By Chris Bennett
Correspondent
Special teams gaffes put the Elks in an early hole Friday in a Southern Lakes Conference football game against the Demons at Burlington.
Elkhorn allowed touchdowns in the first half on a punt return and blocked field goal kick and went on to lose 37-0 to the Demons.
The Elks (1-7, 0-6 SLC) play Westosha Central Friday at home in a SLC contest. The Falcons also enter the game winless in SLC play.
Burlington was eliminated from the Division 2 playoff chase Sept. 30 with a 24-23 loss at Wilmot, and faced Elkhorn in its final home game of the season.
Grant Tully scored the Demons’ first touchdown on a 54-yard punt return with 3:39 left in the first quarter, and Burlington led 7-0 following the extra point.
The Demons pushed their lead to 14-0 with 11:30 remaining in the second quarter after a seven-yard touchdown run by Tully and the extra point.
Burlington’s Joey Needle returned a blocked field goal 83 yards for a touchdown with 4:29 minutes remaining before halftime and gave the Demons a 20-0 lead.
In the second half, the Demons’ Nick Klug rushed for a 14-yard touchdown with 5:40 left in the third quarter and passed for a two-yard touchdown to Jack Miller with 9:26 left in the fourth.
Burlington’s Lance Otter kicked an 18-yard field goal with 1:45 left in regulation for the final margin.
Elkhorn held the ball longer than the Demons. The Elks finished with a time of possession edge of 28:20 to 19:40.
The Elks rushed for 135 yards and passed for another 80. Braeden Mohr rushed for 38 yards on nine carries to lead the Elks. Bryce Jacobson led the Elks with three catches for 30 yards.
Elkhorn’s defense finished with three interceptions against the Demons.
Burlington freshman Cora Anderson kicked an extra point in the third quarter. Anderson is the first girl in Burlington history to score in a football game.
The scenario faced by the Elks and Falcons in their final game this season mirrors last season’s meeting between the two teams. Elkhorn beat Central 27-0 last season at Paddock Lake in the final contest of the season to avoid going winless in SLC competition.
Central (1-7, 0-6 SLC) lost 35-9 Oct. 7 in a SLC game at home against Wilmot (7-1, 5-1 SLC).
