Lindbergh's One-Two Brother Combination Overwhelms Fox

Fox, desperate for its first victory of the season, hosted the on Friday night.

After getting trounced the previous week in a shutout loss to Ritenour, 39-0, the Warriors had to play in a steady, cool drizzle dampening the grass at Gerald O'Connor Athletic Field. This did little to help slow down Flyers, who won 34-3.

Lindbergh came to play, and it came to win. And, win they did as the Flyers scored six straight touchdowns as they handed Fox their third straight loss, 34-3.

Early on, Lindbergh senior quarterback Peter Simpson set the pace of the game by skillfully utilizing the strong running game of senior running back Grant Krueger, and his younger brother, talented sophomore receiver, Garrett Krueger.

By the end of the game, the Flyers had accumulated 316 total offensive yards, and the Krueger brothers combined for 235 of those yards—165 yards for Grant, and 70 yards for Garrett. On the defensive side of the ball, Grant and Garrett also contributed seven total tackles between them. The Fox defense could not find a way to stop them.

“I like to play hard during practice every day, and show the coaches that the sophomores can play,” Krueger said. “I’m going to have to step up my game the next two years so I can go out on top.”

After a flurry of concentration errors (missed tackles, assignments, etc.), Lindbergh was able to score first. Late in the first quarter, Fox had the ball on their 23-yard line, and showing a glimpse of offensive flourish. But the Warriors’ hopes quickly died when sophomore quarterback Tyler Thompson fumbled the ball and Lindbergh regained possession.

Simpson then connected with Garrett Krueger on a 10-yard touchdown. After Jordan Harmon’s point-after kick sailed through the uprights, Lindbergh went ahead, 7-0, and they never looked back.   

Early in the second quarter, Lindbergh did not waste any time extending its lead. The highly-recruited Simpson showed some of his skill by interweaving creative run and pass plays to invade Fox territory. Simpson only needed 1:53 seconds to get 68 yards downfield in only seven plays, and then Grant Krueger scored on a two-yard run. Harmon’s extra point was deflected, and the score remained 13-0.

Fox sophomore quarterback Tyler Thompson then gave Warriors fans a brief glimmer of hope. Thompson led his team down to the Lindbergh 22-yard line with six rushing plays. Lindbergh’s defense, led by senior linebacker Chris Kew, shut down any chances Fox may have had. Nick Bartolotta made a 22-yard field goal, and shortened Lindbergh’s lead to 13-3. This was Fox’s first, and only, score in the game.

Lindbergh capitalized on more Warriors penalties and missed assignments and moved down to the Fox 21-yard line. Simpson went to his senior tight end, Matt Feldt, with a laser-like pass deep in the Warriors end zone for a 20-3 lead.

At halftime, first-year Fox head coach Brent Tinker had his work cut out for him. Tinker then saw the Flyers come out in the second half with even more energy and determination.

Lindbergh scored two more times in the second half to seal the fate of Fox. Late in the third quarter, Simpson again was able to move his team down the field virtually untouched. It only took Simpson 1:51 to cap off a five-play, 56-yard drive with an exciting 15-yard touchdown run by junior running back Kevin Rogers.

In the fourth, Harmon replaced Simpson at QB. But that didn’t slow down the Flyers. Harmon marched Lindbergh downfield and then senior running back Jordan Goodman squirted into the end zone on a two-yard run for Lindbergh’s final score.

Simpson went 10-for-19 for 149 yards and two TDs. Grant Krueger had eight carries for 72 yards. Goodman (11-55) and Kevin Rogers (5-32) rounded out the Flyers’ ground game. Garrett Krueger had four catches for 68 yards.

Flyers' head coach Tom Beauchamp, in his 31st season, saud, “These kids are a fine group. They work hard every day. Tonight, our defense was key. We have 32 seniors, and we'll lose them next year. Kids like Garret Krueger are special. The sophomore and juniors we have now will have some big shoes to fill."

Kew led Lindbergh with eight solo tackles and a sack, and the Flyers added a fumble recovery, three deflected passes.

Fox had 257 yards in total offense, led by senior running back Cameron Blanton, who had 112 of those yards. Junior cornerback Tyler Laws had seven tackles.

Tinker applauded the Flyers: “Our defense is the strength of our team, but we can’t expect to win if they are out on the field all night long. I was hoping we could win the game. They (Lindbergh) are a good club, they work hard, they’re well-coached and they got us.” 

Lindbergh will travel west on Friday to battle undefeated Parkway South.