By Mike Drooger –

Once upon a time, in the not too distant past, we were told to flatten the curve. Next the term dial back was used. Then, beginning at 11:59:59 on Friday night, November 20, 2020, we were instructed to pause. No matter what you prefer to call it, the high school athletes once again had their season pulled out from under he and she and they will have some unplanned time off.

The Edgerton Flying Dutchmen were scheduled to play at Hills vs. the Patriots of Hills-Beaver Creek on Saturday afternoon the 21st of November. But that suddenly changed when Governor Walz announced the pause that would take effect very late Friday night. It was decided the #1 seeded Patriots would host #2 Mountain Lake Area while #5 Edgerton would travel to Heron Lake to take on the #3 seeded Coyotes of Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda. Edgerton lost to the Coyotes 48-20 in the season opener on October 9. The Dutchmen trailed by just a touchdown doing into the final quarter but gave up 22 fourth quarter points. Edgerton was looking for revenge in the 2020 season finale on November 20.

The Dutchmen cruised to a 24-0 lead but the Coyotes “flattened the curve.” The Dutchmen regained control but HL-O/F “turned the dial.” Edgerton held the lead heading into the final quarter but the Coyotes refused to “pause.” In the end, Edgerton was forced to accept a tough one. With 48.4 seconds on the clock, the ‘Yotes scored to take a 38-32 lead. Edgerton was driving as time dwindled, but the final play of the 2020 season for the Dutchmen was a pass that went through the hands of the intended receiver into the hands of the HL-O/F defender for the interception with 7.9 seconds remaining in the game. Edgerton’s season ended with a record of 3-5.

The Gilbertson boys—Gabe and Mason—made nice defensive plays to begin the game and the Coyotes were forced to punt. Edgerton went right to work and scored when Chase Bootsma followed Mason across the goal line. Bootsma also registered the point after and it was 8-0.

With 3:42 left in the opening quarter, Gabe scampered into the end zone untouched from 30 yards out on a misdirection play. Nolan Buckridge added the two-point conversion and it was 16-0.

Edgerton’s lead mushroomed to 24-0 early in the second quarter when Bootsma scored again. The Dutchmen overcame two holding penalties on the drive. Big plays were a 20-yard pass from Keegan Fey to Mason and a 15-yard Bootsma run. Buckridge carried the ball four times in the drive. Bootsma added the PAT and it was 24-0.

The Coyotes scored twice and converted the PAT both times to close out the first half to put pressure on EHS. But the Dutchmen came out of the halftime rejuvenated and quickly scored using nine plays in the drive. The big play was a 36-yard jaunt by Gabe that put the ball at the four. Buckridge got the TD, Bootsma added the PAT, and it was 32-16, which was the score after three quarters.

For the complete article, please see the November 25th edition of the Edgerton Enterprise. If you do not currently receive the Enterprise, CLICK HERE for information on how to subscribe!