The Big Lake football team opened their season last Thursday at home with a 19-0 loss to the Willmar Cardinals. 

A key special teams mistake and the Hornets being unable to capitalize on two trips inside the Willmar 10-yard line were the biggest downfalls for Big Lake. 

Senior running back Trent Josewski had a nice game, rushing for 124 yards on 17 carries. Also contributing to the ground game were juniors quarterback Carson Gellerman with 21 carries for 92 yards and running back Jose Acuna with one carry for 13 yards. Acuna caught one pass for six yards and added 10 tackles and two tackles for loss.  

Gellerman also completed four of nine passes for 33 yards and an interception. The leading receiver for the Hornets was sophomore wide receiver Jack Midas who caught two passes for 23 yards. 

The Big Lake defense started strong by forcing punts on the Cardinal’s first two possessions and getting a huge fourth down stop with Willmar threatening in the red zone. But the Cardinals blocked a punt to open the second quarter and scored three plays later to take a 7-0 lead. 

Big Lake responded by going on an 11-play drive deep into Willmar territory. That drive ended when the Hornet’s fourth and goal play was stopped short of the endzone. It initially looked as though Gellerman had scored on the quarterback keeper, but eventually it was ruled he was down at the one-yard line. 

Willmar took back over and went on a long drive before a bad snap over their quarterback’s head gave possession back to the Hornets with just under three minutes remaining in the first half. 

The Hornet offense was unable to generate any scoring chances before punting the ball away. Then it was the Big Lake defense that stood tall once again by stopping the Cardinals on the goal line with no time remaining in the opening half to keep the score 7-0. 

A great 13-play drive for Big Lake to open the second half had them in great position to either tie or take the lead. But they were again stopped inside the Cardinal’s 10-yard line, this time on fourth and one from the six. 

Big Lake was unable to generate much else offensively for the rest of the game. Willmar scored two more touchdowns, but the Hornets blocked one extra point attempt and the Cardinals missed another to make the score 19-0. 

The Hornets are on the road this week travelling to take on the Orono Spartans in Orono Friday, Sept. 8 at 7 p.m.