Spartan season ends in shutout loss to Monticello
By FRED KRONER
Playing short-handed against an unbeaten team on the road, St. Joseph-Ogden suffered a shutout loss on Saturday (April 24) in its final football game of the spring.
Monticello posted a 43-0 victory.
Quarterback Evan Ingram, who had passed for 445 yards in five games, was among the Spartans who were sidelined.
“The end of the season was tough as we lost some key players due to injuries and close-contact quarantines,” SJ-O football coach Shawn Skinner said. “It was less than ideal, but I was very proud with the effort and the team’s willingness to compete throughout the adversity we faced all week.
“The season won-loss total doesn’t diminish the fact that we got better throughout the season and we are certainly better-prepared for when we start up again in August.”
When the next football season starts, SJ-O’s first opponent will be the school it played in the finale.
The Spartans will open up at home against Monticello.
Keaton Nolan was SJ-O’s workhorse in the last game, as he was throughout the season. He carried the ball 20 times for a team-high 68 yards and finished the six-game schedule with 144 attempts and 637 rushing yards.
The Spartans managed just 94 yards of total offense against the Sages.
Sophomore Alex Funk, who filled in at quarterback, gained 21 yards on seven carries.
“I’m really happy for our five seniors,” Skinner said. “Starting last fall they were great at giving their attention and efforts to us as we were never sure if we would have a season.
“Max Shonkwiler was a great leader for our young lineman to look up to. Brady Buss, Brock Innes and Jackson Rydell all played well in their wide receiver and defensive back roles and provided us with play-along ability at positions we were very thin at due to injuries and various depth issues.
“Xander Rieches stepped up as a tight end and outside linebacker and had such a good game in our win against BCC. The real story of this spring season won’t be completed until this fall as this was a genuine ‘preseason’ for so many of our players as we prepare for the (next) season to start in about 100 days.
“It was a great opportunity for all of our kids, and as a coaching staff, we certainly are excited about what our team projects to become in the fall.”
Buss was the team-leader with two interceptions.
The trio of Buss, Innes and Rydell combined to catch 19 of the 30 passes the Spartans completed for the season.
SJ-O scored 96 points in six games and Nolan, a 195-pound junior, tallied 48 of those points.
