Gaels travel to Harris-LP | News, Sports, Jobs

LAKE PARK — The St. Edmond football team hopes the road is much more kind to them this week.

The Gaels (2-1 overall, 1-1 in district) take on Harris-Lake Park (2-1, 1-0) here Friday night. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

It has been a season of mixed results for St. Edmond and head coach Matt Dillon through three games. After opening the year with a 65-19 victory over Ar-We-Va, the Gaels fell at West Bend-Mallard, 66-22.

Last week, though, they rebounded inside Dodger Stadium, topping North Iowa, 48-18.

Junior quarterback JT Laufersweiler accounted for four touchdowns, completing 7 of 15 passes for 140 yards with 100 yards rushing. The Gaels trailed the Bison 18-14 at the half, but outscored them 34-0 over the final 24 minutes.

Sophomore Klay Baker ran for 63 yards, freshman Kinnick Henning had 60 with two touchdowns and senior Johnny Dickerson caught five passes for 90 yards as St. Edmond racked up 311 yards of total offense.

On the year, Laufersweiler has 402 yards passing and 196 yards rushing to lead the Gaels, while Dickerson has caught 21 passes for 282 yards. Baker has 105 yards rushing and Henning 81 with five combined TDs.

“We’ve got to complete passes, make big runs and keep our defense off the field,” SEHS head coach Matt Dillon said. “JT has improved so much over the year and his abilities at quarterback really make us go.”

St. Edmond’s defense will be tested by senior Tyce Gunderson, as the Harris-Lake Park quarterback has thrown for 240 yards and rushed for another 357 with 12 combined touchdowns. Caleb Hemphill has 126 yards rushing and 111 yards receiving, while Lucas Ahrenstroff leads the team with 139 yards receiving and three TDs.

“It seems like each week we are playing against an elite quarterback, and Tyce Gunderson is an elite quarterback,” Dillon said. “They were right there with Remsen St. Mary’s without him before getting behind late. We saw what he can do last year and we have to be prepared to stop him.”

The Wolves have six sacks, 23 tackles for loss and four forced turnovers.

In a 40-37 win over Kingsley-Pierson last Friday, Gunderson ran for 219 yards, completed 13 of 19 for 147 yards and had six total touchdowns. Harris-Lake Park scored in each quarter, including 15 in the fourth to secure the victory.

Last year, the Wolves picked up a 42-28 triumph over the Gaels at Dodger Stadium behind a 21-point third quarter. Laufersweiler had one of his best games of the season, throwing for 241 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 56 and another score.

This is the first of two straight and three of the next four on the road for the Gaels, as they travel to No. 1 Remsen St. Mary’s next Friday before hosting Bishop Garrigan on Sept. 30 for Homecoming.

St. Edmond closes out the year at Northwood-Kensett and vs. GTRA.