Cougars suffer loss in Kasson

Zumbrota-Mazeppa’s fortunes changed swiftly Friday in a 37-14 loss to Kasson-Mantorville in Kasson.

The Cougars (2-2, 2-0 HVL Gold) held a 14-6 lead with less than a minute to play in the first half and stood on the KoMets’ 1-yard line. Z-M got three plays in before the end of the half and failed to score.

Then two plays into the second half, Kasson-Mantorville’s Grant Starkey picked off a pass and took it 49 yards for a touchdown that tied the game after the PAT.

Starkey had a hand in each of the KoMets touchdowns as he ran for a touchdown and threw three touchdown passes in his first start of the season since starter Jake Hodge blew out his knee last week against Cannon Falls.

Starkey finished 9 of 16 passing for 216 yards and had passing touchdowns of 42, 45 and 39 yards.

Riley Donovan caught two touchdowns and Nate Bauer had the other for K-M.

The Cougars finished with 99 yards rushing and 37 passing. Z-M completed just three passes.

The Cougars jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the second quarter when Kevin Niebuhr recovered a fumble and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown with 10 minutes, 30 seconds to play in the half. Twenty seconds later Mitch Watkins recovered a fumble and returned it 28 yards for a touchdown.

Z-M faces Goodhue, which is ranked second in Class A, Friday in Zumbrota.

Tags: sports, prep, football, zumbrota, mazeppa