Imperials Fall At Home
On a cool wind-swept Friday afternoon, Sept. 5 the Napoleon/Gackle-Streeter Imperials hosted the Grant County/Flasher Storm in a Region 4, 9-man football matchup. The game started at 3:30 p.m. due to having trouble finding officials for the contest between 2-unbeatens. After a hard-fought battle on the gridiron, it was the Storm who prevailed 20-28.
The Imperials had first possession and put together a nice opening drive as they moved the ball about 50-yards to the G-C 33-yard line before turning it over on downs at the 5:27 mark of the first. Five plays later the NGS defense knocked the ball loose causing a fumble which NGS senior Bill Schmitt recovered on the NGS 30. Four plays later the Storm defense stymied the Imperials as they turned the ball over on downs on the 25-yard line with 2:28 to play in the first quarter. Four plays later the Storm were the first to get on the board as Jason Weinberger carried over from 1-yard out. G-C went to the air for the PAT as QB Kelton Freisz found Zach Bonogofsky for the 2-point conversion to round out first quarter scoring with G-C leading 0-8.
The Storm kept things rolling in the second frame as they picked off a NGS Bryce Schneider pass at midfield and 6 plays later Freisz found Elijah Ottmar on a 30-yard passing route for a score. Weinberger carried for the 2-point conversion as G-C led 0-16 with 8:36 to play in the half.
The Imperials then came up with a big play as senior kickoff return specialist Bill Schmitt carried the ball to the house, 70-yards for a touch six kickoff return. The Imperials. . .