The Pierz Pioneers football team defended its home turf against the Melrose Dutchmen with a 56-26 win on homecoming night, Friday, Sept. 27.
Pioneers Head Coach Danny Saehr said the team didn’t have its best performance the week before, with the 12-34 loss to Albany. However, this week, the team had several different players finding themselves scoring in the end zone.
“The kids had a good week of practice and we had a fast start in the first quarter to get things going,” Saehr said
The Pioneers started the game with a 19-yard touchdown run by Aiden Jones less than five minutes into the first quarter. Jaxsen Hardy received a 23-yard touchdown pass from Liam Hennessy at 3:58. The Pioneers attempted a two-point conversion, but failed, ending the period with a 14-0 lead.
It didn’t take Hardy long to score again at 11:52 in the second quarter, with another 18-yard pass from Hennessy to improve the Pioneers lead to 20-0. The Dutchmen answered with a 19-yard reception by Samuel Wehlage and a two-point conversion by Riley Elfering 20-8 at 6:13.
Later in the second quarter, Braden LeBlanc had a two-yard run for a touchdown. Hennessy made a run into the endzone for a two-point conversion to extend the Pioneers lead 28-8 with 2:26 left in the game.
In the second half of the game, Jones made a big play with a 52-yard touchdown run 6:46 in the third quarter and scored again with 20 seconds left 20 seconds left, increasing the Pioneers’ lead 40-20.
Late in the fourth quarter, The Pioneers struck again with a a nine-yard touchdown run by Brayden Foust, along with an two-point conversion by Kyle Stangl to make the lead 48-20. Stangl capped off the Pioneers’ score with a 75-yard touchdown run along with a two-point conversion at 3:59 in the game.
Melrose had its highlight of the night at 3:47 left, finishing the game with a 82-yard kick return for a touchdown by Jackson Mayers.
The Pioneers had a total of 489 total yards, with 374 of them being from rushing plays. The Dutchmen had 288 total yards. Hennessy completed seven out of 12 of his pass attempts for 115 yards. Jones ran for a total of 159 yards in 10 carries. Hardy had three receptions for 54 yards. Saehr said the homecoming game was the Pioneers’ best performance all season and the team wanted to capitalize on it moving forward.
“We are looking to build on it and continue to improve with only a few weeks left before playoffs,” said Saehr.
The Pioneers hosted its last home game of the season against Sauk Centre Friday, Oct. 5. They will travel to Montevideo Friday, Oct. 11.
Local News
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