Luxemburg-Casco dropped its first game of the season, falling to Little Chute 42-27, as heard on 104.1 WRLU.
Little Chute got out to an early advantage, scoring on its first play from scrimmage, a 49-yard keeper by Mustangs quarterback Jaden Hermsen. The Spartans drove down the field on their opening possession, getting into the red zone before being turned away on downs at the Little Chute 5-yard line. Luxemburg Casco’s defense did get a stop, forcing a punt. The first quarter came to an end with Luxemburg-Casco facing a 4th and 9, and on the first play of the 2nd quarter, Eli Derenne found Cam Dorner for a 37-yard touchdown. Jacob Walton nailed the PAT kick to tie the game. The tie didn’t last long, as Little Chute marched down the field and scored on another Hermsen run, this time from just 1 yard out. The Mustangs attempted a 2-point conversion but were turned away, keeping the score 13-7. The Spartans were unable to answer, forced to punt back to Little Chute late in the quarter. With just 16 seconds remaining in the half, Hermsen connected with Reece Joten on a 25-yard touchdown pass. The Mustangs went for 2 again, this time converting the attempt. Luxemburg-Casco ran a couple of plays before the half ran out, but went to the break trailing 21-7.
On the Spartans' opening possession of the 3rd quarter, facing 3rd and long once again to start the half, Derenne threw his second touchdown pass of the evening, this time a 42-yard pitch and catch with Tatem Klaubauf. The ensuing PAT kick was good, and the Spartans were back within 7. Luxemburg-Casco attempted an onside kick, initially recovering it, but touched the ball too early, giving Little Chute great field position. The Mustangs quickly capitalized on a 40-yard run by Tyler Hietpas. Jackson Czarnecki’s PAT was good, and Little Chute regained a two-possession lead. Luxemburg Casco wasn’t ready to go down without a fight, going back down the field, with Dorner finding the endzone again, this time on a 5-yard rush. Walton hit the kick, and the Spartans were back within 7. Luxemburg finally caught a break when the defense forced a fumble on the first play of the next Little Chute drive, recovered by Mason Burmeister.
With Brayden Loritz lined up at quarterback, the Spartans surprised the Mustangs, as Loritz threw a pass to Mason Trimberger that would have been a touchdown, but was called back on an ineligible man downfield. Luxemburg Casco was unable to capitalize, as Derenne would throw an interception later in the drive, giving the ball back to the Mustangs. Little Chute used the turnover to its advantage, as Charlie Vanden Heuval gave the Mustangs a two-possession lead after a 7-yard touchdown run. Little Chute’s defense got another stop and extended the lead again, as Joten carried a 77-yard score to double up the Spartans 42-21. Down to a last gasp, Cam Dorner gave LC great field position after an extended kick return was made even better by a Little Chute penalty. On the first play of the drive, Derenne connected with Trimberger for a touchdown pass. This one stood, but Walton’s PAT kick was no good, keeping the score to 42-27. The Spartans attempted an onside kick, but it was unsuccessful. The teams traded turnovers on downs before Little Chute was able to milk out the remaining clock.
Luxemburg Casco falls to 7-1 on the season, and will look to bounce back next Friday when it travels to Freedom to take on the Irish. We’ll have that one on 104.1 WRLU with the pregame show at 6:45 and kickoff at 7:00 pm.
