By Jake Schroer
Crow River News Sports
The STMA Knights football team lost its only game of 2015 against Moorhead in the season opener.
To open 2016, the Knights struck back for a 16-6 revenge win over the Spuds. Griffen Marquette made his season debut as starting quarterback (8/11 passing, 105 yards, 1 interception) and the Knights leaned on their ground game, rushing for 124 yards on 42 attempts.
Mitchell Kartes starred offensively for the Knights, scoring both STMA touchdowns on the evening. Kartes ran for 63 yards and caught five passes for 88 yards.
Moorhead drove down to the goal line in the opening quarter, but the Knights defense denied the Spuds on fourth down.
STMA’s defense shut the Spuds out for three quarters as the offense built a 16-0 lead. The defense also had the distinction of scoring the first points of the season for the Knights on a safety by Emmanuel Akundu; the result of a blocked punt early in the second quarter.
Kartes scored the first of his two touchdowns with 39 seconds left before halftime. Kartes scored again early in the third quarter as STMA’s lead grew. In the fourth quarter, the Spuds scored after a turnover, but the Knights stopped the following two point conversion try.
STMA’s defense held tall as the Knights defeated Moorhead 16-6, avenging the only loss of the 2015 championship season.
Head coach Jared Essler said that it was nice to rely on the defense against a quality opponent so early in the season.
“The defense is usually ahead of the offense early in the season, so we are hoping for continued improvement from our offense throughout the season,” Essler said.
The Knights play Big Lake in the home opener on Friday.