The losing streak didn’t last very long.
Less than a week after the Lena/STAA football team opened its season with a 12-6 loss to Laona/Wabeno, the Titans returned to their winning ways Aug. 27 with a 47-6 win over Goodman/Pembine in a matchup of 8-player teams at Lena High School.
Although the Rebels held the Titans to one score Aug. 21 in the season opener, scoring was not a problem for Lena/STAA against the Patriots. All six of the team’s possessions in the first half and the first of the second half resulted in points on the scoreboard.
Isaac Peterson ended the Patriots’ opening drive with an interception that set the Titans up at the Goodman/Pembine 40-yard line. Peterson scored on the drive’s first play, and the Titans led 8-0 two minutes into the game after a successful two-point conversion.
After forcing a three-and-out and taking over at midfield, Luke Koslowsky found the end zone from 3 yards out. The Titans had a 16-0 lead with just under six minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Koslowsky capped the Titans’ third drive with a 7-yard run, and Lena/STAA took a 22-0 lead into the second quarter.
The Titans added to their lead on the first play of their next drive, as Peterson scored on a 59-yard run that made it 30-0 following a successful 2-point conversion.
Kullen Fischer’s 3-yard touchdown run with 6:51 to go in the first half started a running clock. Then the Titans added to their lead on the final play of the half when Jake Farley’s 18-yard field goal made it 41-0 at the break.
The Titans added to their lead on the first drive of the second half, as Max VandenHeuvel scored on a 38-yard run.
Goodman/Pembine’s touchdown came with 7:29 to go in the game on Devin Moddie’s 7-yard run.
Co-coach Dale Lange said it was good for the Titans to pick up a win after coming up short in Wabeno.
“We knew last week was going to be a tough game,” he said. “It’s the little things we stress during the week that make the difference. It’s always nice to get the first W. We knew we could take care of business, and we had to. There’s a lot of stuff we have to correct. We played a young team in Goodman/Pembine, and I tip my hat off to their coaches and players. They never quit right down to the fourth quarter.”
The Titans lost a number of running backs from last year’s team, whose season ended just one win away from the state 8-player championship game, including Max and Sam Peterson.
“We’ve got some runners,” Lange said. “Last year, when we needed that foot, foot-and-a-half, we had two guys. Nobody knew who was coming at them. Lucas Koslowsky’s our big power runner, and Isaac (Peterson) is a little faster on the outside.”
The Titans will open Across the Bay Conference play Sept. 3 at Wausaukee before returning home Sept. 11 to host Gibraltar. Kickoff for both games is set for 7 p.m.
“We have more players out, and we were able to give our young players a lot of opportunities tonight,” Lange said. “That’s key down the road because we’re not deep. Some of these young guys that were out here tonight may be stepping into some important roles. It’s vital that these young guys really pay attention and we grow from this game.”
Riley Windus sacks Goodman/Pembine quarterback Devin Moddie in the first half of Lena/STAA’s win over the Patriots. (Greg Seubert)
Lena/STAA’s Clay Peters lines up on offense against Goodman/Pembine’s Carter Seidel. (Greg Seubert)
