Thursday, March 28, 2024
K-M Running Back Anthony Moe-Tucker fights off the defensive line of the Mankato East team.

K-M, Byron, Hayfield football teams lose, Triton wins

K-M ‘footballers’ suffer first loss

The third-ranked Kasson-Mantorville boys aren’t accustomed to losing. In fact, until Saturday, September 18’s, tough 14-7 loss to Mankato-East, the KoMets were un- beaten in two previous games where they dominated both Byron and Winona.

That said, all signs pointed to win number three on Saturday, when K-M jumped-out to an early lead, taking their opening drive 80 yards to pay dirt. Unfortunately, that was the only offensive celebration of the KoMets night, as they would not mark the scoreboard again.

K-M gained just 136 yards from that point on, and the Cougars left Kasson-Mantorville’s Telecom Stadium, owning a 14-7 upset win.

KoMets Head Coach Joel Swanson stays positive. “You’d rather have this happen now, at this time of the year. We just learn from things. That’s all you can do. They’re high school athletes. Mistakes happen. I made mistakes during the game, so I’m going to learn from them too,” said Coach Swanson.

Following a great three-and- out defensive effort to start the game, the K-M offense marched 80 yards, and Donovan punched it in from the two-yard line. But that was all she wrote for the KoMets offense. Their next nine drives were uneventful, and it was as if someone turned-off the key to the engine, and the K-M scoring machine just gave out.

“Now our guys get to see what they’re made of. Anybody can be up when you win, but shoot,this is why I coach. What are you made of when things aren’t going your way? But it’s tough to go undefeated. In 37 years, I have only been a part of three undefeated teams in the regular season, so that just doesn’t happen anyway,” Coach Swanson commented. (Mankato East: 0-7-0-7—14; Kasson-Mantorville: 7-0-0- 0—7).

Byron football Bears edged-out by Winhawks

It looked good for the Byron Bears football team last Saturday, September 18, when they built-up a 16-0 halftime lead over the Winona Winhawks. However, those hopes were diminished when Winona deployed some late-game antics, overcame the deficit, and captured a 23-16 victory.

Byron was down, 17-16, with just 8 seconds remaining in the game. Lining-up to attempt a 47-yard field goal, the kick was blocked by the Winhawks; and returned for a TD as time expired. Bradley Pavon, a Byron soccer stand- out, was true on a first quarter, 30-yard field goal earlier. “He’s got a great leg,” Byron Coach Ben Halder said. 

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