Sports from the week of September 21, 2005

Mistakes snowball in 41-0 loss

Russell-Tyler-Ruthton humbled the Panther football team 41-0 at Tyler Friday, dropping Tracy/Milroy/Balaton to 1-2.

But despite the lop-sided score, the game did have positives for the Panthers.

“It wasn’t as bad as the score would indicate,” said Panther Coach Randy McIntire. “They had such good field position all night that they were in four down territory and many of their first downs came on fourth down plays. Minett’s scoring pass came as a result of two of our guys fighting for the ball as it was tipped to their receiver. We showed we could move the ball, Seth (Swan) had 118 yards in only 14 carries.”

First half

The game started promisingly for TMB. Panthers received the opening kick-off and moved, in six running plays. 32 yards to a first down on the Knights’ 43 yard line. Two incomplete pass plays and a quarterback sack brought about a fourth and 17 at midfield. A blocked punt recovered by RTR on the Panthers’ 27 yard line. RTR had a fourth and three at the 20 yard line. With the Panther defense keying on RTR’s premier running back Kyle Minett, the Knights’ Christopherson slipped away for a first down on the TMB’s 10 yard line. Facing a third and goal at the eight, Minett threw a pass that two Panther defenders tipped and fell into Drew Mikkelson’s hands for a Knight touchdown. With 4:19 remaining in the first quarter Minett’s kick was good and RTR had a 7-0 lead.

Following the kickoff, the Panthers’ Seth Swan carried seven yards to a second and three at TMB’s 34 yard line. A holding penalty moved the ball back to the 27 yard line. On second and 14 Swan’s halfback pass was intercepted and the Knights took over on their own 44. In 10 plays the Knights moved to their second score when the Panthers were keying on Minett and Christopherson took an inside reverse and scored, untouched, from 16 yards out. With 10:27 left in the first half Minett’s kick was good and RTR’s lead became 14-0.

Swan returned the kickoff 17 yards to the TMB 38. An offside penalty forced a punt and the Knights returned it to the TMB 48. RTR moved to another score in eight plays, with Minett carrying 36 yards in five tries. TMB blocked the extra point kick but with 3:09 remaining in the first half RTR lead 20-0.

After receiving the ensuing kickoff TMB’s three incomplete pass plays brought about a fourth and 11 on their own 12 yard line. Derek Daniels’ punt was returned to the Panther 38. However, on the second play, the Panthers’ Matt Rosa intercepted a pass on his own 15. With time running out in the first half the Panthers were held on downs and turned the ball over to the Knights on the Panther 49 yard line. With third and seven and 13 seconds showing on the clock the Knights’ Quarterback, Carmany, hit Minett with a 46-yard scoring strike. Minett caught the ball against the Panther defender’s body with one hand, pulled it in and spun away for the touchdown. The run failed but the score mounted to 26-0 as time ran out in the first half.

Second half

The third quarter saw RTR marching to a score on their first possession when Minett ran it in from 21 yards out. His kick was good and, with 9:11 left in the quarter, RTR led 33-0.

Swan brought some light to a dark evening when he picked up a first down on a 25-yard burst to RTR’s 41 but the Panthers then lost the ball on a fumble. The teams then exchanged punts until the Panthers lost another fumble at the Knights’ 45 from where RTR moved to the final score in 10 plays with Adam Bakker scoring from the three yard line. A run for the conversion brought about the final score of 41-0.

The Panthers, with 9:06 remaining went three and out and punted. The Knights then held the ball for 17 plays before turning the ball back, on downs, with 15 seconds left, to the Panthers, on TMB’s 11 yard line as time ran out.

Statistics

TMB rushed 26 times for 116 yards and were two of six passing, with one interception, for 0 yards totaling 116 yards of offense. The Knights rushed 50 times for 296 yards and were seven of 12 passing, with one interception, for 94 yards-totaling 390 yards of offense.

Swan rushed 14 times for 118 yards while Minett carried 24 times for 168 yards and had two pass receptions for 51 yards. RTR had 14 first downs to four for TMB. The Panthers lost two fumbles, had one pass intercepted and a punt blocked.

Matt Bauer led the defense with eight tackles and a blocked kick. Sean Fox had seven tackles, Matt Rosa six plus an interception, Chris Swenson and Derek Daniels six each, Drew Hebig five, David Schiller, Paul Carlson and Brady Jackson four each, Kyle McIntire, Erik Frisvold, Gary Knott, Kirby Arens and Adam LeClaire three each, Drew Nelson and Derek Evans two each, Taylor Rignell, Tristan Larson, Nathan Jacob, Tyler Bauer and Chad Stibbe one each while Derrick Vandromme, Nick Soupir and Erich Swenson had one each and Vandromme also had a fumble recovery.

TMB 0 0 0 0- 0

RTR 7 19 7 8- 41

Scoring.

First Quarter

RTR-Mikkelson 8 pass from Minett (Minett kick)

Second Quarter

RTR-Christopherson 16 run (Minett kick)

RTR-Minett 3 run (kick failed)

RTR-Minett 45 pass from Carmany (run failed)

Third Quarter

RTR-Minett 21 run (Minett kick)

Fourth Quarter

RTR-Bakker 2 run (Christopherson run)

Cross Country teams run in Turkey Trot

Jillian Tholen finished fourth and the Panther girls’ team finished ninth in the Turkey Trot held at Worthington Saturday. Ryan Tholen finished fourth in the boys’ varsity race but the Panther team was incomplete.

The girls’ team scores were: 1) Adrian, 26; 2) Windom, 92; 3) MLBO, 116; 4) Worthington, 135; 5) St James, 149; 6) MCW, 157; 7) SWU, 171; 8) MCC, 177; 9) T/M/B, 200; 10) W-WG/RRC, 202.

The Panther girls’ individual results were; 4) Jillian Tholen, 16:01; 41) Stacy LaVoy, 18:51; 42) Jen Vroman, 18:57; 55) Bobbi Jo Buyck, 20:28; 58) Jessica Mason, 20:42; 60) Celia Brockway, 20:54; 61) Rachel Stobb, 20:58.

“The girls’ varsity all ran excellent times, especially considering the rain and strong wind that set in just in time for their race,” said Panther Coach Marie Clauson. “Bobbi Jo Buyck ran an awesome race. Her upper body strength really gave her an edge. She is a very tough competitor. Jessica Mason continues to improve. The start of her season was hampered by an injury from the summer months but we expect her to be at full strength very soon.”

The Panther boys’ varsity individual results were: 4) Ryan Tholen, 17:47; 10) Brad Lanoue, 18:28; 26) Alex Jones, 19:35; 55) Sam VanNevel, 21:45.

“Brad Lanoue has really added to our boys’ team,” said Clauson. “He is a tough competitor and continues to get better with more experience.”

Karli Tholen placed sixth in the girls’ junior high race with a time of 6:58 while Dalton Kirk was 32nd in the boys’ junior high race with a time of 7:16 and Josh Lubben was 43rd with a time of 7:52.

“Dalton Kirk ran very well today,” said Clauson. “He has gained a lot of upper body strength this past summer and it has really helped him.”

Tholens all take a first place at Windon Invite

On Monday the Panther boys’ and girls’ cross-country teams took part in the Windom Invite. Jillian Tholen placed first in the girls’ varsity race, Ryan Tholen placed first in the boys’ varsity race and Karli Tholen placed first in the girls’ junior high race.

“This was an excellent meet for the Panthers,” said Panther Coach Marie Clauson. “We had six athletes place in the top 10. It was a great day!”

The girls’ varsity team results were: 1) Windom, 50; 2) MLBO. 85; 3) LCWM/N, 96; 4) SWU, 100; 5) USC/AC, 104; 6) T/M/B, 125; 7) W-WG/RRC, 126.

“Jillian Tholen continued her dominance in the area, outrunning her closest opponent by 30 seconds,” said Clauson.

The Panther girls’ individual results were: 1) Jillian Tholen, 15:43; 24) Stacy LaVoy, 18:39; 31) Jen Vroman, 19:06; 34) Jessica Mason, 19:35; 35) Celia Brockway, 19:36; 38) Rachel Stobb, 19:48; 40) Bobbi Jo Buyck, 20:12; 44) Jessica Coulter, 21:45; 50) Becca Zens, 33:40.

“Celia Brockway ran her best race this season,” said Clauson. “Her positive attitude is really an asset to the team.”

The Panther boys’ varsity individual results were: 1) Ryan Tholen, 17:55; 2) Brad Lanoue, 18:20; 7) Alex Jones, 19:10; 31) Sam Van Nevel, 21:22.

“The boys’ varsity race looked exceptional today,” observed Clauson. “Ryan and Brad took their lead early in the race and only stretched it out to easily place first and second.”

Karli Tholen won her girls’ junior high race with a time of 6:43 while Dalton Kirk placed 5th in the boys’ junior high race and Josh Lubben placed 14th at 7:49.

“Karli Tholen picked up her first cross-country career win,” said Clauson. “It’s very exciting to see such potential in this young runner.”

Spikers beat RTR, Windom

The Tracy/Milroy/Balaton volleyball team won two matches last week. The Panthers beat Windom 3-1 Thursday after topping Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 3-1 Tuesday night at Tyler.

New setter fills in

With Jackie Haecherl substituting for injured setter Krysta Tholen, the Panthers beat Windom 25-19, 25-22, 21-25 and 25-19.

“The girls did a great job of passing and Jackie did a nice job of setting for us,” said Coach Katie Gervias. She felt that the TMB’s serving needed improvement.

“Our serving was very poor and 72 percent of Windom’s points came from our errors (40 percent has been normal). But the game has evolved to the point where the secret to winning is to stay away from errors instead of being aggressive and trying to get kills.”

Emily Miller led the team with 12 kills, 22 digs and was 15 of 16 serving with two aces. Michele Lanoue had nine kills and 10 digs while Rachel Gervais had nine kills and 11 digs. Emily Scharfe had 11 digs and two solo blocks. Jackie Haecherl had 32 set assists.

First conference win

The Panthers’ first win in the South Camden Conference was 20-25, 25-10, 25-17 and 25-22 against RTR. The win improved the Panthers’ season record to 4-4 and they are now 1-0 in the South Camden Conference.

“We had problems hitting in the first game, our timing was off,” said Panther Coach Katie Gervais.

Krysta (Tholen) sprained an ankle and Emily Scharfe injured a shoulder.

“We taped them up and kept them in the match because we had played most of the squad in the B-squad game. The kids did an excellent job of passing and as a result Krysta was able to set the ball without much movement.”

Emily Miller led the team with 15 kills, 18 digs and was 15 of 16 serving with two aces. Michele Lanoue had 14 kills and 17 digs, Krysta Tholen had 29 set assists and 12 digs. Emily Scharfe had 10 solo blocks while Rachel Gervais was 17 of 18 serving with three aces and Lindsey Daniels was six of six with one ace.