The Paynesville football team hosted Long Prairie-Grey Eagle Wednesday night in Paynesville for the final conference game of the season. The two teams were tied at 2-3 in the conference going into the game, but LPGE claimed fourth place in the conference with their 21-20 win over the Bulldogs.
After no scoring in the first quarter, LPGE faked a punt and completed a pass which was good for 33 years and set up their first touchdown. Then late in the second quarter, LPGE completed a 25-yard pass on a fourth and three play from the Bulldogs¹ 26-yard line. They scored from the one and took a 14-0 halftime lead.
The Bulldogs came out ready to play in the second half only to see LPGE return the kick off 81 yards for a touchdown, making the score 21-0.
Paynesville then took the ball and went 62 yards in three plays thanks to a 58-yard touchdown run by David Hemmesch. The extra point kick was blocked so the score stood at 21-6.
At the end of the third quarter, the Bulldogs drove 55 yards in 10 plays. Hemmesch threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Noah Bruntlett for the score. Bruntlett also ran in for the two-point conversion, making the score 21-14, still in LPGE¹s favor.
To begin the fourth quarter, the now fired-up Bulldogs went 80 yards in 11 plays with Bret Aagesen going into the end zone from eight yards out. The two-point conversion pass from Hemmesch to Josh Jones was incomplete and the Bulldogs were down 21-20 with 3:17 left to play.
The Bulldogs attempted an onside kick and Ryan Glenz somehow came up with the ball. Paynesville drove to the LPGE 30 with a fourth and eight to go. Hemmesch hit Tony Hoffman on a 10-yard pass play to give the Bulldogs what appeared to be a first down on LPGE¹s 20-yard line. However, the play was called back as Hoffman was in motion on the play. On the following play, a pass to Jones fell incomplete and LPGE took possession and ran out the clock to win 21-20.
The Bulldogs play at number-one seeded Sartell Tuesday night in the first round of Section 6AAA playoffs.
Paynesville: 0 0 14 6 20
LPGE: 0 14 7 0 21
Final WCC North
Conference standings:
Albany: 5-1
Litchfield: 5-1
Melrose: 5-1
LPGE: 3-3
Paynesville: 2-4
Cathedral: 1-5
Sauk Centre: 0-6