The performance of the 2011 Lakeside Lutheran Warrior football team can be summed up with one word: untouchable. Last Friday night, the Warriors defended their perfect record in conference by defeating the Luther Prep Phoenix in a well-fought battle.

    
The Warriors improved their record to 8-1 with the victory, claiming the conference

championship as their own.

    
The Warriors came out strong right from the start of the game. In the Warriors’ first possession, Senior Caleb Gartner carried the ball all the way to the 50-yard line. The Warriors then continued to push through the wall of defense into Phoenix territory with carries from senior Drew Davis and junior Ryan Broedlow. The Warriors nearly lost possession of the ball on a fumble, but it was quickly recovered by Davis.

    
With 8:03 remaining in the first quarter, senior quarterback Tyler Doyle lobbed a 30-yard pass to senior Jacob Schneider, who then carried it into the end zone. Junior Stuart Vanden-Huevel’s kick was good, and the Warriors took an early 7-0 lead over the Phoenix.

    
The Phoenix’s next possession was short lived, so the Warriors then took over again. However, the Phoenix’s defensive barricade prevented the Warriors from making another run to the end zone. Doyle threw up a few lengthy passes intended for Schneider, but the Warriors came up empty.

    
Senior Luke Rothe carried the ball to the 49-yard on the next punt return. This would set the table for the Phoenix to even the score. With exactly one minute remaining in the first quarter, Rothe made a 46-yard pass to Senior Nick Jenswold. Going into the second quarter, the game was all tied up, 7-7.

    
Just over ten minutes into the second quarter, Vanden-Huevel made a 26-yard field goal for the Warriors, giving them a 10-7 edge over the Phoenix.

    
When the Phoenix took over possession, senior linebacker Zach Stoltenberg held their offense at the 30-yard line. Junior Brennan Leis then contributed to the Warrior’s solid

defensive coverage with a tackle of his own, forcing the Phoenix to punt on a 4th and 10 at the 30-yard line.

    
The Warriors then gained possession once again; Davis and Broedlow drove the ball all the way to the 24-yard line. Tyler Doyle connected with Gartner in the endzone, cushioning the Warriors’ lead to ten points.

    
The Warrior defense held their own, even after repeated carries from Rothe and senior Paul Bourman. The Phoenix were stopped dead in their tracks at the 40-yard line, thanks to blockage from junior Travis Bachler, senior Keith Kube, senior Ben Ewings, and Stoltenberg.

    
Jenswold then made an outstanding 35-yard punt for the Phoenix that landed just inside the Warriors’ 5-yard line. With less than a minute remaining before the half, Doyle made a spectacular 69-yard throw to Davis, who made a catch in equally spectacular fashion.

    
Davis was brought down by the Phoenix’s defense just short of the end zone. Broedlow then finished the job, driving it in the extra yard and extending the Warriors’ lead to 24-7 with only 15 seconds remaining before half time.

    
Luther Prep scored once more with seven minutes left in the third quarter; Rothe made a 10-yard pass to junior Ma-Lik Rollins for a touchdown.

    
The Warriors sealed the deal with a 9-yard touchdown run from Davis with 6:15 left in the game. The Warriors ended their regular season with a 31-14 victory, cruising to their fifth conference win of the year.

    
Senior Tyler Doyle had an outstanding night, throwing 269 passing yards in the game.

    
The Warriors ended the season on a high note at their home field on Friday night and will attempt to continue their winning streak in the playoffs this week.