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by Haley Youngbauer The Verndale football team finished out the regular season with a tough match at home against the Cromwell-Wright Cardinals on Wednesday, October 21. Pirates Fall to Cardinals 7-32 The match got off to a fast start, with the Cardinals shutting down the Pirates’ first advance, forcing them to punt. On the punt return, the Cardinals were able to avoid the Pirates defense for a quick touchdown on their first possession. The Cardinals kicked a field goal, ma

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by Coach Mike Mahlen The Verndale Pirates celebrated Homecoming with a 41-6 victory over the McGregor Mercuries on Friday, October 2. Verndale took control early, scoring twice in the first quarter. Owen Weiher connected with Chase Jensen on a 28-yard touchdown pass, with Joe Elfstrum running in the two-point conversion to give the Pirates an 8-0 lead. Weiher then found Jensen again for a 22-yard touchdown. The extra-point attempt failed, leaving Verndale with a 14-0 lead.

by Coach Mike Mahlen The Verndale Pirates shut out Ogilvie 30-0 Friday, Sept. 25, using a strong running game and a solid defensive effort to earn the victory. Verndale took control early, scoring twice in the first quarter. Joe Elfstrum scored on a 2-yard run, although the extra-point attempt failed. Elfstrum then added a 4-yard touchdown run, followed by a successful PAT by Elfstrum, giving the Pirates a 14-0 lead. The Pirates added another touchdown in the second quarte

by Coach Mike Mahlen The Verndale Pirates defeated Bertha-Hewitt 30-0 Friday, Sept. 18, at Bertha. Verndale took an 8-0 lead in the first quarter when Joe Elfstrum scored on a 53-yard run. Elfstrum added the extra points. In the second quarter, Elfstrum caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Owen Weiher. Elfstrum again added the extra point, giving the Pirates a 16-0 halftime lead. Elfstrum scored on a 4-yard run in the third quarter. The extra-point attempt failed, making

by Coach Mike Mahlen The Verndale Pirates played South Ridge on Friday, Sept. 4, falling 14-12 in overtime. Verndale scored first in the opening quarter on a six-yard touchdown run by Joe Elfstrum. The extra-point attempt was unsuccessful, giving the Pirates a 6-0 lead. South Ridge tied the game in the third quarter on a one-yard touchdown run by Kingsley Archambault. The extra-point attempt failed, leaving the score tied 6-6. In overtime, Verndale scored on a two-yard to

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The Verndale Pirates battled hard on the road Tuesday night but came up short against Ogilvie, falling 24–12. Ogilvie struck first in the second quarter with an 11-yard touchdown run from Brody Smith, followed by a successful two-point conversion on a pass from Xander Kimble to Keden Felde. Smith later broke free for a 65-yard run, with Felde adding the two-point conversion to give Ogilvie a 16–0 lead. Verndale answered in the third quarter when Lincoln Finck powered in fro

The Verndale Pirates put up a strong fight but ultimately fell to Cromwell-Wright, 56-28, in a high-scoring matchup on Friday night, October 17. Cromwell jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter with three straight touchdowns — a 5-yard run by Brahm Jordan, an 8-yard pass from Brenden Gronner to Lane Gervais, and a 3-yard run by Gervais — to make it 22-0. Verndale got on the board late in the quarter with a 7-yard touchdown run from Owen Weiher, followed by a success

The Verndale Pirates came up just short in a high-scoring thriller Friday night, falling 36-34 to the Sebeka Trojans in a game that saw multiple lead changes and standout performances on both sides of the ball. Verndale came out strong, jumping to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter with two rushing touchdowns from Hollister Heinz—a 3-yard score followed by an 18-yard dash. Heinz also added a successful PAT on the first touchdown. Sebeka answered before the end of the quarter w