LAKE MILLS &045;&160;Penalties on big plays and an ineffective fourth quarter kept the Lake Mills football team from downing No. 3 Aplington-Parkersburg Friday night, 29-12.

The Bulldogs had a pair of touchdown runs called back because of penalties in the first half taking away valuable points.

Lake Mills would go into halftime down just one at 7-6, but the points lost would haunt them in the second half.

&8221;We felt we played the game the way we wanted to,&8220; said Lake Mills head coach Bill Byrnes.

&8221;Our defensive scheme was outstanding and our offense moved the ball all night long.

To have four penalties all night long and two on touchdown runs is very unfortunate.&8220;

The Falcons would take the lead on an 11-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, but Lake Mills responded with a 15-yard connection from quarterback Tony Norris to Peter Brekken.

Brekken would also score the first touchdown of the second half from 8 yards out to complete an 80-yard drive.

The Bulldog defense would come up with another stop, but Lake Mills was unable to convert a key fourth-and-3 at the Falcon 30 on its next drive giving the A-P the boost it needed.

A-P responded by scoring three times in the last quarter-plus of the game to secure the win.

&8221;Not getting that fourth down was huge,&8220; said Byrnes.

&8221;If we convert on that fourth down we are in good shape.

&8221;We played great, great football for three quarters, and we had our chances but needed to finish of drives.&8220;

Lake Mills outgained the Falcons 370 to 295 in the game and had nine more first downs.

Brekken led the offense with 158 yards on 16 carries and added 49 more yards with five receptions in the game.

Justin Kester had 71 yards on 22 carries and Norris finished 12 of 27 passing for 124 yards.

The Bulldogs, with a 5-2 overall mark, host St. Ansgar, Friday.

Aplington-Parkersburg 29, Lake Mills 12

A-P07814 &045; 29

LM0660 &045; 12

Second Quarter

A-P &045; Koennen 11 run (kick good)

LM &045;&160;Peter Brekken 15 pass from Tony Norris (conversion failed)

Third Quarter

LM &045; Brekken 8 run (run failed)

A-P &045;&160;Jesse Nitcher 67 run (conversion good

Fourth Quarter

A-P &045; Nitcher 15 run (kick good)

A-P &045; Prvisner 1 run (kick good)

A-PLM

First downs1019

Rushing yards253246

Passing yards42124

Total yards295370

Penalties84

Turnovers11

Individual Statistics

Rushing &045; Peter Brekken 16-158, Justin Kester 22-71

Passing &045;&160;Tony Norris 12-27 124 yards

Receiving &045;&160;Tyler Tweeten 3-52, Brekken 5-49

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