The Lennox High School football team faced off against Sioux Falls Christian on Friday, Sept. 13, in a tightly contested home game. Both teams struggled to score in the opening quarter, but the Orioles broke through midway through the second. With 6:49 remaining in the half, Tate Gerdes capped off a drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, followed by Boston Katzer’s successful point-after attempt, giving Lennox an 8-0 lead.
The Orioles were poised to extend their lead in the final seconds of the first half. Driving down the field, they reached the 1-yard line but were out of timeouts. Katzer attempted three consecutive passes, all of which fell incomplete, including one extra play awarded due to pass interference. Lennox went into halftime with an 8-0 advantage.
In the second half, the momentum shifted. The Chargers leaned on their running game, and penalties by the Orioles allowed Sioux Falls Christian to claw their way back. The Chargers capitalized on their opportunities, outscoring Lennox and ultimately securing a 19-8 victory.
Despite the loss, Lennox’s offense put up impressive numbers, finishing with 496 total yards—195 through the air and 301 on the ground. Sioux Falls Christian totaled 242 yards, including 37 passing yards and 205 rushing yards.
Quarterback Boston Katzer completed 17 of 32 passes for 195 yards and threw two interceptions. Layton Smith led the Orioles in receiving with five catches for 81 yards, while Drake Mikkelsen had four receptions for 58 yards. Tate Gerdes added six catches for 46 yards, and Talen Eich had one reception for 10 yards.
On the ground, Gerdes also led the rushing attack with 22 carries for 115 yards. Katzer contributed 54 rushing yards on 14 carries, and Ramsey Williams added four yards on three carries.
Defensively, the Orioles were led by Nate Haar with six tackles and a sack. Nolyn Spielman recorded five tackles and a sack, while Emory Lefors also tallied five tackles. Corban Hanneman, Max Weeldreyer, and Journey Noisy Hawk-Ellis each made significant contributions, with Noisy Hawk-Ellis adding a sack and Hanneman and Weeldreyer recording four tackles. Katzer also had four tackles in the game. Gerdes also made an impact on defense with an interception.
Looking ahead, the Orioles will aim to bounce back when they travel to Hartford to take on West Central (2-1) on Friday, Sept. 20. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m.
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