The River Falls Wildcats were defeated by the Menomonie Mustangs in round 1 of the playoffs on Friday in Menomonie by a score of 28-14.

River Falls may have lost this game, but it’s not because they were a worse team. It’s been said that most football games come down to a couple plays, those plays just all went the other way for a Wildcats team that played hard on Friday. On one hand, they lost by multiple scores, but on the other, there were three turning points in this game that changed the outcome.

The game started with a long steady drive by the Mustangs that ended in a score. Menomonie started with a 21-yard run across midfield and into River Falls territory. They converted multiple fourth downs, the second of which was a pass into the end zone to put them up 7-0 with just over 6:00 remaining in the first quarter.

River Falls answered by doing what they’ve done so many times this season, turned to running back Jonah Severson who was the Big Rivers triple crown winner at his position, leading all backs in carries, yards and touchdowns. After breaking tackles to convert on a 3^rd and 8, Severson broke out for a 55-yard run that got stopped just short of the end zone. He punched it in a play later to even the score.

Menomonie got stuffed at the line for a loss, penalized and sacked to the tune of a 4^th and 27 on which they punted, resulting in great field position in Menomonie territory for the Wildcats. This next drive for River Falls was the first of the three turning points in the game.

Things began slow, and the Wildcats were looking at a 4^th and 2 as time expired in the first quarter. They opened the second with a completion to full back Jackson Rock for a first down as quarterback Jacob Range rolled out and hit him on the run. The next sequence had them knocking on the door of the red zone once again when Range pitched it out to Severson who couldn’t secure the toss, and Menomonie came up with the ball for a turnover.

The Mustangs continued to lean on the run game as well, but when the River Falls defense made a stand and pushed them to 4^th and 3, they went to the air. They had a man open up the seam, but the pass was overthrown, resulting in a turnover on downs with 4:37 remaining in the half.

Penalties derailed the Wildcats’ next drive resulting in a punt, which Menomonie returned across midfield to the 48-yard line.

A relentless, clock draining rushing attack ensued, and the River Falls defense did its job well. On a fourth down where there was deliberation on whether to take a field goal, Menomonie got a penalty and a new set of downs. The River Falls defense sold out for the run against a team that leans very heavily on it, so when the play action fake happened, the Mustangs had a receiver wide open for an easy pitch and catch to take the lead 14-7 with 0:03 remaining in the half.

River Falls got the ball first in the third quarter, and the second of three turning points came to pass. A drive that started with a pass and a pitch for a first down out at midfield came to a head when the Wildcats went for it on 4^th and 3.

Range dropped back, tucked the ball and ran right. Severson was there for a pick on the lone defender, clearing the path for Range to make it to the sticks, but as defenders closed in, Range dropped down for a slide instead of taking the hit as he believed he was across the line to gain. Unfortunately, the ball is spotted where the slide begins, and that was just short of a first down resulting in a turnover that should have been a new set of downs.

Things kept getting worse for the Wildcats as a face mask penalty gave the Mustangs a free pass out to the River Falls 43-yard line. At this point, it felt like the momentum had completely shifted to Menomonie’s favor. The Wildcats’ defense made them work for it, garnering multiple tackles for a loss, but the Mustangs still rode their run game into the end zone to take a 21-7 lead with 4:06 remaining in the third quarter.

The third turning point occurred on the following drive when River Falls burned all their timeouts and didn’t come away with points, thus making clock management – and a comeback - in the fourth quarter very difficult. They turned it over on downs instead of punting the ball, and two plays later the Mustangs scored on a 50-yard run from midfield to take a 28-7 lead with 0:40 remining on the clock.

Wide receiver Amundson opened the fourth with a 15-yard reception, a carry and another reception that took the Wildcats down to the 26-yard line. River Falls scored on this drive after some nice runs by Severson and a couple of good throws by Range, but it took too much time off the clock. With 4:03 remaining in the game, the score became 28-14.

Menomonie ran out the clock, and that’s where the postseason came to an end for the Wildcats.

It was an emotional end for River Falls, who will be graduating several key members of the offense this spring including Range, Severson and Amundson, who sees some symmetry between Friday’s game and the season as a whole.

“We started out hot, like the season and this game. We got shut down for a little bit during the season and brought it back up. This game, we had to find it in the second half, and we just couldn’t,” Amundson said. “We played pretty good. I wish it was a little better, but we did all we could do.”

Range, who finished the season near the top in the conference in passing yards and touchdowns while playing alongside a running back triple crown winner, sees a game where a couple miscues completely flipped the script and sent them home early.

“We knew that this was the type of game it was, and last time it was a way different outcome. We knew we had a much better plan, and I think we really played it as hard as we could have. Things just didn't go our way,” Range said. “We were just a little off on a couple blocks, a couple of missed throws, and that's the difference in a game like this. So yeah, it stinks right now, but I'm really happy. It’s been a fun ride, and these guys are set up really well for the future. Tino Massa will be the quarterback next year. I’m really excited for him. His brother Vito Massa was the quarterback before me, and he was awesome. He was the best leader I’ve ever had in my career, and Tino is going to pick up right where we left off.”

With the season at an end, Head Coach Ryan Scherz feels a lot of pride for what his team was able to accomplish.

“The kids played their hearts out, we knew they would. A game like this is going to come down to a couple plays, but it wasn’t because of lack of effort,” Scherz said. “The kids played really hard, and they always played hard. We appreciate them, and we appreciate the contributions of our seniors. They battled all year long.”

With this being the end of a few of the guys’ high school careers, and their last game as a group, there were a lot of feelings being shared by the team. Range felt the surreal nature of the moment as the fans poured onto the field to congratulate the players.

“It's hard to process. I didn't want it to end this early, but I'm proud of it. I'm happy it happened. I wish we could have kept it going a little longer, but it’s kind of just setting in that it's over,” Range said.

Severson shared this sentiment and just added how lucky he feels that he got this opportunity and how grateful he is to everyone who made it possible.

“I think the season went great. I feel like there were a lot of memories to be had from all of our guys, and I just loved it,” Severson said. “I loved running behind my guys the last two years, and I appreciate everybody that’s been around me. It’s a great team. It’s a great culture, and we just build on that every year.”