Turnovers Key in Albany’s Shootout Win over Litchfield

<strong>ALBANY- </strong>For much of last night’s game in Albany between the visiting Litchfield Dragons and the Albany Huskies, turnovers proved to be key early. Take those turnovers away, and the Dragons are entirely in this game till the end. There were three turnovers in the first quarter that took the game away from the Dragons. Check out my game recap from my trip to Albany last night. <strong>FIRST QUARTER</strong> The Dragons struck first in this game when [player_tooltip player_id="18210" first="Benjamin" last="Alsleben"] struck the busy <strong>Logan King </strong>for an 18-yard pass giving the Dragons their only lead of the night. <strong>Litchfield 7, Albany 0.</strong> After a significant drive down the field, Albany QB Isaiah Gerads found TE <strong>Ethan Navratil</strong>, who made a fantastic catch in the back of the endzone for the Huskies first of many scores on the night. Albany utilized the 2 point conversation consecutively last night and got it there. <strong>Albany 8, Litchfield 7.</strong> This next drive for Litchfield is what may have permanently switched the momentum to the Albany Huskies. <strong>Ethan Navratil </strong>got a great read on a [player_tooltip player_id="18210" first="Benjamin" last="Alsleben"] pass and got in front of it and took it from 27 yards out for another 6 for the Huskies. 2 points no good. <strong>Albany 14, Litchfield 8</strong> The Dragons then again in the first quarter stayed in trouble with a critical fumble in which Albany DL <strong>Declan Crumley </strong>scooped up the fumble by <strong>Alsleben</strong> to put the Huskies in crucial field position. It didn’t take the Huskies very long to cash in with such a short field, as <strong>Nolan Rueter</strong> rushed the ball in from 7 yards out. 2 points no good. <strong>Albany 20, Litchfield 7.</strong> After a second fumble for the Dragons in the quarter, the Huskies yet again scored off a Litchfield turnover as QB <strong>Isaiah Gerads </strong>punched it from one yard out to end the quarter. <strong>Albany 28, Litchfield 7. End of 1st.</strong> <strong>SECOND QUARTER</strong> The most impressive part about the Albany Huskies last night was the way they run their offense. They run the Veer, but what was remarkable was how fast they rush to the line and how quickly their offensive linemen can get set. This game had the potential to get out of hand as RB <strong>Will Mergen </strong>got the first score of the second quarter for the Huskies, making it a four-touchdown lead for the Huskies of Albany. <strong>Albany 34, Litchfield 7. </strong> The Dragons finally got back on the board with a solid drive down the field, and then [player_tooltip player_id="18210" first="Benjamin" last="Alsleben"] scored his first touchdown of the game on a 3-yard draw into the end zone. <strong>Albany 34, Litchfield 14.</strong> Litchfield finally started to get some needed momentum in this game after that turnover fed the first quarter. The Dragons again drove down the field, as  [player_tooltip player_id="18210" first="Benjamin" last="Alsleben"] threw to <strong>Tysen Michels, </strong>who made a fantastic sideline catch to punch the Dragons within two scores. <strong>Albany 34, Litchfield 21.</strong> After a three and out for Albany, the Dragons had a chance to make one significant move in the middle of the field to get a little bit closer on the scoreboard. [player_tooltip player_id="18210" first="Benjamin" last="Alsleben"] winded up to throw that 50-yard hail mary to end the half, but <strong>Hunter Tate </strong>of Albany was right behind him and made the half ending sack.<strong> Albany 34, Litchfield 21. End of Half.</strong> <strong>THIRD QUARTER</strong> The third quarter was when I realized even more what a shootout game this was with two 4-0 teams trying to keep their undefeated streak intact in this shortened season they were given. The <strong>Nolan Rueter</strong> show continued as he forced another touchdown for 6 to give Albany some cushion on the Dragons. <strong>Albany 42, Litchfield 21. </strong> His show continued as the Dragons drove down to about the 20-yard line, and then Rueter made a very impressive diving grab for the interception for the Dragons fourth turnover of the day as the Huskies would take over on the Albany 12 yard line. After the three and out, the Dragons wanted to stay competitive as [player_tooltip player_id="18210" first="Benjamin" last="Alsleben"] found the quirky feet of [player_tooltip player_id="18189" first="Bennett" last="Lecher"], who turned in a massive game to set up the Dragons in deep in Huskies territory. <strong>Alsleben</strong> would run in from 12 yards out for the Dragons score. <strong>Albany 42, Litchfield 28. End of 3rd.</strong> <strong>FOURTH QUARTER</strong> The fourth quarter was about insurance for the Albany Huskies. The Huskies got their second running back in the end zone in <strong>Will Mergen </strong>to lay the groundwork to put the icing on the cake for the Huskies nearly. <strong>Mergen </strong>was the man who got in for the 2 point conversion and gave the Huskies the 50 burger on the night. <strong>Albany 50, Litchfield 28</strong>. Although their time was crunched, the Dragons kept battling as they put another quality drive down the field as the hulk of their receiving core [player_tooltip player_id="18189" first="Bennett" last="Lecher"] scored from 8-yards out to give Litchfield their last score of the night. <strong>Albany 50, Litchfield 35.</strong> To ice the game, QB <strong>Isaiah Gerads </strong>of the Albany Huskies, threw a lovely ball to his big 6’4 tight end in Ethan Navratil for a 35-yard pass for the final score of the night in Albany. <strong>Albany 58, Litchfield 35. Final </strong> Do you want to learn who the "Big Dogs of the Game" were in Albany on Friday night? Be sure to check over the weekend as I will have scouting reports on 10+ players from the Huskies and Dragons from their battle on Friday night at Michael Field in Albany. &nbsp;