<div>The Independence/Gilmanton football team’s defense kept it in the game, but the offense never got going.A week after Melrose-Mindoro scored a season-high 21 points against Eleva-Strum, the Indees mostly kept the Mustangs in the stable. The game was close as the Mustangs took the lead with a touchdown on a long pass in the second quarter then pulled away with a short touchdown run in the fourth. The loss put I/G at 0-5 on the season and 0-3 in Dairyland Conference play. The team hosts Whitehall for its Homecoming game this Friday. The Norse are also 0-3 in DC play, coming off an overtime loss to Eleva-Strum (see story elsewhere in Sports). Mel-Min 14 I/G 0A long pass was the game’s only score through three quarters, but that’s all the Mustangs would need.I/G’s defense was in control for most of the game and it had the Mustangs backed up on a third down with 16 yards to convert. But Mel-Min quarterback Brady Blaken connected with Collin Christianson on a pass that picked up the first down. After an I/G defender’s tackle attempt came up empty, Christianson sprinted down the sideline for a 60-yard touchdown. The point after made the score 7-0 with 4:37 remaining in the first half.Mel-Min added another touchdown, a three-yard run early in the fourth quarter and the point after put the lead at 14-0. I/G’s offense struggled to move the ball all game. The Indees had just 31 rushing yards on 20 carries, while Chase Back was eight-for-18 with 81 yards passing and an interception.Nathan Pyka was a highlight all around for the Indees. He led the team with 22 rushing and 63 receiving yards while totaling a team-high 18 tackles and forcing a fumble. I/GRushing (att./yds.) — Pyka 7/22 Back 7/11 Klimek 1/0 Marsolek 5/-2Receiving (rec./yds.) — Pyka 5/63 Klimek 2/11 Slaby 1/7Passing (comp./att./yds.) — Back 8/18/81 Slaby 0/2/0Tackles (solo/total) — Back 4/13 Marsolek 2/2 Pyka 5/18 Klimek 3/5 Rojas 0/1 Slaby 3/4 Carillo Taylor 2/5 Cantu Lucio 2/5 Solbert 0/5 Turner 1/3 Flores 5/7 </div>

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I/G defense holds strong, offense shutout by Mel-Min

The Independence/Gilmanton football team’s defense kept it in the game, but the offense never got going. A week after Melrose-Mindoro scored a season-high 21 points against Eleva-Strum, the Indees mostly kept the Mustangs in the stable. The game was close as the Mustangs took the lead with a touchdown on a long pass in the second quarter then pulled away with a short touchdown run in the fourth.