Football: Ellsworth falls in five overtimes

ELLSWORTH, Wis. — A 14-14 stalemate in overtime between the Ellsworth and Prescott football teams was broken by Prescott fullback Tate Nahorniak, as his 3-yard touchdown run, plus a two-point conversion pass from quarterback Alex Helmer to Mike Hovel for a 22-14 win by the Cardinals in the five overtimes.

A stiff wind across the field kept the teams from being able to move the ball much in the four previous overtime periods. Prescott, led by their big linemen Nick Jacobsen and Nick Brekken, was able to wear down the smaller Panther line enough to mount a scoring drive largely through runs up the middle.

An interception ended Ellsworth’s final drive of the ballgame. The Panthers’ cause was also hampered by injuries to four starters and several other players out with injury and illness.

Junior quarterback Kyle Kurrelmeyer was 14-for-31 for 116 yards. He threw touchdown passes of 12 yards to Alex Campbell, and 41 yards to Dennis Schutz on a screen pass. However, the Panthers were held to just 64 yards rushing on 39 carries, and missed on back-to-back short yardage plays in the fourth overtime with the outcome in the balance.

“Kyle made some good decisions and some not-so-good-decisions,” Ellsworth head coach Clair Austin said. “I think he would have been helped out if we had ran the ball and blocked better on pass protection. It’s something we’ve struggled at all season and it’s kept us from winning games.”

Schutz led Ellsworth with four catches for 80 yards, while Campbell added four catches and 77 yards in the loss.

Ellsworth (2-5, 2-4 Middle Border) is eliminated from playoff contentions with the loss. The Panthers play at No. 6 ranked Durand next Friday.

--Contributed by by Sean Scallon

Tags: sports, prep, football, ellsworth