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ALGONA -- Matt Dillon has experienced several memorable moments during his legendary coaching career.
On Friday night, the St. Edmond leader added another.
JT Laufersweiler threw three touchdowns and added a fourth on the ground as the Gaels scored a 38-20 victory over long-time rival Bishop Garrigan.
The win marked the 200th as a high school coach for Dillon in 36 years on the sidelines.
"It's special," Dillon said. "I tried to hold it together (talking to the team post-game), but my emotions got the better of me. Winning 200 games was never anything I wanted to do. When I started, I never really thought it was possible.
"But as it got closer, it turned into something that I knew would be special. And to do it against Garrigan and Marty Wadle, that means even more."
Dillon and Wadle, the Golden Bear head coach, have known each other for decades. Both have roots with West Des Moines Dowling, where Dillon won a pair of state championships.
"Marty's an incredible coach and someone I have so much respect for," Dillon said. "It really means a little more (winning No. 200) against him."
Laufersweiler completed 10 of 15 passes for 137 yards, hitting Johnny Dickerson and Quinten McCarville for TD passes in the second quarter. Caleb Schaeffer, who made his return to the field for the first time in two weeks, ran for 79 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown that made it 31-8 early in the fourth.
That score was also part of an incredible flurry that saw both teams score a total of four times in a matter of 31 seconds. After Schaeffer's TD, Garrigan's Caden Roethler darted 50 yards to the end zone.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Golden Bears attempted an onside kick that Tyler Rossmanith picked up and sprinted 45 yards for a score. After Cal Birkey's long kickoff return and a penalty, Sam Plathe hit Aidan Hovey for a score.
All of that followed a scoreless first quarter of action that featured four turnovers as steady rain came down.
"Honestly, we haven't even practiced in those conditions," Dillon said. "I expected it to be a little ugly there early on, but we did a great job of fighting through it all and rallying.
"After playing short-handed, it was good to have those guys out there that we have been wanting to play. It really makes a big difference and now we have a couple more games to keep improving as a team."
McCarville finished with five receptions for 72 yards, Rossmanith had two catches for 39 and Dickerson two for 24. Dickerson also helped spring TD runs by Laufersweiler and Schaeffer with blocks down the field.
"Johnny just had a really big night," Dillon said. "Offense, defense, special teams; he's a special player and that showed up."
On defense, Isaac Landwehr and Cayne Reed each had a sack for St. Edmond, with McCarville and Dickerson picking off passes. John Nemmers recovered two fumbles and Reed one.
Roethler ran for 81 yards and Birkey 46 to lead Bishop Garrigan, with Plathe completing five passes for 57. Benjy Trainer had a sack and recovered a fumble, Nate Bronk and Drew Casey each had a sack, and Plathe picked off a pass.
The Gaels (2-4 overall, 1-3 in district) host Northwood-Kensett Friday night while the Golden Bears (3-3, 2-2) welcome in GTRA.
SE BG
First Downs 12 6
Rushes-Yards 36-95 34-137
Passing 137 57
Comp-Att-Int 10-19-1 5-12-2
Total Offense 232 194
Fumbles-Lost 2-1 3-3
Punts-Avg. 6-38.0 7-40.0
Penalties-Yards 4-30 3-20
St. Edmond 0 12 6 20-- 38
Garrigan 0 8 0 12--20
Scoring Summary
St. Edmond -- Johnny Dickerson (19-yard pass from JT Laufersweiler), 8:40 left in second. Kick failed.
St. Edmond -- Quinten McCarville (24-yard pass from Laufersweiler), 7:35 left in second. Conversion failed.
Bishop Garrigan -- Cal Birkey (25-yard run), 3:57 left in second. Sam Plathe-to-Nick Leerar conversion.
St. Edmond -- Laufersweiler (26-yard run), 4:09 left in third. Conversion failed.
St. Edmond -- Caleb Schaeffer (2-yard pass from Laufersweiler), 11:54 left in fourth. Alex Tiernan kick.
St. Edmond -- Schaeffer (50-yard run), 10:37 left in fourth. Conversion failed.
Bishop Garrigan -- Caden Roethler (48-yard run), 10:22 left in fourth. Conversion failed.
St. Edmond -- Tyler Rossmanith (45-yard kickoff return), 10:21 left in fourth. Alex Tiernan kick.
Bishop Garrigan -- Aidan Hovey (10-yard pass from Pathe), 10:06 left in fourth. Conversion failed.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing -- St. Edmond: Caleb Schaeffer 9-79, Tyler Rossmanith 11-17, JT Laufersweiler 14-9, Team 2-(minus-10). Bishop Garrigan: Caden Roethler 11-81, Cal Birkey 13-46, Sam Plathe 9-11, Team 1-(minus-1).
Passing -- St. Edmond: JT Laufersweiler 10-15-0-137, Caleb Schaeffer 0-4-1-0. Bishop Garrigan: Sam Plathe 5-12-2-57.
Receiving -- St. Edmond: Quinten McCarville 5-72, Tyler Rossmanith 2-39, Johnny Dickerson 2-24, Caleb Schaeffer 1-2. Bishop Garrigan: Aidan Hovey 4-56, Cal Birkey 1-1.