Milk Can stays with Fennimore with shutout win over Panthers

By John Dalton

Penalties against Iowa-Grant came early and often and the team could not build any momentum which allowed rival Fennimore to take advantage with big plays as they defeated the Panthers 42-0 in a non-conference game at Iowa-Grant to retain the Milk Can Trophy.  

It was Panther Head Coach Hayden Link’s inaugural game for the first-year coach in this 53rd edition of the annual Milk Can Game and it didn’t go as planned.  Iowa-Grant kicked off and after holding Fennimore to a three-and-out, their first two offensive plays were an illegal procedure call and a delay of game penalty.  Penalties plagued the offensive all evening.  

“It was an ugly game where we kept stubbing our toes. I should have called a timeout on the first drive after getting penalized twice in a row, among many mistakes I made in my first game as head coach. It was a learning experience for our team,” said Coach Link following the game.

Forced to punt the ball after failing to get a first down, the Panther defense again stopped the Golden Eagles offense and received the ball back after a punt.  But again, self-inflicted penalties forced the Panthers backward. This time, Fennimore took advantage as Shawn Jahnke-Fielder received a punt and took it to the house for a touchdown late in the first quarter and a 6-0 lead after the extra point failed.  

In the middle of the second quarter, after a long run by Fennimore quarterback Ethan Sheckler to the Iowa-Grant 33, the next play was fumbled and Iowa-Grant recovered. Both teams would punt the ball to each other a few times until Fennimore picked off Lucas Christianson’s pass deep in Panther territory.  

The Golden Eagles would drive to the 1-yard line and on fourth down, the Panther defense forced a fumble on Sheckler, but it fell into the hands of Jahnke-Fielder who crossed the goal line making it 12-0.  

With I-G trying to score quickly before halftime with under a minute to play, Fennimore’s Jude Kinney stepped in to pick off a Christianson pass and he took it the distance with 40 seconds left before halftime and after another missed extra point attempt Fennimore had an 18-0 lead at intermission.  

Coach Link said, “I was surprised by our penalties. There were mistakes we had not been making in practice and scrimmages up to that point. I think the combination of being the first time debuting new offensive and defensive systems and it being the Fennimore game truly was a lot for our guys to take in”.

In the second half, it was more big plays by Fennimore.  After an Iowa-Grant punt, Sheckler ran untouched for 43 yards and a touchdown. The missed extra point made it 24-0.  

Sheckler would leave the game on its next defensive series with cramps and he was replaced at quarterback by Dawson Crubel.  Crubel led the Golden Eagles to three scoring drives. Reese Kelly punched it in for a touchdown from two yards out. He followed that with a 13-yard touchdown run on the next possession, and late in the fourth quarter, Madden Crubel  raced 63 yards for a touchdown making the final score 42-0.  

Despite the score, the Panther defense played solid but began to wear down as the game wore down. “I do think the defense played incredibly well, given the fact that the offense couldn't get anything going. I take full responsibility for that. Coach Tyler Kennicker drew up an excellent game plan, but our players were exhausted, especially by the end of the contest,” said Link.

“Lucas Christensen was in a tough spot as our quarterback. He is not a regular starter and hadn't played in a game as quarterback since eighth grade; given the short notice due to injuries, he did some nice things. We will continue working with him and use his skill set to our best advantage.”

Christian was 10 for 19 for 61 yards and threw 3 interceptions. Hayden Aultman was 5 for 8 for 51 yards and an interception. Gavin Hinderman led the Panthers in rushing with 31 yards. He also led in

receiving with 7 catches for 43 yards.

For Fennimore, Ethan Scheckler was 0 for 7 passing with one interception. Dawson Crubel was 3 for 3

for 59 yards. Madden Crubel rushed 10 times for 100 yards and 2 touchdowns, Reece Kelly rushed 16

times for 100 yards and a touchdown, and Scheckler rushed 7 times for 62 yards and a touchdown.

The 2024 season marks another year of a conference move for the Panthers, who are now again in the Six Rivers Conference for football, after playing two years in the Ridge & Valley Conference.  

The Golden Eagles opened last season with a 30–12 non-conference win over the Panthers. Fennimore has now beaten the Panthers eight straight times dating back to a 13–6 win in 2016, but still trails the all-time Milk Can series 33–20. 

Next Friday, Iowa-Grant will travel to Dodgeville for another non-conference game against the Dodgers who play in the SWC conference.

Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. Fennimore will host River Ridge, also at 7:00.