Wolves Stop Conrad, 14-13, For Conference Victory
Wolf Point’s defense stepped up with big plays time and time again as the Wolves came away with a 14-13 conference victory over Conrad on Friday, Oct. 13.
“It was a hard-fought game. The boys responded,” Wolf Point’s football coach Anthony Red Cloud said after the win. “The defense bended but did not break.”
Red Cloud was pleased that the Wolves played solid ball throughout four quarters in a close contest.
Conrad’s opening drive was an indication of things to come for the rest of the night. The Cowboys drove from their own 38 to inside the Wolf Point 20, but a fourthand- nine screen pass play was stopped by Wolf Point’s Preston Swenson short of the needed yardage.
The Cowboys were able to score on their next possession when Trevor Volk made a diving catch of a fourthdown pass from Christopher Graham for a 10-yard touchdown. Jacob Scherer kicked the conversion for a 7-0 margin with 10:38 left in the half.
A 21-yard return by Swenson on the ensuing kickoff put the Wolves in good possession at their own 41. A quarterback keeper run by Swenson earned the Wolves a first down at the Conrad 31. Two hard runs by tailback Maddox Reum were good for another first down at the 21.
On the next play, Swenson passed to Michael Bell, who caught the ball at the seven and then battled into the end zone. Swenson kicked the PAT for a 7-7 deadlock with 6:45 remaining in the half.
With the Wolves playing with great emotion and confidence after the touchdown, Conrad was forced to punt after just three downs. Reum returned the kick 22 yards to the Cowboy 39. Wolf Point kept its drive alive when Swenson connected with Charles Page for a first down at the 21.
Facing a fourth and three at the 13, a shovel pass to Page picked up five yards to the eight. Page went on to score from the one on third down. Swenson’s kick put the margin at 14-7 with 27 seconds remaining in the half.
The Cowboys put together a 78-yard drive, highlighted with throws by Graham, midway into the third quarter. Conrad reached the end zone on a leaping catch by Trevor Volk on a 27-yard play with 4:48 left in the quarter. Page blocked the conversion kick attempt to keep the Wolves ahead 14-13.
Wolf Point’s defense made a big play on Conrad’s next possession when freshman Jacob White intercepted a pass on the Wolves’ 26. Conrad, however, appeared to turn the momentum around on a blocked punt that gave the ball to the Cowboys at the Wolf Point 38.
The Cowboys drove inside the Wolf Point 20, but a 35-yard field goal attempt by Scherer hit the cross bar with 9:06 remaining.
The Wolves were able to take some time off the clock behind the running attack of Reum, Page and Swenson, but Conrad got the ball back when Volk intercepted a deflected pass near midfield with 5:39 on the clock.
Several excellent defensive plays by freshman Jesse Reed and a stop by senior Lennoxx Lilley stopped the Cowboys. Wolf Point took over on the Conrad 39 with only 3:14 remaining.
Facing a fourth-and-two at the 30, the Wolves gained the needed yards on a quarterback keeper by Bell to put the contest away.
The Wolves will finish their regular season with a home game against Glasgow on Friday, Oct. 20.
