Staff photo by Steve Muscatello Minnesota Valley Lutheran’s Colton Collum tries to break the tackle of a LesterPrairie/holy Trinity defender during the first quarter Friday at Johnson Field in New Ulm. For more photos of this event go to cu.nujournal.com

NEW ULM — Minnesota Valley Lutheran had plenty of chances, but in the end, the Chargers were unable to capitalize in a defensive battle against Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity. LP/HT defeated MVL 13-6 in a Mid-Southeast District, West Subdistrict game at Johnson Field.

MVL coach Jim Buboltz wasn’t too frustrated despite the loss.

“We lost a game we should’ve won,” Buboltz said. “It was a difference between night and day from the first game, I can’t say enough about how proud I am of these guys. They could’ve given up but they just kept fighting.”

The Chargers were never able to recover after an early touchdown was whistled dead in the first quarter. Quarterback Matt Munsen faked a handoff to Colton Collum and the play was whistled dead after Collum was tackled even though Munsen still had the ball. Munsen’s 51-yard touchdown was called back and the Chargers’ opening drive stalled.

Later in the first quarter, MVL was denied deep in LP/HT territory. MVL took the ball down to the LP/HT 1, but it was unable to score. On 3rd-and-goal on the LP/HT 2, Munsen ran a keeper but was denied the end zone. He tried again on 4th and goal but was denied at the 1, turning the ball over on downs with 2:15 left in the first quarter.

After a scoreless first quarter, LP/HT scored with 5:06 left in the first half on a 6-yard run by Dylan Ruzicka and the Bulldogs led 7-0.

The Chargers got on the board in the third quarter on their first drive of the half.

Carlos Ramirez took a handoff from Munsen and cut left, scoring from 14 yards out to cut LP/HT’s lead to 7-6. However, the 2-point conversion failed and the lead stayed that way until a 36-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter by Tyler Scheevel with 6:24 left in the game.

MVL had a couple of chances to score in the fourth quarter. With the ball at the LP/HT 40 and the Bulldogs leading 7-6, Ramirez fumbled and LP/HT recovered and scored on the ensuing drive.

Munsen fumbled on the LP/HT 25 with 18 seconds remaining and the Bulldogs recovered as they improved to 2-0 on the season.

Collum finished the game with 118 yards rushing on 16 carries. Ramirez had 27 yards rushing and Jake Kettner had 62 yards receiving. Myles Merseth had 15 tackles.

MVL (0-2) is at St. Clair on Friday.