Sports from the week of September 18, 2002

Big plays give Fairmont a win, Panthers a loss

The T-M-B Panther football team lost its third game of the season when Fairmont overcame an early 6-0 Panther lead to win 23-13 at Tracy Friday night.

"We are improving," Panther Coach Randy McIntire told his players following the game. "Keep your heads up, except for four or five plays the result would have been much different."

One of the plays McIntire was referring to came late in the first half. TMB had just taken a 13-10 lead on a seven-yard burst by Matt Persons which capped a 54-yard, eight-play drive.

The Cardinals took the following kickoff and marched 43 yards in 7 plays to the Panther 23. TMB's defense stiffened and brought about a fourth and six situation when quarterback Simon Lueth hit running back Chris Gerhardt over the middle for the score.

"That was the play that really hurt us," said McIntire. "We were in man-to-man coverage and he just blew by us."

The other big play that killed TMB's g chances came in the fourth quarter. TMB, behind 16-13, recovered a Fairmont fumble on their own 42 and moved the ball with three first downs, when a pass interception stopped the drive. Starting from their own 46, a 10-play drive gave Fairmont a third and 9 on TMB's 12-yard line. Gerhardt took a hand off and broke through the middle for 12 yards and the touchdown.

The Panther defense held the Cardinals to 28 yards in 9 rushes in the third period.

"We stopped them for most of the second half," observed McIntire. "It was just a couple of plays that caused us trouble."

Wolves spoil home opener

The Panther volleyball team was blanked by MACCRAY 15-6, 15-11, and 15-11 in their home opener Thursday.

In the first game the Wolverines established a lead early and jumped off to a 5-15 margin. Coach Katie Gervais tried to stem the tide and called a time out. TMB put up 3 more points but the Wolverines retaliated with 4 of their own. TMB called another time out trailing 9-4 with little success,

The Panthers played better in the second game and took a 5-1 lead. But after a time out, MACCRAY took a 10-7 lead. The Panthers drew to within 10-9, but MACCRAY used some good hitting to win.

TMB held leads of 3-1, 5-4 and 7-6 before the Wolverines forged 13-7 lead. TMB closed to within 13-10, but could only get an ace from Kasey Loeslie as the Wolverines closed out the game and match.

Tessa Nelson led the team with six kills, six digs, and five blocks. Loeslie finished with five kills. Bobbi Jo Buyck had 4 aces and Krysta Tholen 2. Tholen also had 22 set assists.

One point is difference for runners at Worthington

The Panther cross-country team was just a point away from a championship at the Worthington Turkey Trot Saturday. Luverne edged the Panthers one point, just five days after Tracy/Milroy/Balaton finished second by a point in the Marshall meet.

The Cardinals strong showing was a surprise, said Panther Coach Brian Michelson, who noted the Luverne apparently had move some runners up from junior varsity.

The Luverne victory established the team as a contender for the Section 3A championship next month.

The team scores were: Luverne 54, TMB 55, Jackson County Central 69, SVRLB/SSC 107, Windom 112, Murray County Central 117, Worthington 149. Adrian, Hills-Beaver Creek, Edgerton/SWC had incomplete teams.

"We set a goal for the combined times of our team and only missed it by 30 seconds," said Michelson. "Our times were the best of the season so far and we were only 29 seconds slower than the time set by our 1999 team which finished 3rd in the state meet."