One throw could have won Yorkville the game, one throw could have ended it for Minooka, one throw that was incomplete. 

The freshman football game against Yorkville on Sept. 13 had a rough start for Minooka. they were not moving the ball and couldn’t play to their full potential. However, in the end Minooka won 28-25.

“We started the game flat with no energy,” head coach Matt Smith said.

The first lightning delay did not help. It practically deflated the whole team’s energy right before the game started. 

Yorkville almost won but didn’t because of some mistakes.

Deep in the fourth quarter, Yorkville, down by one on their own 10, threw the ball to an open receiver uncovered behind Minooka’s entire team. But it was overthrown. 

This one play could have won them the game, but instead Yorkville gave up a safety the very next play, ending the game.

Minooka got a small advantage during the second lightning delay.

“The second delay was useful,” freshman running back Collin Richards said, “Me and Caleb (Bizzotto) got the opportunity to watch film and improve.”

The game didn’t really pick up for Minooka until the 4th quarter.

“We were physical in the fourth quarter and started moving the ball. We worked our double teams effectively and our running backs started running harder,“ Smith said.

Yorkville was up by a score and seemed to tone it down a little bit thinking they had already won the game. Smith thought that they needed to be better.

“A couple of play calls I would like to have changed. Execution was not great in the first half both offensively and defensively,” Smith said.  

Ethan Tvrdik is a member of the freshman football team.