Saints nip Osage in battle for L.R. Falk trophy
By Kristi Nixon
ST. ANSGAR — If there is one thing that St. Ansgar head coach Drew Clevenger and Osage first-year head man Chris Kyhl can agree on, the 2023 season opener in this rivalry game was one for the ages.
The Saints capitalized on a pair of Green Devil turnovers in the first half to take a 12-0 lead and then had a battle the rest of the way in an eventual 25-24 non-district victory to reclaim the L.R. Falk trophy for the first time in a couple of seasons.
“A lot of people make a lot out of this rivalry of things it shouldn’t be,” coach Clevenger said. “I know Chris feels the same way, that it is a good, fun rivalry. That’s how I approach it. I know that’s how he approaches it. It was a great game. Their kids played hard, our kids played hard, but we’re sure as heck happy that we came out on top.
“Heck of a game – it’s what a high school game should be.”
Kyhl added, “That’s what you dream for as a high school football coach. You dream to come out on the other end of it, but like I told our kids, ‘You can’t ask for a better atmosphere, a better football game.’ St. Ansgar is a really well-coached team – they do a really nice job. I have to give coach Clevenger and his staff all the credit.”
The full story and more photos appear in the Aug. 30 print and e-editions of the Enterprise Journal.
