Fifth Quarter: Big Second Half Carries Gaels Into Week 3 Showdown

Photo: St. Edmond Athletic Boosters

Dana Becker

September 11, 2020 @ 12:13 PM

For the first time this season, St. Edmond faced a deficit, falling behind 7-0 and 14-7 to North Union. That only ignited the Gaels, as they scored six touchdowns in the second half to post a convincing 53-27 victory inside Dodger Stadium Thursday night. St. Edmond (3-0 overall, 1-0 in district) now prepares for a showdown next Friday in Britt against defending state champion West Hancock. For the third consecutive week, the Gael offense was clicking, racking up over 300 yards rushing and 500 yards total. Senior Drew Schaeffer again finished with a strong night, recording over 250 yards of offense and accounting for three touchdowns - including two on the ground. Tyler Rossmanith had his second 100-yard rushing game of the season and Kase Baker added 100 yards with an interception return for the final score of the game. All that was needed because North Union's senior standout, Ryan Lang, was having a night. Lang ran for 250 yards and scored four times. He was also in on several defensive plays and just continually gashed the St. Edmond defense. Had it not been for a flag thrown several yards away from the play, Lang would have went over 300 yards with five touchdowns. Schaeffer Continues To Shine St. Edmond head coach Matt Dillon knew he had something special in Drew Schaeffer. Last year, the multi-sport standout suffered an ankle injury that limited what he could do. Now, fully-recovered, Schaeffer is shining. Schaeffer completed 14 of 22 passes in less-than-ideal conditions a week after setting a school-record for yards in a single-game. He threw for 217 with two TDs, adding 50 yards rushing and two scores on the ground. And when the Gael defense was having trouble containing North Union's ground attack, Schaeffer came on to lend a hand. Lang Nearly Carries Warriors Ryan Lang came into this season with high expectations after a strong junior campaign. Through three games, he is living up to it. Lang carried the ball 27 times for 250 yards with four touchdowns against St. Edmond, with a long 50-yard TD run being called back on a flag that had no importance on the play. A two-way player, Lang definitely has the talent to compete at the next level on either side of the ball. He is quick, shifty, can find lanes and has the power to carry defenders with him. Parker's Time In the first two weeks, opposing defenses focused on taking away St. Edmond senior wide receiver Parker Oswald. And, for the most part, they did that, leaving others to have big nights. Oswald's time to shine was this week as he caught six passes for 142 yards including a pair of key third-down conversions in the fourth. On his 49-yard TD catch, Oswald made a perfectly-timed leap to take the ball away from the defender before sprinting to the end zone.