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SMB quells late challenge from New Life Academy to remain undefeated

By Trevor Squire, SportsEngine, 09/23/16, 11:45AM CDT

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Siegel Howard's 39-yard touchdown run with less than three minutes remaining iced a Wolfpack win.

Siegel Howard (22) of the Wolfpack runs a ball up the field with the ball dodging players. SMB defeated New Life Academy 31-19 away. Photo by Chris Juhn

SMB's Siegel Howard (22) runs a ball up the field while dodging New Life Academy defenders Friday night. He helped the Wolfpack defeat the Eagles. Photo by Chris Juhn

Siegel Howard (22) and Lorenzo Smith (12) of SMB Wolfpack jump up in celebration after Siegel Howard (22) ran a touchdown. SMB defeated New Life Academy 31 to 19. Photo by Chris Juhn

Siegel Howard (22) and Lorenzo Smith (12) jump in celebration after a Howard TD run. Photo by Chris Juhn

SMB sophomore running back Siegel Howard relishes taking direct snaps, especially after working behind a beefy senior-led offensive line last season.

But the graduation of 22 seniors, left the line -- and the team -- light on experience entering this season. With 34 underclassmen on the roster, the Wolfpack found themselves battling some growing pains in a tightly contested game Friday night at Park of Cottage Grove with Twin City District Gold Division rival New Life Academy.

Howard put those pains to rest with savvy veteran move under center that led to a 39-yard touchdown run with less than three minutes left in the game to seal a 31-19 victory for SMB.

“They stacked the left side where I was supposed to be running to, so I saw the hole (up the middle) and just took off,” Howard said. 

Ranked No. 10 in the Associated Press Class 5A state high school football poll, SMB overcame its lowest scoring first half of the season and fended off a late surge by the Eagles to remain undefeated.

The Wolfpack (4-0) entered the game boasting the state’s highest scoring margin -- 160-7 through three games.

But after a half of play, SMB only had a field goal on the board and was being outmuscled.

“They punched us in the mouth at the beginning,” said freshman quarterback Jalen Suggs, who was nursing a left foot injury that briefly knocked him out of the game in the first half.

A span of 20 seconds in third frame revealed the threatening nature of the Wolfpack’s defense, as it forced two turnovers that resulted in a 14-point swing.

“We seem to feed off turnovers,” Wolfpack coach Collin Quinn said.

Jake Lundquist chased down a botched snap on fourth-and-3 and scooped it for a 9-yard touchdown, the team's seventh defensive/special teams touchdown of the season.

Howard, already buzzing from Lundquist’s TD, energized the sidelines after Soren Birkeland stripped the ball from the Eagles' Sam Bissen.

“We are really young on the sideline too, so we gotta get them into the game -- stuff happens when they're in it with us,” Howard said. “I was excited. I knew we were gonna punch it in then.”

He proved himself correct, taking the first carry of the drive 21 yards to the end zone.

“We like to put the ball in Siegel Howard’s hands. He ran hard all night -- he was incredible,” Quinn said.

“(Howard) has great energy, he brings life to the whole team and there’s never a dull moment with him,” Suggs added.

New Life Academy (2-2, 1-1) put some pressure on SMB by scoring twice in the fourth quarter, including a defensive TD from Ryan Murphy. The junior stripped the ball from Suggs, recovered the fumble and returned it 75 yards to the end zone, bringing the Eagles back within a possession with nine minutes left in the game.

SMB's defense then sacked quarterback Adam Busch twice to stall New Life Academy's potential game-winning drive with four minutes remaining and force the Eagles to give the ball back to the Wolfpack, who iced the game on the ensuing possession with Howard's final TD.

"In the second half we came out strong but let them back in the game because of turnovers -- those were my fault -- but defense held strong all game then Siegel busted one loose and we finished the game out," Suggs said.

Despite his young team's sluggish start filled with offensive miscues, Quinn was glad to see them mature over the course of the game and be tested in the final quarter.

“We know there’s some growing pains, so to have a game that’s close to the end -- where you have to fight through it and grind it out -- helps us grow up, and I think we grew up over the course of the game,” Quinn said.

Johnny Erickson (1) of the SMB Wolfpack dives and misses a catch near the end zone. The SMB Wolfpack defeated New Life Academy 31 to 19. Photo by Chris Juhn

The Wolfpack's Johnny Erickson (1) stretches for the ball near the end zone. He didn't make the catch, but his team won the game. Photo by Chris Juhn

First Report

Sophomore Siegel Howard rushed for over 100 yards and two touchdowns, including a 39-yarder to ice the game, as SMB defeated New Life Academy 31-19 Friday night at Park of Cottage Grove High School.    

Taking a direct snap, Howard burst through the middle of the field and went untouched to the end zone with 2:28 left in the game.

His touchdown quelled a late challenge from the Eagles. Ryan Murphy stripped the ball from SMB's Jalen Suggs and ran it 75 yards to the end zone to bring New Life Academy (2-2, 1-1) within five points in the fourth quarter.

Ranked No. 10 in the Associated Press Class 5A high school football poll, the Wolfpack (4-0) used a 14-point swing in the third quarter to take the lead after being held to a field goal in the first half.

Eagles quarterback Adam Busch completed 19 of 38 passes for 253 yards and a touchdown.

Photo Gallery

Sam Bissen (22) of New Life Academy carries the ball up and gets hit out of bounds by Peter Carlen (45) of the SMB Wolfpack. SMB defeated New Life Academy 31 to 19. Photo by Chris Juhn

New Life Academy's Sam Bissen (22) gets wrapped up by SMB's Peter Carlen (45) defender before going out of bounds. Photo by Chris Juhn

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