LCL’s first conference matchup of the season was certainly one to watch- if you stuck it out through the rainstorm at the beginning of the game. Beating non-conference opponents St. Mary’s Springs Academy and Lakeside Lutheran in the first two games, Coach Brazgel admitted those initial games were tough. However, he said they prepared his team for facing Brown Deer, and taught the boys not to back down from toughness, whether playing against a Metro Classic Conference opponent or not. The Lightning certainly never backed down in their matchup with the Falcons, starting right at the kickoff.
With rain drizzling down, optimistic students shouting, and stadium lights shining, Aidan Manders’ kick dropped into the hands of Sam Heicher, just behind the LCL 20-yard line. Reminiscent of his second-week touchdown return on a kick, Heicher, with the help of some nice blocking, cut through the defense and flew down the field into the left side of the endzone. The long opening score was instantly followed by a two-point conversion from Luke Haertle to a wide-open Colin Amack, putting the Lightning up 8-0 just 14 seconds into the game. After the dominant LCL defense forced a 3-and-out for the Falcons, Sam and Colin were right back at it offensively. Heicher, looking left again, picked up 23 yards to bring his team to the 7-yard line, and Amack capitalized by snagging another one of Haertle’s passes in the back of the endzone. The quarterback keep was successful for two more points, and just like that it became 16-0. The weather conditions went against Brown Deer shortly after, causing a fumble that Matt Dobson recovered for another Lightning score. On the next drive for LCL after another defensive stop, what would’ve been a 65-yard touchdown for Heicher was called back due to a penalty. Haertle faced the same setback when his nice first-down pickup was also erased by a flag. However, Gunnar Grosenick stepped up, making a stunning one-handed catch and then picking up a huge first down two plays later. Haertle, under pressure, tossed up an interception, giving Brown Deer a big break heading towards the second quarter. Great hits by Nate Brazgel and Tim Frerking forced a 4th-and-8 for the Falcons, who punted to the LCL 41. The second touchdown of the night that was reversed by a flag came on a sideline run from Luke Boldt, but Clay Roehl made up for it with a score of his own. Heicher ran in the two-point conversion, and the score jumped to 30-0. Nearing the end of the first half, John Thoni picked up a good chunk of yardage and Frerking went for a first down. The offense was brought to the nine by Heicher, allowing Haertle and Frerking to connect for six points. Again, Heicher added the two points on a run play, cementing the score at 38-0 just about a minute before halftime.
The Lightning defense held up in the second half, yet again shutting out an opponent at home. While they didn’t go on to score again all night, many upcoming or second-string LCL players got an opportunity to show what they were capable of. Thoni and Isaiah Pawlak came together on a sack for a big loss, Levi Benes made a nice pass deflection, and then Pawlak forced a turnover on downs for the Falcons. With the sky clearing up, and time running out on the game clock, the Lightning could check off their first Metro Classic Conference win of the season, no doubt in impressive fashion. In a well-rounded game on the offensive side, with the defense as suffocating as ever, LCL continued to prove why they’re consistently a top-ranked team in the state, and #1 in the Metro Classic. Next up, the Lightning take on the #3-in-the-conference Racine St. Catherine’s Angels on Friday, September 10th.
Final Score: Lake Country Lutheran 38, Brown Deer 0