Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin has been a thorn in the side of the Dragons over the past few seasons. Friday night was the first time since the two teams started playing in the fall of 2017 that Pine City would end the night with a win.
The Dragons offense opened the game up with two scoring drives. Led by returning captain Konnor Jusczak, playing in his first game of the season, the Dragons marched down the field after forcing a three and out on GNK’s first possession of the game. The drive was capped off on a throw from Jusczak, which was caught by Duke Waxberg. The Dragons would convert this and every two-point conversion on the night with the same play. The second drive was capped off by a 30-yard touchdown run by Tryston West.
The Dragons defense held GNK scoreless in the first quarter, but in the second quarter, the Titans came out in the Triple-I formation. GNK was unstoppable in this formation any time they ran plays out of it. The Titans would score 16 points of their own to tie the game going into the half.
In the third quarter, the Dragons would once again take the lead. In a fourth and long situation on GNK’s 28-yard line, Konnor Jusczak threw a dime to Tryston West who would run untouched into the end zone. West had over 180 all-purpose yards, but his best play of the game came on the defensive side of the ball.
Turnovers poisoned the Titans in the second half. At one point in the fourth quarter, the team had the ball inside the five-yard line threatening to score. GNK elected to throw the ball, which resulted in a Jacob Lindahl interception. GNK would get a break on a botched snap by the Dragons and got the ball around the Dragons 35-yard line with just a little over a minute left. GNK would elect to throw on first down with such little time on the clock. Their quarterback rolled to his left and had what he thought was an open receiver. Instead, Tryston West came out of nowhere, jumped up, and made a one-handed interception to clinch it for the Dragons.
The Dragons would come out of this one with their first win of the season improving their record to 2-1. Next week, the Dragons travel to Crosby, MN, to face the Crosby-Ironton Rangers on Friday. You can listen to this and every Dragon football game on 106.5 FM, 1350 AM, or stream it live on wcmpradio.com
Photo Credit Lancelot Furber
