Fowler at Laingsburg – – Football – – The Bleacher Denizen – – September 5, 2025 – – by Chuck Krafft

Today, the Bleacher Denizen is off to Laingsburg where the Wolfpack football team will be hosting the Fowler Eagles. This is the second game of the season for each team, but the first CMAC game. Each team played last week; Michigan Lutheran Seminary defeated Laingsburg and Hudson defeated Fowler, so one of these teams will earn its first win of 2025 tonight.

I pointed the BleacherDenizenMobile at Laingsburg High and headed on out to the game. It’s a nice night, a little chilly for September, but around 60 degrees. I got to the football stadium and headed to the press box!

Let us now take a look at this gridiron event through the somewhat alert eyes of an aging Bleacher Denizen who was never got onto the football field. His fate was sealed when two snails beat him in a running drill. (To be fair, there were three snails competing and I did beat one of them!)

Laingsburg High always has one of the best bands in the area. They came out and started the evening with strong performances of the Laingsburg High fight song, the Alma Mater and the National Anthem.

Fowler won the opening toss and elected to receive. Payge Woodworth, who also plays for the Girls Soccer Team kicked the ball off. Carter Thelen jumped on the bouncing ball at the Fowler 17 yard line and the Eagles started their first possession there.

Dylan Pline went to the left, cut back to the middle and ran until Leandro Dolega-Caceras stopped him for a nineteen yard gain.

Colt Nobach’s first down run up left tackle gained seven yards. Levi Travis went to the left and gained four second down yards while earning another first down. Calvin Seer and Landon Freeman made the tackle for Laingsburg.

Colt Nobach went through the middle and gained fifteen yards before Landon Freeman stopped him to earn a first down in Laingsburg territory at the 38 yard line.

A first down holding penalty negated an Eagle gain and pushed them back ten yards. Colt Nobach took a pitch to the right on the first down replay and gained five yards before Harrison Dorman tackled him. Dylan Pline gained five yards on a a third down run up the middle; Bryce Curry made the stop for the Wolfpack. On the next play, Levi Travis took the ball to the left and ran all the way down the sideline for a sixty-two yard touchdown run.

Calvin Stier and Bryce Curry made a tackle to foil the Eagle extra point run.

With 7:45 remaining in the opening quarter, Fowler had a 6-0 lead.

Carter Thelen’s kickoff was fielded by Landon Freeman, who made a short return. The Wolfpack began their series on their own 20 yard line.

Levi Travis covered on Laingsburg’s incomplete first down pass. Julian Smith completed a second down pass to Waylon Rowley, but he was tackled for a four yard loss. Isaac Thelen and Carter Fedewa covered on the Wolfpack incomplete third down pass. Harrison Dorman’s fourth down punt was fielded by Colt Nobach on the fifty yard line. He gained eight yards before Dylan Koenig tackled him. Fowler had a first down on the Wolfpack 42 yard line.

Dalton Thelen went up the middle for a twelve yard first down gain.

Dalton Thelen gained eight yards on a first down run through the middle. Adam Kazor made the Wolfpack tackle. Colt Nobach went up the middle on second down for a four yard gain and a first down at the Wolfpack 18 yard line. Liam Esch got the tackle for Laingsburg.

Levi Travis went to the left and gained four first down yards before Liam Esch stopped him. Colt Nobach went to the right on second down for five yards. On the next play, Colt Nobach ran through the middle for a nine yard touchdown.

Colt Nobach ran the ball in for the successful Eagle extra point. With 3:11 remaining in the opening quarter, Fowler had a 14-0 lead.

Carter Thelen kicked the ball off to the Laingsburg 25 yard line. Landon Freeman took the ball to the right and gained five yards before Carter Thelen forced him out of bounds. The Wolfpack began their series on their own 30 yard line.

Anthony Epkey stopped the Laingsburg first down run for no gain. Trevor Spicer stopped the Wolfpack second down pitch to the right for a three yard loss. Trevor Spicer intercepted Laingsburg’s third down pass and returned it to the Wolfpack 13 yard line before Waylon Rowley forced him out of bounds. Fowler started its next possession there.

Bryce Curry and Dylan Koenig teamed up to stop the Eagle first down run for no gain. A pack of Wolves stopped the Eagle second down run for a one yard gain. On third down, Dalton Thelen barged through the middle for a twelve yard touchdown run. Leandro Dolega-Caceres, Calvin Stier and Waylon Rowley stopped Fowler’s point after run.

With 12 seconds left in the first quarter, Fowler had a 20-0 lead.

Carter Thelen kicked the ball to the Wolfpack 15 yard line where Leandro Dolega-Caceras caught it and returned it five yards up the left side before Trevor Spicer took him down. Laingsburg started its possession on its own 20 yard line.

On the final play of the first quarter, Joe Epkey sacked the Wolfpack quarterback for a seven yard loss.

After one quarter, Fowler held a 20-0 lead.

On the opening play of the second quarter, Trevor Spicer and Joe Epkey teamed up to stop the Wolfpack second down run for a three yard loss. On the next play, Anthony Epkey and Joe Epkey sacked the Wolfpack quarterback for a seven yard loss. Harrison Dorman punted on fourth down. Colt Nobach fielded the ball and cut to the middle for a forty-eight yard touchdown run.

After a Laingsburg offside penalty moved the Point After line of scrimmage to the one yard line, Trevor Spicer ran the ball in for the successful extra point. With 10:06 remaining in the first half, Fowler had a 28-0 lead.

Carter Thelen booted his kickoff to the Laingsburg 19 yard line where Leandro Dolega-Caceres fielded it and returned it sixteen yards. The Wolfpack began their possession on their own 35 yard line.

Trevor Spicer covered and may have actually hit the ball on Laingsburg’s incomplete first down pass. Joe Epkey stopped the Wolfpack second down run for a two yard loss. Julian Smith completed a twelve yard third down pass over the middle to Landon Freeman to earn a first down.

Levi Travis covered on Laingsburg’s incomplete first down pass. Joe Epkey stopped the second down run for a two yard loss. Joe Epkey sacked the quarterback for a seven yard third down loss. Harrison Dorman punted on fourth down. Leandro Dolega-Caceres downed the ball on Fowler’s 35 yard line; the Eagles started their next series there.

Carter Thelen took the ball to the right for a ten yard first down gain. Leandro Dolega-Carceres made the tackle for the Wolfpack.

Trevor Spicer took the ball through the middle for a fifteen yard gain and a first down in Wolfpack territory on the 40 yard line. Calvin Stier got the Wolfpack tackle.

Levi Travis took the ball to the left, dodged several tackles and gained three yards before Dylan Koenig pulled him down. Trevor Spicer took the ball to the right and gained six yards before Leandro Dolega-Carceres stopped him. He was just short of a first down. Levi Travis spun his was to a six yard third down gain and a first down for the Eagles. Dylan Koenig made the tackle for Laingsburg.

Calvin Stier and Leandro Dolega Carceres covered on the Eagle incomplete first down pass. Trevor Spicer took the ball into the middle for a six yard second down gain; Dylan Koenig made Laingsburg stop. Levi Travis went up left tackle for a seven yard gain to earn a first down on the Wolfpack 13 yard line for the Eagles.

Colt Nobach took the ball up the middle for a seven yard first down gain. Liam Esch covered on the Eagle incomplete second down pass. On the next play, Trevor Spicer took the ball through the middle for a six yard Eagle touchdown. Eli Thelen ran the ball for the successful extra point to give Fowler a 36-0 lead with just 49 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

Carter Thelen kicked the ball off to the Laingsburg 17 yard line where Leandro Dolega-Caceres caught it and gained thirteen yards before Carson Hyland pulled him down. Laingsburg had a first down on its own 30 yard line.

Levi Thelen and Carter Thelen covered on Laingsburg’s incomplete first down pass. Waylon Rowley went through the middle for a twenty-two yard second down gain. Carter Fedewa and Carter Thelen made the stop, but Laingsburg had a first down on the Eagle 48 yard line.

Quinten Esch stopped Laingsburg’s first down run for a one yard gain. On the final play of the first half, Anthony Epkey sacked the Wolfpack quarterback.

Fowler had a 36-0 halftime lead.

Laingsburg has one of the best bands in the area and they did a wonderful halftime show. They played songs from “Pitch Perfect.” The band is directed by Tom Cousineau. Nick Pourcho is the drill writer. The color guard coach and choreographer is Kylie Carlson. The band is led by senior drum major Mallory Woodbury and Assistant Drum Major Hayden Wilson.

For the opening number, Mallory Woodbury conducted the band as it played a hit song, “Let It Whip” by the Dazz Band. Hayden Wilson directed the band on Kelly Clarkson’s hit, “Since U Been Gone.” Mallory Woodbury conducted the band on Pat Benatar’s “Hit Me With Your Best Shot.”

The band followed with “No Diggity” featuring Shaun Mills on the trombone and finsished with Simple Mind’s “Don’t You Forget About Me.”

I really enjoyed the band’s halftime show. As I am a musician myself, I always love to salute students on a musical job well-done. (Those of you who may be curious can check out my You Tube Channel; it is called by my name, “Chuck Krafft.”)

Carter Thelen kicked off for Fowler to open the second half. The kick went out of bounds and Laingsburg began its possession on its own 35 yard line.

The Eagle line stopped the Wolfpack first down run for no gain. Julian Smith completed a second down pass to Harrison Dorman, who was tackled at the line of scrimmage. Laingsburg threw an incomplete screen pass on third down. Harrison Dorman’s fourth down punt was downed at the Fowler 14 yard line where the Eagles began their next series.

Colt Nobach took the ball up the middle for an eight yard first down gain; Calvin Stier got the Wolfpack tackle. Dylan Koenig stopped Fowler’s second down run for no gain. On the next play, Colt Nobach dashed to the right sideline and continued up the field for a seventy-eight yard touchdown run.

Leandro Dolega-Caceras covered for Laingsburg on Fowler’s incomplete extra point pass.

With 7:55 left in the third quarter, Fowler had a 42-0 lead.

Carter Thelen kicked the ball off to the Laingsburg 17 yard line where Leandro Dolega-Caceras fielded and made an excellent sixty-four yard return before Levi Travis stopped him to prevent a touchdown.

On the next play, Julian Smith completed a pass to Harrison Dorman for a nineteen yard touchdown. Collin Logghe made the long snap, Waylon Rowley held the ball and Payge Woodworth kicked the successful extra point. With 6:40 left in quarter number three, Laingsburg trimmed Fowler’s lead to 42-7.

Payge Woodworth kicked the ball off to the Fowler fifteen yard line where Leandro Dolega-Caceres made a great tackle just as the ball was being caught. Fowler started its next series on its own 15 yard line.

Eli Thelen took the ball up the middle for a five yard first down gain. Eli Thelen took the ball back up the middle for a three yard second down gain. Dylan Koenig made the tackle for Laingsburg. Eli Thelen gained three yards on third down to give the Eagles a first down.

Joe DeShone led a pack of tacklers to stop Fowler’s first down run for no gain. Eli Thelen went to the right on second down; he gained seven yards before Waylon Rowley took him down. On third down, Eli Thelen went up the left tackle for an eighteen yard gain to give the Eagles a first down in Wolfpack territory on the 49 yard line.

Eli Thelen went up right tackle for a twenty-five yard gain; Leandro Dolega-Caceres got the tackle for Laingsburg. Dalton Thelen completed a pass to Easton Myers for an eight yard first down gain; Dylan Koenig made the tackle for Laingsburg. On the next play, Dalton Thelen passed to Levi Travis for a sixteen yard touchdown. Fowler’s extra point kick failed. With six seconds left in the third quarter, Fowler extended its lead to 48-7.

On the final play of the third quarter, Carter Thelen kicked the ball off to the Laingsburg 17 yard line. Leandro Dolega-Carceres caught the ball and returned it three yards before Isaac Thelen stopped him.

At the end of quarter number three, Fowler held a 48-7 lead.

Julian Smith completed a seven yard first down pass to Landon Freeman. Carter Fedewa got the stop for Fowler. Waylon Rowley took the ball up left tackle for an eight yard second down gain and a first down. Carter Fedewa and Carter Thelen teamed up for the Eagle tackle.

Thomas Spitzley stopped Laingsburg’s first down run for a two yard loss. Leandro Dolega-Caceres barrelled around the left end and gained twenty-nine yards before Eli Thelen made a big tackle to prevent a touchdown. Laingsburg had a first down on the Fowler 38 yard line.

Fowler’s line stopped Laingsburg’s first down run into the middle for a one yard gain. Carter Thelen’s timely hit caused a second down incomplete pass for the Wolfpack. Julian Smith got chased out of the pocket on third down and gained eight yards. On fourth down, Ben Thelen stopped Laingsburg’s run just short of the first down. Fowler took over the ball on downs on its own 28 yard line.

Dalton Thelen went into the middle and gained three yards on first down before Liam Esch tackled him. Dalton Thelen took the ball to the right for a six yard second down gain. Harrison Dorman made the tackle for Laingsburg. On third down, Eli Thelen used a fake handoff to free himself for a twenty-two yard run to the right. Fowler had a first down on Laingsburg’s 41 yard line.

Calvin Stier stopped Fowler’s first down run to the left for no gain. Dalton Thelen gained four yards on a second down run up the middle. On third down, Eli Thelen went up right tackle for nine yards and a first down.

The Wolfpack line stopped Fowler’s first down run for no gain. On the final play of the game, Easton Myers gained about five yards before Dylan Koenig tackled him.

Fowler won its CMAC opener by the final score of 48-7.