Sports from the week of October 19, 2005

Stout defense isn't enough

By Dick Donaldson

The Panther football team lost to Adrian Thursday night at Adrian, 14-0. The loss dropped Tracy/Milroy/Balaton’s season record to 1-6 and they are also 1-6 in the Little Sioux Conference. Adrian improved to 4-3 for the season, 4-3 in the Little Sioux Conference and tied for fourth place.

The Panthers were again plagued by turnovers, committing seven in this game. During the contest TMB had 12 different ball possessions. Five of them ended with the Panthers punting, one finished with losing the ball on downs at the Adrian 33 yard line, two ended with Panther fumbles and five ended with pass interceptions. As former Gopher Coach Murray Warmath said, “When you pass the football there are three things that can happen and two of them are bad!”

The problem is that modern defenses are so good that it is necessary to pass, and pass successfully, to make it possible to run the ball unless there is a big disparity in capabilities.

First half

The game began with the Panthers kicking to Adrian. The Panther defense held and forced a punt after three plays. TMB returned the punt to the Panther 31 yard line. The Panthers moved to two first downs before turning the ball back on downs at the Adrian 31 yard line. Again Adrian could not move the ball and punted to the TMB 30-yd line. The Panthers were held to fourth and 19 before punting back. This time Adrian returned the ball to TMB’s 34 yard line and moved to a first down at the Panther 22 yard line. After a false start penalty Adrian’s Cody Reverts hit Jory Haken with a 27-yard touchdown pass for the game’s first score. A pass for a two-point conversion failed and, with only 26 seconds left in the first quarter, Adrian led 6-0.

As the second period began TMB moved from its own 38 to the Adrian 48 before punting to the Adrian 10-yd line. Adrian kept the ball for 13 plays before Sean Fox’s sack forced a punt. The Panthers took over on their own 20 and moved to mid-field in seven plays before a Panther pass was intercepted. Adrian, with the benefit of a 36-yard pass play, moved to the Panther 39 yard line before Fox’s second sack forced another punt. TMB moved from their own 46 to Adrian’s 41 before another Panther pass was picked off. TMB returned the favor by intercepting an Adrian pass as time ran out in the first half.

Second half

On TMB’s first possession of the second half the Panthers moved to a first down before losing the ball on an interception. Adrian moved from mid-field to the Panther five yard line before losing the ball on downs. The teams then exchanged fumbles with Adrian ultimately gaining possession on the Panther 16 yard line. From there Adrian scored in two plays, when the conversion pass was good the Adrian lead mounted to 14-0 with 1:40 left in the third period.

TMB had three possessions in the final quarter. On the first the Panthers recovered an Adrian fumble at TMB’s 37 yard line and moved to the Adrian 40 in eight plays before another interception turned the ball back to Adrian.

The next opportunity came when TMB fielded a punt and returned it to the Panther 22 yard line. However on the second play a fumble lost turned the ball back to Adrian. The Panther’s next intercepted an Adrian pass on the Panther 20 yard line. On the first play Adrian intercepted another Panther pass and ran the time out.

“Defensively we did all right, they converted on only two of 13 third down plays,” said Panther Coach Randy McIntire. “They scored their first touchdown when our guy tripped in coverage and the second was on a blown assignment. On offense our blocking was terrible. Our kids went to the right people but just did not block them.”

Tristan Larson led the Panther defense with 12 tackles, Matt Bauer had 11 plus a pass blocked, Kirby Arens had eight, Dan Dieter seven plus a fumble recovery, Sean Fox six plus a pass blocked and two sacks, Paul Carlson six, Chris Swenson five, David Schiller four, Pheng Her four, Derek Daniels two plus an interception, Derrick Vandromme one, Brady Jackson, Dan Malmberg, Matt Rosa, Kyle Mcintire, Erik Frisvold and Tim Jacob all had one each with Rosa also having a fumble recovery and Gary Knott had four tackles plus two pass deflections and an interception.

The Panthers gained 155 yards of offense to 285 for Adrian. Freshman Isaac Dolan was six of 25 passing for 74 yards and had five interceptions. Seth Swan led in rushing with 49 yards in 16 carries.

TMB 0-0-0-0-0

Adrian 6-0-8-0-14

TMB wins three of four at Alexandria tourney

The Panther volleyball team took third in a tournament at Alexandria Saturday.

The Panthers beat Perham 21-25, 25-22 and 15-11 and Fosston 25-23, 25-19. Alexandria knocked the Panthers out of the championship bracket with a 15-115, 25-15-15-5 victory. Tracy/Milroy/Balaton ended the tourney with a 20-25, 25-20, and 15-13 victory over Wayzata.

“We served aggressively and serve received well in these games,” said Panther Coach Katie Gervais. “We are still having some problems with our timing with the hitters.”

Jackie Haecherl was 37 of 38 serving with nine aces, Emily Miller was 32 of 33 with six aces, Molly Miller was 33 of 35 with five aces, Krysta Tholen was 25 of 29 and Michele Lanoue was 25 of 29 with two aces.

Emily Miller had 38 kills, followed by Rachel Gervais 25, Michele Lanoue 14, and Molly Miller 12. Krysta Tholen had 75 set assists.

Sarah Fritz had 27 digs, Emily Miller 39, Krysta Tholen 31, Michele Lanoue 25, Jackie Haecherl 30 and Rachel Gervais 14.

Rachel Gervais had five blocks, Krysta Tholen four, Emily Miller three, Molly Miller one and Michele Lanoue one.

The action left the Panthers with a 14-10 season record. They are 4-1 in the Camden Conference South.

Girls run behind Canby

Alex Jones earns all-conference boys’ honors

The Panther girls’ cross-country team finished second in the Camden Conference Meet held in Canby last Friday.

Girls’ team scores were: Canby/Minneota/Lincoln HI 19; T/M/B, 60; Renville County West, 70.

The Panther girls’ individual results were: 9) Jen Vroman, 19:42; 10) Rachel Stobb, 19:49; 12) Stacy LaVoy, 20:10; 14) Celia Brockway, 20:52; 15) Jessica Mason, 21:12; 16) Bobbi Jo Buyck, 21:21; 17) Jessica Coulter, 21:49.

“Jen Vroman ran an excellent race today,” said Panther Coach Marie Clauson. “Canby is a difficult course and her mental toughness played a role in this race. Rachel Stobb also ran well today. She has really improved throughout the year!”

Alex Jones placed sixth in the boys’ varsity race with a time of 18:05 and Sam VanNevel was 21^st at 21:15.

Alex ran his best race ever today,” said Clauson. “He has really started to take his running more seriously and he is experiencing a lot of success. Alex has an abundance of talent and potential. He is becoming a known competitor throughout the area.”

The sixth-place finish earned Jones all-conference honors.

In boys’ junior varsity competition, Dalton Kirk was fourth with a time of 7:22 and Josh Lubben was 11th at 8:47.

Karli Tholen was second in the JV girls’ race with a time of 7:39. Bekah Zens was 12th at 13:58.