By Bud Milroy
Sports Correspondent
While opening night issues were in full view Friday – gaps in execution, off target passes and missed blocks – the Catholic Central and Lake Country Lutheran High School football teams still played a thriller.
In the end, the Hilltoppers came up just short, falling 21-20.
The Lightning managed to recovered Catholic Central’s opening onside kick try, but couldn’t execute the long pass. However, with first and 10 at the 22-yard line thanks to the ground game, the Lightning had a bad snap, which resulted in the ’Toppers Mike Pinnow making a fumble recovery.
The Hilltoppers couldn’t get the ball moving, and Lake Country would convert the following drive into a score. Quarterback Jacob Simmons hit Jacob Denman for a 29-yard touchdown, but the extra point missed.
The Hilltoppers went three and out on the ensuing possession and punted, but Simmons’ pass was tipped and CCHS’s Ted Burzawa picked it off.
Three rushes by Grant Alderman, the last three yards for the score, tied the game, though the extra point was off the mark.
Lake Country Lutheran wasted no time in answering the score, with Simmons scoring on a 16-yard run. The Lightning converted the two-point try for a 14-6 halftime lead.
Lake Country then extended the lead early in the second half, scoring again to go up 21-6.
But Catholic Central responded with its next opportunity. Quarterback Carson Meinholz capped the drive with a one-yard dive for the score, and Jake Surges grabbed the two-point pass to make the score 21-14.
The Lightning had a shot at a field goal early in the fourth, but the kick came up short. Starting at their own 20-yard line, the Hilltoppers made the most of the opportunity.
Meinholz went to the air and found Tegan Miles on a slant route that ended in a 58-yard touchdown reception.
With 5:31 remaining, the Hilltoppers decided to try for the win, but the two-point conversion failed.
However, Catholic Central got the ball back with an onside kick, and looked to have a shot late. With 50 seconds to go, Meinholz’s pass to Miles fell incomplete.
Aldermen led the Hilltoppers with 110 yards on 20 carries. Miles had 89 yards receiving on two catches, while Meinholz three for 128 yards.
Catholic Central travels to Ozaukee for a 7 p.m. game Friday.
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