Friday night was gratifying to Dundee-Crown offensive tackle Joseph Meixner and his teammates.
After losing 55-0 to Prairie Ridge last season, Meixner and the host Chargers wanted another chance against the Wolves, who were ranked No. 8 in the Class 6A state poll and are defending state champions.
Meixner and Dundee-Crown would take full advantage of their second chance against Prairie Ridge, serving the juggernauts of the Fox Valley Valley their second straight loss, 35-21, at the Dundee-Crown Bowl.
The D-C victory ended a 28-game losing streak in FVC play and was the first time the Chargers dispatched the Wolves in 13 meetings.
“We had a great opportunity, and you don’t get many opportunities to beat the state champs,” said Meixner, who helped pave the way for the Chargers’ 231 team rushing yards.
Dundee-Crown (3-1, 1-1) scored on its opening drive, going 12 plays which was eventually capped off by a 4-yard touchdown run by running back Cody Lane.
But it only took two minutes for Prairie Ridge to strike back, with its own threat in the backfield, Kingsley Ebirim, to answer with a 1-yard touchdown run to even the score.
Both teams appeared to be in prime scoring form, but the Chargers would continue to put points on the board while the Wolves’ offense couldn’t keep up. Lane finished with 125 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
“All we’re doing is what we’re supposed to be doing,” said Dundee-Crown coach Vito Andriola. “We’re not Prairie Ridge — by a long shot — but we could have played a lot better in a lot of different aspects.”
For Prairie Ridge (2-2, 0-2), the woes continued on both sides of the ball.
Prairie Ridge’s offense couldn’t hold onto the ball consistently, committing four fumbles and losing all of them.
Wolves coach Chris Schremp said injuries were a key factor for his team’s inabilities, mentioning depletions at both guard positions and linebackers.
“I’ve never experienced it before,” Schremp said. “Whatever could go wrong, has gone wrong.”
But the biggest injury came when Prairie Ridge quarterback Oliver Kremer went down after completing a 7-yard touchdown pass to receiver Steven Ladd.
Schremp said Kremer left the game due to his “shoulder being out of his socket.” Schremp was unsure how much time Kremer will miss.
DUNDEE-CROWN 35, PRAIRIE RIDGE 21
Prairie Ridge 7 7 7 0 — 21
Dundee-Crown 7 14 14 0 — 35
Dundee-Crown –Lane 4 yard run (Moss kick) 3:48
Prairie Ridge – Ebirim 1 yard run (Barnes kick) 1:57
Dundee-Crown – Lane 52 yard run (Moss kick) 10:53
Dundee Crown – Ryan to Lodi for 27 yard pass (Moss kick) 9:32
Prairie Ridge – Kremer to Ladd for 7 yard pass (Barnes kick) 00:22
Dundee-Crown – Lane 1 yard run (Moss kick) 8:25
Prairie Ridge – Kremer 19 yard run (Barnes kick) 7:53
Dundee-Crown-Beasley 74 yard run (Moss kick) 5:56
Prairie Ridge team stats
First downs: 6
Comp.-att.-int.: 3-4-0
Passing yards: 59
Rushing att.-yards: 37-268
Total yards: 327
Fumbles-lost: 4-4
Dundee-Crown team stats
First downs: 12
Comp.-att.-int.: 9-13-0
Passing yards: 147
Rushing att.-yards: 43-231
Total yards: 378
Fumbles-lost: 0-0
Individual Statistics
Rushing:
Prairie Ridge – Carpenter 6-48, Ebirim 13-42-1, Ladd 2-9-0, Kremer 8-75-1, Anderson 8-94
Dundee-Crown – Lane 24-125-3, Beasley 8-98-1, Moss 6-10-0, Ryan 5- (-2)-0
Passing:
Prairie Ridge – Kremer 2-3-39-1–0, Anderson 1-1-20-0-0
Dundee-Crown – Ryan 9-13-147-1
Receiving:
Prairie Ridge – Ebirim 1-20, Carpenter 1-32, Wachman 1-7-1
Dundee-Crown – Lodi 2-34-1, Muscat 2-19-0, Beasley 5-94-0
