The Minnewaska Area football team opened up the season with a 40-20 loss to Morris Area-CA, Thursday night at Minnewaska Area High School.  The Lakers opened up the game with a fumble recovery by Carter Meyer in the end zone less than two minutes into the contest and also had an interception moments later near the Tiger goalline, but Morris Area-CA would go score the next 27 points and take control of the game by halftime.

Immediately after the interception by Minnewaska’s Marc Gruber, the Lakers threw an interception and Morris Area quickly tied the game up at 8-8.  A long drive put Morris ahead 15-8 midway through the second quarter and, after another interception thrown by the Lakers, Morris Area scored a third touchdown with 2:36 left in the first half to go into halftime up 22-8.

In the second half, the Tigers scored three more times while Minnewaska added two scores.  No statistics were available for the game.

The Lakers are set to play at Sauk Centre this Friday at 7 p.m. in the second game.  Sauk Centre fell to Holdingford in the opener, 28-16.  The Lakers, coached by second-year head coach Jared Lyle, are coming off an 0-9 season from a year ago. 

•  This year’s roster, which includes 11 seniors, 16 juniors and 20 sophomores, totals 47 players in grades 10-12.  Assisting Lyle this fall are Matt Meagher, Jason Weber, Jeremy Christensen, Brian Gruber, Zach Traphagen and Nathan Snider.

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