The Dragon football team were unable to overcome penalties and turnovers, resulting in a 30-13 loss to TMB in Tracy last Friday night.
The Dragons won the opening toss and elected to defer to the Panthers. The Dragon defense was able to get off the field in six plays forcing a TMB punt. However the Adrian offense was unable to gain any yards and punted after three plays.
Adrian would force a three and out of their own. But the next Dragon possession ended with a fumble that was recovered by a Panther linebacker. On the very next play, Ryan Wieneke intercepted the TMB pass, however, the play was negated by a roughing the passer call to give TMB the ball back. The Panthers would then rattle off 37 yards on eight plays to reach the endzone on a one yard run. The two point conversion was good, making the score TMB 8, Adrian 0 with 59 seconds left to play in the first quarter.
The Dragons were unable to answer the score on their next possession, going three and out. Tracy would add to their lead quickly, connection on a 35 yard touchdown pass. The two point conversion failed, leaving the score TMB 14, Adrian 0 with 10:41 to play in the second quarter.
The Adrian offense would then come alive, scoring on a three yard run by sophomore Brandon Schnoor. Dominic Caneles made the PAT. Wieneke had a 49 yard run on the drive. With 7:38 left to go in the second, the scoreboard read TMB 14, Adrian 7.
The momentum had shifted to Adrian as TMB punted after three plays. The next Dragon drive saw a Wieneke touchdown called back on a holding call. Wieneke also connected once with Ian Stamer for a 23 yard completion and once with Brendyn White for a 17 yard completion. But the Dragons were not able to overcome the holding call and another block in the back call as the drive stalled on the TMB 23 yard line. The Panthers then ran two plays for negative yards, followed by a pass that was picked off by Wieneke. The Dragons had the ball with 10 seconds left in the half. A desperation throw to Stamer failed. Going into half the score was TMB 14, Adrian 8.
Adrian received the second half kickoff. Trace Kremin returned the kickoff to the Adrian 44 yard line to set up good field position. The Dragons were able to get the ball down to the TMB 21 yard line before turning it over on downs. The Panthers answered with a 10 play 79 yard drive that resulted in a 31 yard touchdown. The two point conversion was good, making the score 22-7 TMB.
Adrian was able to get one first down on the next drive. But turned the ball over on downs in six plays. The Dragon defense forced a turnover on downs of their own to get the ball back. On the first third down of the Dragon possession, a Panther DE intercepted a screen pass and returned it all the way to the Adrian one yard line. TMB would score two plays later on a passing touchdown. After a successful two point conversion, the score was 30-7 TMB with 8:21 left in the game. The Dragons did not quit, marching downfield in two minutes and 24 seconds. Schnoor had the TD on a one yard run. The two point conversion attempt failed leaving the score 30-13 with 5:57 to play.
The defense held TMB without a first down on the next possession. Adrian was unable to muster a comeback, punting to essentially end the game 30-13.
The Dragon offense was led by Wieneke. He had 97 yards rushing on 14 carries. He was also 5-14 passing for 89 yards. Schnoor had 10 carries for 21 yards and two scores. Nick Harder carried 10 times for 38 yards. Landon Rogers ran for 16 yards on three carries.
Stamer led in the receiving department, with three catches for 69 yards. White had a 17 yard catch, while Harder caught one ball for five yards.
Defensively, Rogers led the Dragons with 14 tackles and 3 sacks. Skylar Dingmann accounted for nine tackles. Harder tallied 7 tackles to go along with two sacks. Stamer and Wieneke both had six tackles. Skylar Polzine and Lance Luettel each had three. Schnoor, White, Kremin, Corbin Burcham, Preston Nelson, Devin Froderman, and Scot Edwards all contributed with a tackle.
The Dragons had six penalties for 90 yards in the game.
The Dragons (0-2) will look to right the ship at home this Friday as they host Springfield.
