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MEMORY BANK

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Grant Galles of St. Edmond runs back a punt against Harris-Lake park on Friday inside Dodgers Stadium

If Friday was the final time competing inside Dodger Stadium for six St. Edmond football seniors, they definitely made it a memory they’ll never forget.

The Gaels clinched a second consecutive playoff bid with a convincing 64-12 victory over Harris-Lake Park.

Grant Galles, one of those six seniors who were honored at halftime alongside classmates competing in cross country and cheer, scored touchdowns on four different ways while fellow senior Jakob Koopman added two receiving scores from 12th-grader Ethan Swisher.

Galles had a 30-yard punt return after the St. Edmond (4-3 overall, 4-1 in district) defense forced a three-and-out to begin the game, adding an interception return, a rushing score and a receiving TD from Swisher all before the first half ended.

Koopman hauled in his two touchdowns in the opening nine minutes, as Swisher finished his abbrievated night 5-for-5 for 90 yards.

Koleman Hanson, Kinnick Henning and the returning Max Webster were also honored, as the six have helped the Gaels to 17 wins over the last four seasons. Webster made his season debut, starting at center.

“It was so great to see Max back out there,” SEHS head coach Matt Dillon said. “He has overcome so much just to get back out there, and it wasn’t just him out there as a way to honor him; Max went out and showed why he is such a great player and a tremendous asset to our team.”

Webster suffered a knee injury late last season, receiving clearance to return to practice earlier this month.

“These six seniors have really helped build a strong foundation for this program,” Dillon said. “They have contributed in so many ways both on and off the field that it was great to be able to send them out with a performance like this.”

Harris-Lake Park (2-5, 1-4), battling injuries that had them down to just 15 healthy players coming into the game, felt the brunt of any lingering frustrations by the Gaels after they had a chance to upset GTRA last week at home.

Galles had his punt return, Koopman his first TD catch and junior Aaron Hindt darted 54 yards to the end zone on his first play from scrimmage. A second Koopman score was followed by a Galles interception return and a rushing touchdown all before the first quarter had expired.

Swisher hit Galles midway through the second with the running clock quickly moving the contest along, as Hindt scored again before the half, this time from 42 yards out.

“A perfect night for Ethan,” Dillon said. “We wanted to see how he would play after being forced out last week with an injury, and he looked great. Aaron did a tremendous job with the few carries he got, and I thought our offensive line played great.

“The defense was locked in, as well, forcing turnovers, making stops and taking over the game.”

Galles had his interception while Hanson and junior Griffin Laufersweiler each recovered fumbles. Henning and junior Jacob Nieland both recorded a sack.

Sophomore Matthew Crimmins scored the final St. Edmond touchdown, breaking free on a 33-yard jaunt in the third. Hindt ran for 128 yards on three carries while Crimmins had 68 on six.

After playing three straight home games with a forfeit mixed in, the Gaels now hit the road for their regular season finale at Kingsley-Pierson next Friday night.

SE HLP

First Downs 13 9

Rushes-Yards 18-241 24-129

Passing 90 39

Comp-Att-Int 5-7-0 6-19-1

Total Offense 331 168

Fumbles-Lost 2-0 3-2

Punts-Avg. 2-33.5 6-33.3

Penalties-Yards 7-65 7-55

St. Edmond 45 13 6 0– 64

H-LP 0 0 0 12–12

Scoring Summary

St. Edmond — Grant Galles (30-yard punt return), 10:08 left in first. Galles conversion.

St. Edmond — Jakob Koopman (36-yard pass from Ethan Swisher), 8:56 left in first. Galles conversion.

St. Edmond — Aaron Hindt (54-yard run), 6:00 left in first. Galles conversion.

St. Edmond — Koopman (4-yard pass from Swisher), 3:12 left in first. Koleman Hanson kick.

St. Edmond — Galles (21-yard interception return), 3:05 left in first. Hanson kick.

St. Edmond — Galles (21-yard run), :32 left in first. Hanson kick.

St. Edmond — Galles (21-yard pass from Swisher), 6:36 left in second. Hanson kick.

St. Edmond — Hindt (42-yard run), 1:57 left in second. Kick failed.

St. Edmond — Matthew Crimmins (33-yard run), 7:12 left in third. Conversion failed.

Harris-Lake Park — Beckett Rahe (17-yard run), 1:21 left in third. Conversion failed.

Harris-Lake Park — Tayten Huff (14-yard pass from Rahe), :05 left in fourth. Conversion failed.

——

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing — St. Edmond: Aaron Hindt 3-128, Matthew Crimmins 6-68, Grant Galles 1-21, Kinnick Henning 2-16, Ethan Swisher 1-8, Thomas Ehn 1-7, Ty Mericle 4-(minus-7), Cal Reisner 2-(minus-9). Harris-Lake Park: Jausten Baumgarn 8-72, Tayten Huff 12-46, Beckett Rahe 2-24, Team 2-(minus-13).

Passing — St. Edmond: Ethan Swisher 5-5-0-90, Thomas Ehn 0-1-0-0, Cal Reisner 0-1-0-0. Harris-Lake Park: Bennett Rahe 6-19-1-39.

Receiving — St. Edmond: Jakob Koopman 3-55, Grant Galles 1-21, Aaron Hindt 1-19. Harris-Lake Park: Tayten Huff 2-19, Karter Evans 1-10, Grady Olson 2-10.

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