Eagles suffer first football loss

• Huddle Up

Coach Paul Mork has guided the New Life Academy football team to a 3-1 record this season with three games to play. Staff Photo by Tom Carothers.

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New Life gave it everything it had, but in the end it was not enough as the Eagles fell 28-21 at Providence Academy in a showdown for the Minnesota Christian Athletic Association on Friday, Oct. 1.

"It was an excellent high school football game,” Eagles head coach Paul Mork said. “We are extremely proud of the 48 minutes of high intensity football and only disappointed in the final score.”

New Life drew first blood as quarterback Caleb Rollins hooked up with running back Jordan Nieuwsma on a 78-yard touchdown pass just four plays into the game. However, Providence would strike back to even the score at 7-7 before the close of the first half and then took a 13-7 lead before the break on another touchdown with a missed extra point.

Nieuwsma struck again for the Eagles on a three-yard run to cap a long scoring drive to put New Life up 14-13 on the made conversion kick midway through the third quarter.

Yet, Providence would not be denied, firing back for a touchdown and a two-pointer to take a 21-14 lead before the close of the third quarter and then pushing its lead to 28-14 with a fourth –quarter tally to all-but put the game away.

New Life kept things interesting late as fullback Alec Johnson rushed in the Eagles’ third touchdown of the night to bring the visitors to within seven points late in the final frame.

An onside kick was nearly recovered by New Life before it was corralled by the Lions, who were able to run out the clock to clinch their second-straight championship with a 4-0 record.

“We did have our chances, but they were a little better on this particular night," Mork said.

Rollins passed for 156 yards, completing 6 of 13 passes on the night, including three for 59 yards to running back Alex Heiser. Halfback Matt Michaud rushed seven times for 60 yards, while Nieuwsma ran 11 times for 54 yards.

Loss No. 1 in the books, New Life (3-1) travels to Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity on Friday, Oct. 8.

A win over the Bulldogs (3-2) would claim the MCAA runner-up slot for the Eagles.

New Life remains on the road for the remainder of the regular season with games at West Lutheran on Friday, Oct. 15 and at Washburn on Thursday, Oct. 21.

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