Geraldine/Highwood knocks out Alberton

In sports, it is difficult to beat an opponent twice in the same season. For the Alberton Panthers varsity football team, that trouble came true.

Alberton hosted Geraldine/Highwood in the quarterfinals of the 2011 Class C six-man tournament.

The Panther’s already handled the Rivals earlier in the year with a 32-24 victory Sept. 17.

However, this time around, Geraldine/Highwood got the upper hand.

The Rivals ended the Panthers season Saturday afternoon with a 60-48 victory in Alberton.

Alberton fell behind early and ended the first quarter down 16-0 after giving up two touchdowns over 50 yards each.

“We got behind in that first quarter and sometimes in a six-man football game it is hard to make up that little difference,” Alberton head coach Jake Giffin said.

Despite out scoring the Rivals in the second half 32-30, the Panthers couldn’t overcome the early deficit.

Alberton scored 26 fourth quarter points in the season-ending loss.

“I’m proud of my kids and the way they played,” Giffin said. “They never gave up the whole game. They never stopped until the clock went dead in the fourth quarter.”

Alberton had to fight hard against Geraldine/Highwood without senior running back and linebacker Matt Foley and junior running back and linebacker Todd Mrystol.

Both had to sit out with injuries.

“We were not at full strength,” Giffin said. “Not having Matt or Todd for that game played a big part in it also.”

Both Foley and Mrystol were huge losses for Alberton.

The Panthers have had to overcome injuries all season long.

Giffin said the underclassmen used the opportunity as a positive.

“Our younger guys really stepped in throughout the season,” Giffin said. “In the long run it will pay off, but unfortunately it hurt us coming down through the playoffs.”

The loss to Geraldine/Highwood marked the end to the most successful season in Alberton football history at the six-man level. The Panthers finished the regular season undefeated at 7-0.

The undefeated season earned the Panthers a number two seed in the playoffs where they hosted Reed Point/Rapelje.

Alberton beat Reed Point/Rapelje 41-32 in the first round match up before losing to Geraldine/Highwood.

Giffin said going into the season, his team had three goals; go to the playoffs, host a playoff game and go to the state championship.

“We achieved two of the three,” Giffin said.

In the Geraldine/Highwood game, senior running back Roy Schutter led the Panthers with 120 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Schutter scored on a 25-yard run and a 6-yard run.

Alberton senior Jake Thompson had a strong game with three touchdown receptions from quarterback Cody Isher. Thompson scored on a 22-yard reception, a 4-yard reception and an 8-yard reception.

Alberton sophomore Andrew Lommen added two touchdowns for the Panthers in the loss. Lommen scored on a 1-yard run and a 2-yard run, punching it in both times.

Alberton finished the season 8-1. The Geraldine/Highwood Rivals move on to the semi finals Nov. 12. The Rivals will face top-seed Denton.

On the other side of the bracket, Savage faces Big Sandy. Winners move on to the championship Nov. 19.

In Class C eight-man football, Ennis, who knocked off Superior last week, continued its playoff run against Power/Dutton-Brady.

Ennis won 28-26 and will face Twin Bridges in the semi finals Nov. 12. Fairview and Chinook face off in the semi finals as well.

The winners will meet Nov. 19 in the state championship.