What we learned from Colo-NESCO's 63-16 loss to No. 1 Don Bosco: Royals play well in second half

The Colo-NESCO football team couldn't get anything going in the first half against No. 1 Don Bosco in an 8-player District 4 game Friday at Colo.

The Royals were kept off the scoreboard over the first two quarters on their way to a 63-16 loss to the Dons.

"Don Bosco is as tough of an opponent as there is," Colo-NESCO head coach David Greenfield said. "I do think that we were physical on defense and challenged them to move the ball consistently, but you can’t make mistakes against a team of that caliber."

Colo-NESCO fell behind 42-0 at the half on their way to falling to 1-3 on the season and 0-2 in 8-player District 4. Here is what we learned from the Royal loss:

Don Bosco is good

Don Bosco simply had too many weapons on both sides of the ball for Colo-NESCO to keep up.

Don quarterback Ty Purdy threw for 103 yards and two touchdowns and he also ran for two scores. Myles McMahon ran for 104 yards and a touchdown and Ben Belew 82 yards and a score and Jacob Thiry and Kaiden Knaack each hauled in a touchdown reception.

On defense McMahon returned an interception 79 yards for a touchdown, Knaack also picked off a pass and Landon Fernandez recovered a fumble. Thiry had 9.5 tackles and a sack and Zach Belew also had a sack.

The Dons ended up outgaining Colo-NESCO in total offense, 362 yards to 142.

Royals don't give up

Colo-NESCO played well in the second half.

Lucas Daggett, Breckin Clatt, Spencer Hansen and Lucas Frohwein all made big plays for Colo-NESCO during the game.

Daggett had a 25-yard rushing touchdown and he also returned an interception 27 yards. Clatt ran for 76 yards and tallied 7.5 tackles and an interception on defense.

Hansen threw for 60 yards and a touchdown and Frohwein made three grabs for 41 yards, including a 37-yard touchdown reception in the second half. Trenton Beard also stepped up on defense, finishing the night with eight tackles.

"Trenton Beard and Breckin Clatt both did some good things," Greenfield said. "Lucas Daggett is developing into a really solid player for us as well."

Collins-Maxwell up next

Colo-NESCO will face another tough test this Friday.

The Royals will host a 3-1 Collins-Maxwell team. The Spartans' only loss is to Don Bosco.

"We have a loaded front half of our schedule, but we really feel that this has made us a better team," Greenfield said. "Our guys are focused and understand the importance of this next game against a pretty talented Collins-Maxwell team."

The Royals and Spartans will kick off at 7 p.m. in Colo.

Don Bosco 63, Colo-NESCO 16

Don Bosco           14            28            7          14 — 63

Colo-NESCO          0              0            8            8 — 16

Individual statistical leaders

Rushing: Don Bosco — Myles McMahon 10-104. Colo-NESCO — Breckin Clatt 8-76.

Passing: Don Bosco — Ty Purdy 4-8-1-103. Colo-NESCO — Spencer Hansen 6-15-2-60.

Receiving: Don Bosco — Jacob Thiry 1-45. Colo-NESCO — Lucas Frohwein 3-41.

Tackles: Don Bosco — Thiry 9.5. Colo-NESCO — Trenton Beard 8.

Sacks: Don Bosco — Thiry 1, Zach Belew 1.

Fumble recoveries: Don Bosco — Landon Fernandez 1.

Interceptions: Don Bosco — McMahon 1, Kaiden Knaack 1. Colo-NESCO — Clatt 1, Lucas Daggett 1.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: What we learned from Colo-NESCO's 63-16 loss to No. 1 Don Bosco