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Indians improve, but fall to Thunderbirds

A nearly 2-to-1 advantage in time possession helped the Iola-Scandinavia football team open Central Wisconsin 8 play Friday, Sept. 2, with a 20-8 win over Weyauwega-Fremont.

The T-Birds took a 13-0 lead at halftime with a pair of Ronnie Knapstein touchdown runs. He scored from 2 yards out to cap the Thunderbirds’ opening drive and added a 1-yard score with 26 seconds remaining in the half.

Austin Ferge put the Indians on the board with a 37-yard run with 5:00 remaining in the third quarter, but the T-Birds’ Bradly Hardel sealed the win with a 29-yard run with 3:08 remaining in the game.

“We played our best game defensively and improved offensively as we continue to make progress,” W-F coach Tom Chase said. “This team is getting better every day and is very close to becoming a good team.”

The T-Birds held the ball for 31:11, compared to 16:49 for the Indians. I-S also had a 14-9 advantage in first downs, outgained the Indians 259-125 on the ground and 291-250 overall. W-F held the T-Bird passing game to only 32 yards.

Each team had a 100-yard rusher, as Ferge had 135 yards in 17 carries for the Indians and Brady Huettner had 133 yards in 18 attempts for the T-Birds.

Ferge led the Indians with 18 tackles, while Nathan Stelzner added 15; Adam Krause had 11; Ben Fox chipped in with nine; Treg DeSantis had six; and Jordan Haase and Hunter Billington had five each.

“The difference in the game was inches on several plays,” Chase said. “I-S made the play at the end of the game and we missed our opportunity, as it was anyone’s game late in the fourth quarter.”

Both teams have home games scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9. The T-Birds will host unbeaten Bonduel, while the Indians will host Wittenberg-Birnamwood.

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