GLIDDEN — The St. Edmond football team found out just how heartbreaking the game can be here Friday night.

Holding a lead with just seconds left, the Gaels were stunned by an incredible Hail Mary from Glidden-Ralston quarterback Brody Hunt, as the Wildcats converted the ensuing two-point play to claim a miraculous 22-20 victory in Week 1.

St. Edmond head coach Matt Dillon never hesitated in his decision to take a safety that ultimately led to the final score.

Holding a 20-12 lead, the Gaels sent punter Koleman Hanson out of the back of the end zone, making it a 20-14 game. The Wildcats (1-0) received a strong kickoff return that put the ball on the SEHS side of the 40.

From there, Hunt — a sophomore — avoided the pressure by the St. Edmond defense and launched a throw to Dawson Majerus in the front of the end zone. Hunt also dialed up a throw for the game-winning conversion.

“Never a doubt in my mind that we made the right decision,” Dillon said. “You just have to execute when you do. This just wasn’t our night from the start. For whatever reason, we just didn’t have the kind of energy or intensity we needed, and to the credit of Glidden-Ralston, they did.

“They did enough to hang around, and when the time came to make a play, they did.”

Hunt came on in relief in the second half, throwing the 38-yard touchdown while also rushing for 44 yards– all of which came in the fourth.

“That kid showed what he is capable of,” Dillon said. “Credit to him and credit to their coaches for making the move to put him in.”

Grant Galles had a pick-6 in the first quarter and tallied eight receptions for 56 yards to lead St. Edmond. Aaron Hindt added a short TD run, and Jakob Koopman caught a 17-yard pass from Ethan Swisher in the third quarter that gave the Gaels a 20-6 lead.

Swisher ran for a team-high 30 yards, as the Glidden-Ralston defense limited Hindt to just 29 on 13 carries. Swisher was 12-for-16 for 92 yards.

Koopman and Hindt both had two receptions. Galles picked off two passes on defense as Coltin Fevold recorded a sack.

Glidden-Ralston harassed Swisher all night, registering six sacks while keeping St. Edmond from gaining a first down in the fourth quarter.

“We have to find ways to protect Ethan, that is first and foremost,” Dillon said. “And we have to get back to explosive plays.

“Now I knew going in that this was a physical defense that was going to cause us problems. But I still expected things that we worked on in practice to be successful in the game.”

The Gaels now turn their attention to district play and the home opener, as they host Newell-Fonda next Friday night.

SE G-R

First Downs 8 6

Rushes-Yards 35-(-18) 42-165

Passing 92 38

Comp-Att-Int 12-16-1 1-7-2

Total Offense 74 203

Fumbles-Lost 2-1 2-1

Penalties-Yards 2-25 12-90

St. Edmond 6 6 8 0 — 20

G-R 6 0 6 10 –22

Scoring Summary

Glidden-Ralston — Jordan Hilleshiem (9-yard run), 4:31 left in first. Conversion failed.

St. Edmond — Grant Galles (30-yard interception return), 1:37 left in first. Conversion failed.

St. Edmond — Aaron Hindt (1-yard run), 5:32 left in second. Conversion failed.

St. Edmond — Jakob Koopman (17-yard pass from Ethan Swisher), 9:37 left in third. Swisher-to-Ethan Swisher conversion.

Glidden-Ralston — Landon Rohrbeck (55-yard run), 3:09 left in third. Conversion failed.

Glidden-Ralston — Safety (team), 1:17 left in fourth.

Glidden-Ralston — Dawson Majerus (38-yard pass from Brody Hunt), 0:00 left in fourth. Hunt-to-Rohrbeck conversion.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing — St. Edmond: Ethan Swisher 8-30, Aaron Hindt 13-29, Grant Galles 3-5, Kinnick Henning 2-1, Team 9-(minus-83). Glidden-Ralston: Landon Rohrbeck 10-86, Brody Hunt 5-44, Jordan Hilleshiem 9-28, Henry Sturm Jr., 5-12, Alex Daniel 4-9, Team 1-(minus-5), Colton Rohrbeck 8-(minus-9).

Passing — St. Edmond: Ethan Swisher 12-16-1-92. Glidden-Ralston: Landon Rohrbeck 0-4-0-2, Brody Hunt 1-3-0-38.

Receiving — St. Edmond: Grant Galles 8-56, Jakob Koopman 2-22, Aaron Hindt 2-14. Glidden-Ralston: Dawson Majerus 1-38.