Despite an impressive performance from junior running back Logan Nelson, Litchfield could not overcome a costly second half turnover in a 17-14 loss to Holy Family Catholic Friday.
The Fire, 2-0, recovered a Dragons fumble in the endzone late in the third quarter that gave them the three-point lead they would hold for the rest of the game. Litchfield put together an impressive drive late in the fourth quarter, but it stalled on the Holy Family 24-yard-line, ending on an incomplete pass with 37 seconds to play.
Litchfield, 1-1, had been ranked 13th in Class AAA after beating St. Cloud Cathedral 25-0 a week ago.
But it was Holy Family, a 38-35 winner over New London-Spicer in the season’s first week, that took command early on Friday.
The Fire took the opening kick and marched 65 yards in 15 plays, capping the drive with a 1-yard run by junior running back Sam Riegert. Colin Neve’s extra point kick gave Holy Family a 7-0 lead.
Litchfield didn’t waste much time evening the score, putting together its own 11-play drive that concluded with a 5-yard touchdown run by Nelson.
Holy Family went back ahead with 7:40 to play in the first half when Neve knocked in a 19-yard field goal.
Litchfield answered again, this time with a long drive to open the second half, which ended with Nelson rumbling 13-yards for a touchdown and 14-10 Dragons’ lead.
The Dragons defense came up big later in the third when Brandt Pedersen stopped a Holy Family drive by picking off a Jacob Zay pass on the 4-yard line.
But the celebration was shortlived. Holy Family’s Nick Hendler broke through the line, got his hand on a pitch from Litchfield quarterback Max Tibbits that was intended for Nelson, and corralled the loose ball in the endzone.
Nelson finished the game with 195 yards rushing on 34 carries.
Litchfield plays its first road game of the season Friday at Dassel-Cokato. The Chargers are 1-1 on the season after losing to Annandale 44-21 Friday.
