Friday afternoon at Park Christian started slowly, but did not end that way. The first 12 minutes of the game went by with only a handful of first downs between the two teams.
But the extended warmup proved worth watching.
Right out of the game in the second quarter Riley Erkenbrack got a sack to set up 3rd & very long. After the Titans weren't able to convert, Phil Lien got by the line & blocked the punt. The momentum the block created was short lived as QB/DB Connor Nelson picked off Max Albrecht's throw a few plays later.
Nelson kept it going for the visitors as he dropped a pass off to Titan Engen who rumble the rest of the way for a 50 yard score.
Now down 8 - 0 the Falcons mounted a quality drive from the 35 to the 21 but were stymied from getting any closer.
Highlight of the rest of the half came when Lien smashed running back Zech Juarez on a quick pass. The Falcons had a chance to get good field position again when NCE fumbled on a reverse but the ball bounced the visitors way, not the only time that it would either.
Park got the ball back anyway, with 95 seconds on the clock but weren't able to put any points on the board.
The Falcons resumed play with the sort of drive that could add some gray hairs but that is hard to argue against. Facing their third 4th down of the nearly 8 minute long drive, the first two of the 2 & 1 yard variety, Albrecht connected with Caden Larson who did the rest to close the score gap.
But when the teams lined up for the kick, Norman County was still ahead 8 - 6.
The Titans used up the rest of the third quarter with their ensuing possession. They overcame a TFL by Phil Lien on first down & a snap that went over Nelson's head, but he showed enough poise to grab it & get up field for a gain on the play, only to fumble the ball in the process but yet again manage to retain. It was about as close to "puck luck" as you'll find on the field.
Nelson came an ankle tackle from busting loose for another long score but Albrecht got just enough to save the score. That all-out effort wasn't enough to stem the tide of the momentum as U/H pushed their lead to double-figures early in the fourth quarter when Connor Nelson finished the run.
Following a quick turnover on downs, Dawson Bjerke got into the act. Back to back long gains to Bjerke, the first of which was wiped out by penalties, got the Titans moving and they finished with a big man score as Cole Mortenson added the frosting.
With less than 3 minutes left in the game Park had to start slinging it but Reed Klemetson nearly picked off a pass then Aidan Flaten closed on the next throw to let the offense finish it with kneels.
Ulen/Hitterdal/NCE 24, Park Christian 6
A few plays going differently could have flipped the score but it proved that opportunities must be capitalized on when they present themselves.
The Titans Swiss Army knife is the obvious (& correct) choice for the nod.
Connor Nelson
A split-second before one of the biggest hits of the Fall
Click the pic to see the rest of the game gallery
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