Wolves Earn First Win Of Season By Stopping Roundup

After Roundup’s first offensive possession, Wolf Point’s defense played a masterful game to defeat the Panthers for a 10-6 homecoming victory on Friday, Sept. 29.

Wolf Point Coach Anthony Red Cloud told his players after the game about how proud he was of the effort. He noted Roundup came in and played extremely hard in the contest.

The Panthers struck first on a 66-yard drive to open up action. After runs by Ryan Olson brought the ball to midfield, quarterback Thomas Bruner connected with Olson on a 17-yard completion to the 32.

On the next play, Sheldon Serrano broke loose down the left sideline for a touchdown. The junior fumbled the ball on the play, but officials ruled the fumble came after Serrano crossed the goal-line with 9:06 left in the first quarter.

Wolf Point’s defense, sparked by a remarkable game by senior linebacker Charles Page, performed much better on Roundup’s next two possessions. After an excellent punt by Preston Swenson pinned the Panthers back on their own four, a fumble was recovered by Page at the 14.

Quarterback Michael Bell raced 12 yards on first down to put the ball at the two. On the next play, Bell scored with 11:24 left in the second quarter.

The trusty leg of Swenson put the Wolves in the lead at 7-6.

After strong defensive plays by Ifeanyi Aniobi, Page and Lennox Lilley stopped Roundup on its next possession, the Wolves drove as deep as the Roundup 11 on the powerful running of Page, Maddox Reum and Kasey Reed. The Wolves, however, turned the ball over on downs with 5:40 left in the half.

A sack by Bell ended a drive by Roundup later in the half, and the Wolves went on to hold a 7-6 advantage at intermission.

Swenson, a senior, opened the second half with a nice kickoff return to the Roundup 38. Runs by Page and Reed produced a first down at the 28. Two carries by Reum were good for a pair of first downs and put the ball at the seven.

The Wolves were stopped there, but Swenson came through with a 30-yard field goal to put the Wolves ahead 10-6 with 5:27 left in the third quarter.

The Panthers drove close to midfield on their next possession, but a fumble was forced by Reed and recovered by Wolf Point’s Seth Landsrud.

Solid defensive efforts by Page, Reed and Lilley ended Roundup’s first possession of the fourth quarter.

The Wolves appeared ready to add to their lead when the running of Reum led to a first down at the Roundup 16. The threat, however, ended due to penalties.

Wolf Point was able to run a lot of the clock during its next drive, which included an incredible run by fullback Page when he wouldn’t be denied on a third-and-27 conversion down to the Roundup 25 with less than three minutes left.

After a 45-yard field goal attempt by Swenson came up just short, Roundup gained possession with only 49 seconds left. The Panthers were unable to pick up a first down.

Reum led Wolf Point’s offensive attack with 62 yards on 11 carries. Page finished with 55 yards. Roundup was held to 95 rushing yards and 32 passing yards.

The Wolves will head to Malta on Friday, Oct. 6.