Prep Football: United North Central fumbles away late rally; lose to Pillager 20-16

Down 20-0, the United North Central Warriors mounted a furious second half rally that fell short at the goal line during the 20-16 Prairie Conference loss to Pillager Friday night.

Both teams would combine for over 800 yards in total offense in the game.

Huskies running back Sean Nokken—who rushed for 206 yards on 17 carries—accounted for both Pillager touchdowns in the first half. The senior broke free for a 73-yard TD run with 5:19 left in the first quarter and then added a one-yard plunge to give the Huskies the 14-0 lead at halftime.

Pillager would increase the lead to 20-0 after Jordan Hunstad rumbled 41-yards for a touchdown to start the third quarter.

United North Central quarterback Kasey Tyge, who finished with 209 yards passing after completing 17 of 23 passes in the game, threw two TD passes in the second half to help the Warriors pull within striking distance in the final minute of the fourth quarter.

Tyge found wide receiver Ben Skoog for a 41-yard TD pass at 4:54 of the third quarter and then connected with Colby Pudas for a 21-yard TD pass with less than two minutes left.

The Warriors drove deep into Pillager territory late in the game, but fumbled the game-winning touchdown at the Huskies’ one-yard line with seven seconds left to play.

Pillager ended up surrendering a safety to close out the scoring.

United North Central (3-4) looks to snap the three-game losing streak when they host Upsala/Swanville Area (5-2) at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Sebeka.

United North Central at Pillager on October 15
Huskies 20, Warriors 16
UNC 0 0 14 2—16
Pillager 8 6 6 0—20
First Quarter
P—Sean Nokken 73 run (Ethan Ringler pass from Jordan Hunstad) 5:19
Second Quarter
P—Nokken 1 run (pass fail) 0:50
Third Quarter
P—Hunstad 41 run (run failed) 7:59
UNC—Ben Skoog 40 pass from Kasey Tyge (kick blocked) 4:54
UNC—Colby Pudas 21 pass from Tyge (Derek Hendrickson pass from Tyge) 1:44
Fourth Quarter
UNC—Safety 0:07
Team Stats
Rushes-Yards: UNC 45-183; P 32-302
Pass Comp-Att-Int-Yards: UNC 17-23-1-209; P 6-9-0-112
Total Offense: UNC 392; P 414
Individual Stats (Incomplete)
Rushing: P—Sean Nokken 17-206
Passing: UNC—Kasey Tyge 17-23-1-209
Receiving: