The Warren/Alvarado/Oslo Ponies were looking for consistency and sharp play when they hosted the Fosston Greyhounds on Wednesday night.  The Ponies exploded into the season with three consecutive wins and then dropped three of their next four games.  Penalties and turn-overs had been the Ponies nemesis in recent weeks.   Meanwhile the Fosston Greyhounds headed to Warren looking for their first victory of the season.  A difficult year for Fosston, which has had a very athletic/senior dominate line-up in the past, but finds itself competing with a younger and smaller team this season.

The WAO Ponies offense would score on their first four possessions of the football game, grinding out yardage and eating up the clock.  Both Zach Riopelle (19/192 yards and 4 TDs) and Andrew Lansing (17/137 yards) ran the ball very well.  Success was found both between the tackles and on the sweep for the Ponies.  The Ponies would run 50 rushing plays for 460 yards of total offense. WAO did not pass in the game. 

The Pony defense would keep Fosston off the scoreboard.  Strong line-play, good pursuit and tackling kept the Greyhounds in check, holding them to just 136 yards of total offense.   The Greyhounds only scoring opportunity was a missed 29-yard field goal attempt late in the first half.  

WAO ends the regular season with a 5-and-3 record, while Fosston finishes 0-and-8.   Early indications are that the Ponies will be the #2 seed and Fosston the #7 seed in the 8A Football Play-offs.  That would mean another match-up between the two teams, in Warren, on Tuesday October 25th in the 8A Quarterfinals. 

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter
5:43  WAO  Jayvon O’Quinn 23 yard run.  Jon Hess PAT kick good.
:10  WAO  Zach Riopelle 3 yard run, PAT kick miss.

2nd Quarter
6:14  WAO  Zach Riopelle 2 yard run, PAT kick good.
:37  WAO  Zach Riopelle 4 yard run, PAT kick good

3rd Quarter
11:42  WAO  Zach Riopelle 75 yard run, PAT kick good.

4th Quarter
No Scoring.