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Garrigan falls to Vikings

ALGONA — Turnovers doomed the Bishop Garrigan football team and their quest to return to the UNI-Dome here Friday night.

The third-ranked Golden Bears were topped by No. 5 Edgewood-Colesburg here in a Class A quarterfinal, 6-0, committing five turnovers in the contest.

Two years ago, Bishop Garrigan made a run to the state championship game. They qualified for the postseason last season before falling in the first round.

“Our defense played really well, the turnovers just were the difference,” BGHS head coach Marty Wadle said. “We had a couple inside the 25 and it was just one of those things where it started to snowball on us. We had some situations with calls that didn’t go our way, but that is part of the game you can’t control.”

Bishop Garrigan dominated the first half of play, almost doubling up the Vikings in total yards, but three turnovers stalled key drives. The Golden Bears had the ball in the final minute, but the fifth and final turnover ended it.

Ethan Streicher accounted for the only points, going 10-for-18 passing for 107 yards with a touchdown to Spencer Staner. He also had three turnovers on defense, including two fumble recoveries.

The Vikings had not scored fewer than 20 points this season, including at least 35 in their last five entering the night.

The loss ended the BGHS careers of seniors Eric Thul, Brad Capesius, Tristan Ferguson, Caden Berte, John Meis, Sam Vaske, Preston Kohlhaas, Gabe Trainer, John Capesius, Drew Merron, Billy Erpelding, Aiden Koob and TJ Schnurr.

“What a great group of kids that we are really going to miss,” Wadle said of the senior class. “They have done a great job for four years and been a part of a lot of wins, but not the state title like they wanted.”

Capesius threw for 86 yards and ran for another 28 with a pick on defense. He finished his career with 12 interceptions, including nine this season, and is the school’s all-time leader in career touchdowns.

Thul carried the ball 15 times for 71 yards, Kohlhaas added 79 total yards and Schnurr had five catches for 53.

John Capesius recorded a sack for the Golden Bears, who held the Vikings to 164 total yards and just 2 of 13 on third-down attempts.

Edgewood-Colesburg will face Avoca-AHSTW in the semifinals in Cedar Falls next week, with Hudson and West Hancock meeting in the other matchup.

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