Pirates rally in second half to top Norse
The Whitehall football team was in position to pull off an upset, but two turnovers helped Cochrane-Fountain City score twice in the third quarter and come away with a 28-20 win.
The Pirates came into the game as one of just two teams undefeated in Dairyland Conference play. However, Whitehall ran for three touchdowns in the first half and held a 20-14 lead at halftime. The Norse offense was quiet in the second half, however, losing two fumbles as C-FC scored twice to pull ahead in the third quarter.
Whitehall will take a 1-4 overall record and 1-2 mark in Dairyland Conference play into Eleva-Strum (2-3, 1-2) this week. The Cardinals are coming off of a 20-8 loss to Melrose-Mindoro this week.
The Norse host Independence/Gilmanton next week.
C-FC 28 Whitehall 20
Whitehall had the ball looking to add to its lead in the third quarter, but a fumble gave C-FC possession and they took advantage.
The Norse had already stopped the Pirates once in the third quarter and they looked to take control driving with a 20-14 lead before a fumble gave C-FC the ball at the Whitehall 40-yard line.
The Pirates were backed up to a second-and-21 when quarterback Stevie Meyer hit Landen Halverson for a 32-yard completion. Tye Popp finished that drive with a six-yard touchdown run and Grayden Barum’s point after gave the Pirates a 21-20 lead.
Whitehall’s next drive had the same result. This time, the fumble occurred in the backfield and C-FC recovered at the Whitehall 35. After a 29-yard pass to tight end Gavin Rich, Meyer hit Halverson for a four-yard touchdown with about 3:30 left in the third quarter. The extra point kick made it an eight-point game.
While the Norse had chances, they weren’t able to break through again and C-FC held on to win by that margin.
C-FC took an early lead when Meyer hit Halverson for a 43-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
Whitehall responded with a two-yard touchdown run and a two-point conversion that put them ahead 8-7. The Norse later added a 44-yard touchdown run to take a 14-7 lead. C-FC tied the game at 14 as Popp scored, but Whitehall went ahead 20-14 with a touchdown late in the half.
Bo Killian ran for two of Whitehall’s touchdowns and finished with 49 yards on the ground. CJ Johnston gave the Norse offense a spark with 174 rushing yards on 11 carries and one touchdown. Mason Pientok added 33 yards on 11 attempts and Mason Przybylla finished with 25 on seven rushes.
Meyer completed eight-of-19 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns. Halverson caught four of those passes for 98 yards and both scores. The Norse held C-FC to 2.2 yards per carry, totaling 71 yards on 33 attempts.
