Post Messenger Recorder -

Aaaahhhhh. The sweet taste of victory! Nothing can soothe the wounds and replace past frustrations like the feeling of victory. And tonight it was NGM that would get to feel that special joy of a 1-point victory, instead of the three 1-point heartbreaks suffered to date in 2021.

It was evident from the get-go that NGM had a chip on its shoulder as they played with an energy and a fire that just seemed new. A good and energetic crowd, a loud band on key, and the return of senior running back Nate Brandes and junior lineman Ja'Kodey Strahm to the starting lineup all made for a unified and spirited team effort. And then there was junior sensation, Ethan Friedrich (the young man with the infectious smile), who had a career night with two interceptions, several clutch 3rd down receptions, a fake punt run for a key first down, and the tying touchdown with 0:19 seconds on the clock. You just had to be there to see it all unfold.

Friedrich got things going in the first quarter with an interception that would set up an end-around touchdown run by the ever-athletic senior Jackson Parman at the 10:12 mark. Senior Eli Zimmerman's kick just missed the mark, but his ensuing kickoff was fumbled by Prairie du Chien (PDC) as NGM's Reid Righter, making his first Varsity start, recovered on the 34-yard line of the Blackhawks. Wasting no time, sophomore quarterback Max Marty hit fellow sophomore Leyton Mihlbauer on a flea-flicker for a score. Another shot to Mihlbauer was good for 2 points and, with just 12 more seconds off the clock, NGM was up 14-0.

The Blackhawks came right back with a drive of their own but were stalled on the NGM 7-yard line. Marty would engineer a 93-yard drive with a mix of passes and runs. Friedrich was money on three third down plays to keep this drive alive. A 40-yard bomb from Marty to junior wide receiver A.C. Strok put the ball on the PDC 4-yard line where Brandes, after a brief absence for re-taping, powered it home for 6. Zimmerman's kick was true and at 11:21 in the second quarter, it was NGM 21-0 over the Blackhawks.

The balance of the second was nothing if not frenetic. The ball changed hands something akin to a game of pickleball. With Friedrich's second interception, his fake punt run for a much needed first down, three(!) PDC interceptions of NGM passes with one returned for a touchdown, and a final drive by PDC that was shut down on the NGM 9 with an incomplete 4th down pass in the end zone at 0:23, NGM was able to run out the clock and take a 21-7 lead to the locker room as this crazy first half ended.

The third quarter, in keeping with the first half, started off fast and furious. NGM got the ball and moved well until midfield. Friedrich's punt was blocked. PDC's talented quarterback, junior Max Cejka, ran a mix of runs and passes before finding his favorite receiver Owen Oldenburg with a 27-yard strike for a score. The missed PAT made it 21-13 at 7:53 in the third. NGM had limited success on their next drive, forcing another Friedrich punt...and what a gem it was, pinning PDC on their own 3-yard line thanks to coverage by NGM's fleet-footed junior outside gunner Easton Dreyfus.

What looked to be a sure three-and-out (with the most desirable field position all but assured), the PDC drive was somehow kept alive by a most bizarre penalty. PDC took full advantage of the gift and marched 97 yards to a score. Their trick play for a 2-point PAT was snuffed out by the interception of senior defensive back Cale Weeden, and at 10:39 now in the fourth quarter, it was 21-19 with the Blackhawks coming on strong. An NGM pass was tipped, intercepted and returned for a TD in the east end zone. Cejka found Oldenburg for a successful 2-point conversion and at the 7:07 mark, it was now PDC 27-21 over NGM. That's three touchdowns in about 12 minutes! Momentum, Blackhawks.

Stay with me and see if you can follow what happened in the final minutes. (I hope you're sitting down.)

NGM fumbled the kickoff, giving PDC the ball right smack on the 50-yard line. NGM's Ja'Kodey Strahm stripped the ball in a scrum on the next play and recovered the fumble, giving the ball back to NGM on their own 42. Another tipped pass gave the ball back to the Blackhawks as it was intercepted. The NGM defense stiffened, forcing a 3rd and 14, which the Blackhawks could not convert. A PDC punt gave NGM the ball on their own 31-yard line with but 1:07 to play. Quarterback Max Marty never blinked, making key passes and running for necessary first downs to keep this final drive alive. Judicious use of a timeout by coach Eichelkraut (he only had one left), a fortuitous offside penalty and NGM found themselves on the PDC 31-yard line. Marty now hit who else but the evening's magic man, Ethan Friedrich, in perfect stride and with some very clever running the last few yards it was all tied up at 27-27 with 0:19 showing on the clock. NGM's Eli Zimmerman drilled his PAT kick in exclamatory fashion to seal the deal 28-27.

Putting their final hopes on the strong arm of quarterback Maddox Cejka, the Blackhawks had time for two long heaves, one of which was dangerously close to a reception were it not batted away at the last second by an NGM defender.

And there it was. Victory at last! The boys from NGM earning their first victory of the new SWC fall season.

The "tale of the tape" tells us much about this game. PDC is known for their running game out of an I-Pro set, yet on this evening they only managed 34 of their total 210 yards on the ground. Credit the NGM defense, led by junior Jackson Eyler's 10 tackles and a sack, and a revamped defensive game plan that the NGM coaching staff emphasized all week in preparation. The NGM offense produced 285 yards of total offense with 189 yards coming off of 14 pass completions of 30 attempted.

Next up is the team from Wisconsin Dells paying a visit as NGM plays host. Game time is 7:00 p.m. The excitement is back! See you at the game.