Racing back to the Dome
Tonderum scores 7 TDs to lead Mustangs to Cedar Falls for the third straight seasonby Matt Heinrichs - Sports Writer
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GRAETTINGER - In the game of football, only one team can win. One team's dream of a state championship was ended and another was prolonged in Graettinger on Friday night, as the Armstrong-Ringsted Mustangs defeated the Knights of Graettinger/Terril in front of a raucous crowd.
What was billed as a hard-hitting, slobber-knocker of a game following the teams first muddy meeting, turned into a track meet as the Mustangs raced past the Knights 70-19.
"We needed to come outhot against a very hot G-T team and we did," said A-R coach Robert Zotz. "We are playing very good ball right now and look forward to the challenge ahead."
It took the Mustangs just 1 minute and 39 seconds to put up the first points of the night as Tyler Tonderum put A-R on the board with a 9-yard touchdown run. The successful extra-point by Ethan Eisenbacher gave the Mustangs a 7-0 lead.
On the Knights' first play from scrimmage, Nathan Howard was crushed by 300-pound defensive tackle Ethan Jensen along the near boundary. Howard came up limping after the play and eventually had to leave the game.
Without their star running back, the Knights' drive stalled. Electing to go for it on fourth-and-two, quarterback Cody Dyhrkopp failed to gain enough yards and the Knights turned the ball over on downs at their own 25-yard line.
A few plays later, Tonderum took another handoff to the house, scoring his second TD of the night with 8:01 remaining to give the Mustangs a 14-0 advantage.
Howard returned to the field on the ensuing Knight possession and looked healthy as he scampered 10 yards for a first down, but the Knights stumbled and were forced to punt from their own 20-yard line.
After a pass interference penalty was called on the Knights on a deep pass down the middle from A-R's quarterback Spencer Clausen intended for Craig Tigges, Tonderum scored yet again, this time from 24 yards out to give the Mustangs a 21-0 lead.
A pass intended for Eric Hatland was bobbled and intercepted by Clausen to end the Knights' next possession.
On the very next play, Clausen connected with Bryson Rezac on a 46-yard catch-and-run to give the Knights a 28-0 lead after one period of play.
G/T finally was able to muster a drive in the second quarter behind the strong running of Howard. On third-and-15 from the 15-yard line, Dyhrkopp dropped back to pass, unable to find an open receiver he scrambled off the right side and found his way into the endzone to put the Knights' on the board. The extra point was blocked to make the score 28-6 with 11:11 left in the second quarter.
However, it took the Mustangs less than a minute to answer back with another Tonderum touchdown run with 10:35 remaining to give the Mustangs a 35-6 advantage.
The Knights next were backed up in their own territory. Dyhrkopp connected with Beau Craig on third-and-10 to keep their drive alive and the Knights rode Howard all the way to the Mustang 2-yard line and Dyhrkopp took his second touchdown in of the night, making the score 35-13.
Tonderum went on to score two unanswered touchdowns to extend the Mustang lead to 49-13.
G/T failed to convert a third down opportunity with 17 seconds remaining in the half and A-R head coach Robert Zotz called a timeout to give his team one more shot at a score.
Following the stoppage, the Mustangs blocked a G/T punt and took over at the Knight 21-yard line. The Mustangs failed to connect on a pass to the endzone and were forced to attempt a 39-yard field goal. Eisenbacher barely missed the kick outside the left upright as time expired.
The tough defense that was G/T's calling card for the majority of the season failed to show itself in the first half as they allowed A/R to score on 7-of-8 possessions - the lone failure being the missed field goal - and routinely failed to get off the field on third downs.
The Knights opened the second half on offense but failed to mount a drive as they were forced into a three-and-out.
G/T's defense stiffened on the ensuing Mustang possession and had Tonderum dead-to-rights on third down and five, but the senior tailback changed directions, broke several tackles and found daylight, speeding ahead for a 29-yard run to give the Mustangs a first down.
On the very next play, Tonderum broke free for a 15-yard touchdown with 5:46 left in the third quarter, extending the Mustangs' lead to 56-13.
Howard answered back on the following possession with a 36-yard run of his own to cut the lead to 56-19but it was too little too late for the Knights.
Clausen grabbed his second interception and had two touchdown runs of 51 and 4 yards to seal the 70-19 win and a trip to the UNI-Dome.
On the night, Tonderum led all rushers with 257 yards on 25 carries and seven touchdowns.
Clausen had 15 carries for 88 yards and two touchdowns. He also completed one pass for a 46-yard touchdown and had two interceptions on defense.
Rezac led A-R with 16 tackles and a sack. Dakota Odermann added 13 tackles and Jensen had nine.
Unofficially, Howard had 161 yards on 19 carries for the Knights. Dyhrkopp was 7-of-12 passing for 71 yards. Hatland had three catches for 30 yards. Skattebo had two catches for 18 yards and Craig had one catch for 12 yards.
The Mustangs (11-1) will face Adair-Casey (10-2) on Thursday at 10 a.m. at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. The Bombers won 42-26 over Stanton.
In other 8-man play, Lenox (12-0) beat Tri-County, Thornburg 43-20 and Preston (12-0) defeated West Central 42-26 to advance.
