This one was one of the toughest losses we've ever had in football

Tucker Cebulla runs for a few tough yards against Rockford tonight.

It rates right up there with last year's double-overtime loss to Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted.

Instead of squaring their record at 2-2 overall, the Jaguars football team finished the first half of their season 1-3, after falling to Rockford 12-6 tonight.

The game had a thrilling ending - if you're a Rockets fan. It literally went down to the wire.

One point eight seconds on the clock, Jaguars ball, at the Rockets' five yard line. On the final play, the pass to Tucker Cebulla fell short and Rockford went home with the hard-fought win.

All is not lost, the sun will rise tomorrow, and the Jaguars will regroup for their best effort in the final half of the regular season. They have the talent and experience to win more games in 2010, and I am still very excited for the Section 4A playoffs. The thing about the playoffs, however, is that the Jaguars really need to get to 3-5 - and meeting that goal starts with being prepared for Week Five.

Up next for the Jaguars football team: In Week Five, Maple Lake comes to town for B-B-E's 23rd annual Homecoming game, next Friday, October 2. The Irish are 3-1 after beating up the Cubs tonight 47-8 in Kimball.

In the video clip, the Jaguars hold up defensively for the start of a valiant goal line stand in the final 30 seconds of the third quarter.

Both teams struggled to move the ball in the first half.

From late in the first half...


I've got some of my 100+ photos from the game uploaded to the Sauk Centre Herald website photo gallery. The link is: http://saukherald.mycapture.com

Central Minnesota Conference football results:
Eden Valley-Watkins 27, Pierz 6
Holdingford 26, Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted 16 (Huskers led 14-3 at halftime, @ Howard Lake)
Maple Lake 47, Kimball Area 8

In Central Minnesota Conference games, Eden Valley-Watkins has won 30 in a row. Their last league loss was on Sept. 8, 2006 to Pierz.

Scores involving Section 4A teams:
Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City 27, Paynesville Area 6
Providence Academy/Heritage 20, Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity 0

Area football scores:
West Central Area 12, Wadena-Deer Creek 0
Royalton 43, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg 0 (Royals rush for 354 yards!)
Browerville 27, Upsala/Swanville Area 12
Ottertail Central 35, Osakis 13 (Osakis is 1-3, OTC is 4-0)
Minneota 54, Canby 0
BOLD 35, Minnewaska Area 0 ('Waska hasn't scored since Week 1! Ouch)
Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City 27, Paynesville Area 6
Benson 38, LP-GE 8
Montevideo 21, Yellow Medicine East 0
Lac qui Parle Valley 9, Morris Area 7 (LQPV's first win since Oct 8, 2004 vs. Morris)
Mora 25, Sauk Centre 6
Albany 28, New London-Spicer 6 (NL-S's first loss since Nov. 14, 2008)
St.Cloud Cathedral 12, Foley 7
Milaca 52, Melrose Area 36

Some very random side notes... I don't think K-M-S has ever been 0-4 in football prior to this year, and to think, only two years ago they were Prep Bowl Champions. Knowing that K-M-S is 0-4 and looking pretty awful will take some of the sting out of tonight's loss by the Jaguars. Eden Valley-Watkins shut out their first three opponents this year, then routed Pierz tonight 27-6.

In Section 4A news...both West Lutheran and St.Agnes were idle in Week 4. They have only seven regular season games, since some of the teams in their conference folded this past summer.

9-man scores:
Bertha-Hewitt 48, Eagle Valley 20
Wheaton 50, Lincoln HI 7
Underwood 61, Ashby 8
Hillcrest Lutheran Academy 55, Verndale 6
Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley 22, Chokio-Alberta/Herman-Norcross 6

More will follow later - I have to start uploading video clips. Check back in the morning, you'll have plenty to check out.

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