The MHS football team did everything it could to hand Mosinee its first loss of the season on Friday, but the Bluejays came up just short in several ways that led to the 21-12 defeat.
“There were small little things that become big things when you don’t execute,” Merrill coach Nick Sturm said. “We missed two extra points which would have put us ahead 14-13 for much of the game. Their quarterback had a pretty impressive run where we bounced off him 4-5 times.
“Offensively we missed a couple of key blocks where if we had made them it looked like they would be big plays.
“When you have two evenly-matched teams, that’s what separates you, those small mistakes.”
Mosinee appears to be one of the GNC’s top teams again, now 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the GNC football conference. Merrill is 1-1 and 1-2.
“They’re one of the better teams,” Sturm said. “They are every year.
“This year the conference is pretty evenly matched. Each week is going to be a good challenge. We have an opportunity and our kids have to come ready to play.”
The Jays seemed to be ready to play on Friday, taking a 6-0 lead on quarterback Nick Peterson’s one-yard run.
Mosinee’s Zach Pyan passed five yards to Nick Sparby to tie the game at 6-6. Merrill’s kick missed and the Jays blocked Mosinee’s.
Pyan ran 28 yards for the only score of the second quarter and a 13-6 lead after the kick.
Nick Hoffmann gave Merrill a chance to tie when he scored from 6 yards, but a missed kick left it 13-12.
Pyan pushed it to 19-12 with another 28-yard rush, and a late safety made the final 21-12.
Sturm found positives in defeat.
“I was impressed with their attitude,” he said. “In general the kids played with a lot of heart and passion. We did a lot of good things, We just didn’t come out on top.
“Our offensive line got better as far as sustaining blocks. Nick Peterson had another solid game. Our defense was able to force a fumble, and in general, until late in the game we were able to corral their quarterback. He’s a pretty slippery kid.”
Pyan finished with 127 yards on 19 carries, while Peterson gave Merrill 132 yards on 16 attempts. Alex Klug (15-47), Ty Grunenwald (5-30), Tyler Schmidt (2-12), Mason Reinhardt (1-9) and Hoffmann (2-4, TD) backed him up.
Peterson completed 6-of-12 passes for 58 yards, to receivers Brandon Bartz (2-22), Grunenwald (1-16), Klug (1-7), Nick Mootz (1-7) and Jake Anderson (2-6).
The defense was paced by: Ben Hintze (9 solos, 3 assists); Matt Rekowski (6 s, 5 a, 1 TFL); Schmidt (5 s, 1 a); Brian Stockowitz (3 s, 2 a, 1 PBU); Austin Bonnell (2 s, 3 a); Grunenwald (1 s, 3 a, 1 FR); Bartz (3 s, 1 PBU); Nick Breaman (1 s, 2 a, 1 TFL); Dakota Ress (1 s, 1 a, 1 TFL).
Merrill stays on the road for Friday’s game with 0-3 Lakeland (0-2 GNC).
“They run a flex option offense and they have a solid defense that likes to penetrate a lot,” Sturm said. “They’ll be good competition. I think our kids will do well.”