By Chris Bennett
Correspondent
One first down in the fourth quarter and the Elkhorn Area High School football team likely opens Southern Lakes Conference competition with a victory over its hated rival.
The Elks could not get that first down and allowed the Comets 23 points in the fourth quarter of a 35-34 loss Sept. 2 at Delavan-Darien High School.
Elkhorn (1-2, 0-1 SLC) plays Wilmot (3-0, 1-0 SLC) in a SLC game Friday at home.
“We played really good football,” Elks coach Tom Lee said. “It was a great high school football game. Unfortunately, we just came up on the short end of it.”
The Elks led the Comets 20-12 at the start of the fourth quarter. One-yard touchdown runs from Ryan Shilts and Tyler Robers pushed Elkhorn’s advantage to 34-20 with about nine minutes left in regulation.
What Lee described as a perfect storm of unfortunate events ensued over the next three Delavan-Darien possessions.
After a few nice completions, the Comets opened their fourth-quarter scoring barrage with a five-yard touchdown pass from Jake Benzing to Seth Kirsch. Benzing and Kirsch connected on the two-point conversion and the Elks led 34-20.
Lee said he thought the Comets might kick onside, but they kicked deep, and the Elks took over at their own 10-yard line. Elkhorn’s offense went three-and-out, and the ensuing punt traveled eight yards.
Delavan-Darien scored within 90 seconds on another five-yard scoring pass from Benzing to Kirsch. Benzing and Kirsch connected on another two-point conversion and the Elks lead 34-28.
On the next Elkhorn possession, on third down, an open Elks receiver and a Delavan-Darien defender collided well past the first down marker. The ball popped in the air and a Comets defender intercepted the ball.
Benzing scored on a four-yard run with 2:17 left in regulation, and the Comets took a 35-34 lead.
“We outgained them, we had more first downs that they did, we got pressure on Benzing as much as we could,” Lee said. “For three quarters, the defensive effort was outstanding. We had another fumble recovery for a touchdown.
“I’m very proud of the way our kids competed. They played an unbelievable football game. It’s just unfortunate we came up short in the fourth quarter.”
Bryce Jacobson recovered a fumble and returned it 35 yards in the first quarter to give the Elks a 7-0 lead with the ensuing extra point. Braeden Mohr threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Dakota Biefeld later in the first and the Elks led 14-0 after one quarter.
The Comets scored 14 points in the second quarter. Benzing threw touchdown passes of three and nine yards to Kirsch. The two-point conversion failed after each touchdown. The Elks led 14-12 at halftime.
Elkhorn finished with 332 yards of total offense – 194 rushing and 138 passing. Elkhorn also had a touchdown called back because of a penalty.
The Comets finished with 272 yards of offense, with 214 of it through the air.
Robers rushed for 51 yards on 14 carries and Mohr rushed for 43 yards on eight carries. Biefeld caught three passes for 96 yards. Carm Consolino completed seven of 15 passes for 130 yards.
On defense, the Elks limited standout Comets receiver Ethan Cesarz to one reception for 14 yards. Kirsch caught six passes for 55 yards, along with three touchdowns and three two-point conversions. Benzing completed 21 of 31 passes for 244 yards and three scores.
Lee said if the Elks play with similar effort tonight against the Panthers they stand a good chance of at least being competitive. Wilmot beat Waterford 10-7 Sept. 2 at home in the SLC opener for both teams. Lee said Wilmot is predicted by some to be the top team in the SLC this season.
“I think we’re playing pretty good football,” Lee said. “If we play the way we have been, we’re going to be in it. We’ve got to limit some of our mistakes.”
