Lake Mills was dealt a big blow Friday night against West Hancock when starting running back Jake Brekken did not return for the second half in a 27-12 loss Friday night in Britt, Iowa.

The Bulldogs could have used him because the team only had 87 yards rushing in the game and Brekken had 43 yards at halftime.

Lake Mills trailed 6-0 at halftime and tied the game in the third quarter when Jerod Harmon hauled in an 11-yard touchdown reception. But that’s as close as it would get as West Hancock scored twice more in the game.

The Bulldogs suffered another set back as starting quarterback Brad Midlang left the game in the fourth quarter. Midlang went 14-for-23 passing with 134 yards and a touchdown before leaving the game.

That left Lake Mills without two of its starting linebackers and the Eagles took advantage. West Hancock rushed the ball for 292 yards in the game.

“Physically they took it to us,” Bulldogs head coach Bill Byrnes said. “We hadn’t been outhit like that.”

The loss put a halt to any kind of momentum Lake Mills was building after a big win over Belmond-Klemme last Friday and knocked the team into a four-way tie for third place in the district. The substate picture looks pretty murky with four teams still fighting for two spots and without Brekken, Byrnes knows the challenge his team faces.

“This was a big game for us and them,” he said. “Our district is tough to figure out. We still have an opportunity, we just have to see where our health is.”

West Hancock 27, Lake Mills 12

Lake Mills – 0 0 6 6 – 12

West Hancock – 0 6 14 7 – 27

First Quarter

WH – Zac Schleuger 1 run (conversion failed)

Second Quarter

LM – Jerod Harmon 11 pass from Brad Midlang (kick failed)

Third Quarter

WH – Bret Swanson 57 run (Swanson kick)

WH – Jeremy Dodge 41 run (Swanson kick)

Fourth Quarter

LM – Chuck Thorson 1 run (pass failed)

WH – Zac Schleuger 7 run (Swanson kick)

Total offense

LM – 232

WH – 302

Total rushing

LM – 87

WH – 292

Total passing

LM – 145

WH – 10