The were plenty of pads popping when the Etna Lions junior varsity and the Lost River Raider JVs tangled in Merrill on Friday night. In a game that featured bend, but don’t break defense, it was a defensive play that decided the game.

With 3:47 left in the second quarter, a line drive Raider punt went into the back of the offensive line and hit the ground. Lion Zac Hansen scooped up the ball and scooted 30 yards for what would turn out to be the game-winning touchdown. The PAT failed, but the Lions had all the points they would need for the 6-0 victory.

Lost River pounded its way deep into Lion territory several times during the game, but each time Etna came up with a defensive stand. On the Raiders final drive of the game, they worked their way from their own four-yard-line to the Etna 49, in about two minutes. However, just as it looked like Lost River might have one last shot at scoring, the Raiders put the ball on the ground and Lion Mac Wessell came up with the prize to effectively end the game, with 32 seconds on the clock. Two kneel-downs later it was over.

So, Lost River, I’d be giving your guys some recognition, but there was no JV or varsity roster in the program I got and you don’t have a roster posted on MaxPreps. There are a couple of blank pages though, which is pretty cool.