Carmel comeback falls short in Iowa

DUBUQUE, Iowa — Unbeaten Wayzata (Minn.) held off Carmel’s late rally to beat the Corsairs 33-26 Friday in a football game played here at the University of Dubuque.

Wayzata, the defending big-school state champion in Minnesota, is now 4-0 while Carmel is 3-2.

The game was tied 6-6 at halftime, with Carmel’s points coming on a pair of Steven O’Block field goals (36 and 32 yards).

But the action exploded after the break.

Wayzata star halfback Eric Roti returned the second-half kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown to give his team a 13-6 lead. Wayzata scored again to make it 20-6 before Carmel’s Michael Panico scored on an 11-yard toss-sweep to make it 20-13.

Wayzata restored its two-touchdown lead on a 45-yard TD run by Roti, but Panico returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown to make it 26-20.

After yet another Wayzata score made it 33-20, Carmel scored with 45 seconds left on a 12-yard TD pass from Brian Brennan to Alex Young.

Down 33-27, Carmel then tried an onside kick and the Corsairs’ Tyler Lees recovered it. Carmel got off a couple of plays, but Brennan’s long pass was picked off to secure the Wayzata win.

The teams played in Iowa because it was a neutral site, with both teams haveint to travel. The game was scheduled because Carmel had trouble finding a non-conference opponent in Illinois to play this weekend.

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