“Our defensive struggles continue on the road,” said Hillcrest Head Coach Korey Fry. “We started the game the way we wanted. We were able to spread things out and get a two-score lead, but defensively we just lost track of our assignments with their 3 back attacks. Sebeka was able to keep us off balance all night. Our goal for the rest of the year is to get back to the basics defensively. Alignment, Assignment, Technique.”

Erik Bjorndahl connected with Gabe Swedenburg for a 10 yard TD pass and Mathias Gjerme added the extra-point kick for a 7-0 Hillcrest lead at 10:15 of the opening quarter.  The Comets made it 14-0 on a 10 yard run by Evan Lindgren and a Gjerme PAT kick with six minutes left in the quarter.  Sebeka got their first score on a 4 yard run by Mason Plautz and a two point conversion run by Hank Tellers, ending the first quarter with Hillcrest leading 14-8.

Sebeka took the lead at 5:21 of the second quarter when Teller scored on a 4 yard run and then added the two point conversion run for a 16-8 lead for the Trojans.  Lindgren’s 3 yard TD run gave the Comets a 20-16 lead with 3:34 remaining in the half, but a 2 yard TD run by Tellers, followed by another two point conversion run with only 8 seconds left lifted Sebeka to a 24-20 halftime advantage.

Lindgren handed Hillcreest a 28-24 lead with 6:28 left in the third quarter when he ran the ball in form 4 yards out and took the two point conversion into the end zone.  A 2 yard TD run by Tellers and a Tellers two point conversion run put Sebeka back on top, 32-28 with 2:09 left in the third quarter.

Just 19 seconds into the fourth quarter the Comets regained the lead at 34-32 when Swedenburg hauled in a 37 yard pass from Bjorndahl.  With 3:53 remaining in the game, Tellers scored his fourth touchdown of the night, this one on a two yard run, and then ran in the two point conversion for the fifth time on the night, putting the final at Sebeka 40, Hillcrest 34.

Bjorndahl completed 8-of-14 passes for 144 yards.  Swedenburg led the receivers with 5 catches for 78 yards and Lindgren ran the ball 19 times for 152 yards.  Defensive leaders were Alexander Johnson (8 tackles, 5 assisted tackles), Micah Bermel (8 tackles, 4 assisted tackles), Thor Ewan (7 tackles, 4 assisted tackles) and Cole Peterson (7 tackles, 2 assisted tackles).  Swedenburg and Leo Nordick each had 6 tackles and 2 assisted tackles).

Hillcrest (2-4) will play at Ortonville next Friday night.

Sebeka (3-3) will travel to Hancock for their next contest, facing the 5-1 Owls.