarter, we had them pinned back to third-and-16 from inside their 10 but gave up a long run. If we get off the field there, the game feels much different."

Wagner completed 8-of-17 passes for 66 yards. Witucki led the Eagles on the ground with 18 carries for 52 yards.

"We started the game off well offensively and were running the ball," Slotten said. "They loaded the box up. When they did that, we wanted to get it to our athletes on the outside. We were particularly bottled up on offense in the second quarter.

"Our effort is there, we just have to find the consistency aspect. We're young up front, but no else cares that we're young. We have to go out there and perform."

Jefferson hosts Fort Atkinson next Friday.

LUTHER PREP 28, JEFFERSON 7

Jefferson 0 0 7 0 - 7

Luther Prep 7 7 0 14 - 28

First Quarter

LP - Hanson 33 pass from Burow (Archer kick)

Second Quarter

LP - Burow 1 run (Archer kick)

Third Quarter

J - Lohman 20 pass from Wagner (Steies kick)

Fourth Quarter

LP - Acosta 1 run (Archer kick)

LP - Acosta 28 run (Archer kick)

Team statistics — First Downs: J 9, LP 14. Total offense: J 169, LP 339. Rushing attempts-yards: J 32-103, LP 39-285. Passing yards: J 66, LP 54. Fumbles-lost: J 2-2, LP 0-0. Penalties-yards: J 5-46, LP 6-25.