NYM to travel to Parkers Prairie Friday night

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

The New York Mills Eagles improved to 1-1 on the season with a commanding 38-0 win over Pine River-Backus on Friday night. The game was the home opener for the Eagles who rebounded in a big way from a tough 13-6 loss to Ada-Borup West in their regular season opener on August 31.

This week the Eagles will look to keep their winning ways going with a road game against Parkers Prairie on Friday night. 

August 31

NY Mills dropped a heart breaker to Ada-Borup West in non-district action on Thursday, Aug. 31. 

The Cougars opened the scoring in the first quarter when McCraven scored on a 4-yard run to make the score 6-0 when the extra point attempt failed. 

Finn Roder wasted little time in tying up the game as he took the subsequent kick off 68-yards to the house to make the score 6-6 when NY Mills’ extra point also failed to get through the uprights.

The remainder of the first, second and third quarters went scoreless as both teams battled the elements, which featured unseasonably warm temperatures and high winds.

“Tough game it was really a battle with the heat and wind.  It changed how the game was played at times. We battled did a nice job on defense only giving up 13 points, but couldn’t find a rhythm on offense and just didn’t sustain any drives. We would have one good play then a bad play etc,” said head coach Matt Radniecki. “The kids worked hard and ADA will win some games this year.”

Ada-Borup West reached the end zone for the second time in the fourth quarter when Spaeth hit Schol on a 70-yard pass to make the score 13-6 following the extra point. The Eagles were unable to put together a drive at the end of the game to tie it up and ultimately fell by a score of 13-6. 

Despite the loss, Radniecki said the Eagles got better as the game went on and credited the special teams for giving the team some momentum in the first half.

“The team got better as the game went on and it was a fun exciting close opener to compete in.  Our special teams gave us a spark with a great kick return and did some nice things during the game.  We punted very well and had good coverage with our team,” said Radniecki.

Friday

A strong second half pushed the NY Mills Eagles past Pine River-Backus in the Eagles’ home opener on Friday night by a score of 38-0. 

Head coach Matt Radniecki said he was pleased with the performance of the team as a whole on Friday night, as they were able to mix in a few big plays on defense and special teams, with several long drives on the offensive end of the field. 

“We played a much better game and kids improved this week. I was really happy with our team defense anytime you get a shut out you are doing some good things on that side of the ball,” said Radniecki. “On offense our play makers made some big plays. We have some explosive players that can do that and we need to get better at being to keep drives alive and then give our play makers a chance to make plays. Our line improved on both sides of the ball.”

The Eagles wasted little time getting on the scoreboard on Friday as Teagan Lausten scored on a 3-yard run in the first quarter to make the score 6-0. That score set up a big second quarter, which proved to be the difference in the game. Bode Roberts kicked things off in the quarter with a blocked punt, before Finn Roder found the end zone on a 55-yard run. The two-point conversion was good to give the Eagles a 14-0 lead. 

A short time later Elijah Menze picked off a Pine River-Backus pass and returned it to the end zone to make the game 20-0 heading into the half. 

“Bode getting that blocked punt kind of sparked us and got us going with Finn on the next series making a big play right away to give us a 14-0 lead. Then Elijah made a great read for the pick six and things were going our way,” said Radniecki.

It was more of the same in the second half as Lausten found the end zone for the second time on the day with a 13-yard run in the third quarter, before DaShaun Robinson caught a 38-yard touchdown pass from Braxton Ehnert and Vaughn scored on a 2-yard run in the fourth quarter to make the game 38-0 in favor of the Eagles. 

This week the Eagles will travel to Parkers Prairie to take on the 2-0 Panthers. Parkers Prairie opened the season with a 21-14 win over Lake Park-Audubon, before blanking Walker-Hackensack-Akeley by a score of 49-0 on Friday night. 

“A nice win for the team, but we have a tough test in Parkers on Friday night and hoping to get everyone there to cheer us on.  Parkers is 2-0 and a much better football team than last year. It will be a good challenge for us,” said Radniecki.