WINNER – For the Winner Warriors, the thought came of “Oh, no. Not again.”
A comeback fell short for Winner Friday as Elk Point-Jefferson held on for a 21-16 11B semifinal win. Winner lost for only the second time in the program’s last 35 games. The other was in last year’s championship game to Elk-Point Jefferson. The result also broke the Warriors’ 36-game home winning streak.
Keaton Gale ran and passed for a touchdown each for the Huskies. His 20-yard touchdown pass to Ashton Fairbanks in the third quarter, coming off a lost fumble by Winner, gave EP-J (10-1) the lead for good. Gunner Ewing scored on a touchdown run later in the quarter and Elk Point-Jefferson led 21-8 through three quarters.
Stratton Moreheart found Shawn Hammerbeck for a 19-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter for Winner (10-1) to bring the Warriors within 21-16. Winner had one more chance with under two minutes left, but couldn’t convert on fourth down.
Gale had his scoring run for a 7-0 Elk Point-Jefferson lead in the first quarter. In the second quarter, Aiden Barfuss had a touchdown run for Winner, then the Warriors converted a two-point play and Winner led 8-7 at halftime.
Winner’s last previous home loss had been a 30-28 defeat to Mt. Vernon/Plankinton on September 21, 2018.
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