NORTHWOOD — Janesville’s Hunter Meyer kicked a 45-yard field goal with less than a second on the clock to defeat Northwood-Kensett Friday.

The Vikings were celebrating Homecoming Week, but lost the game 23-20, after being ahead 8-7 at the half.

The first score came with 1:16 left in the first quarter, with Northwood-Kensett’s Logan Butler reaching the end zone on a seven-yard run, with Cameron Batton getting the 2-point conversion.

On a three-yard run Meyer scored a touchdown with 2:12 left in the half and kicked the extra point.

The third quarter started slow and finished hot. With 3:18 left, Northwood-Kensett’s Brandon Brockman scored a touchdown on a four-yard run, but the Vikings failed on a conversion attempt. That made the score 14-7.

The Wildcats came right back, with Meyer throwing a 52-yard pass to Chris Bright for a touchdown with 3:03 left in the third, but he missed the kick afterward. The Vikes still led 14-13.

Janesville’s Caleb Rieken gave his team the lead with a one-yard run with 10:13 left in the game. Meyer made the kick this time.

At the 5:33 mark, Vikings quarterback Cameron Batton tossed a 16-yard pass to Alex Ritzert to tie the game. A failed conversion threatened to send the game into overtime.

However, the Wildcats had what few teams in eight-man football have: a kicker. Meyer split the uprights with 0.8 left on the clock, spoiling the Homecoming game for the Northwood-Kensett student body.

The Vikings drop to 3-2 for the season. They travel to Riceville next week.

 

Individual statistics

RUSHING — Janesville, Hunter Meyer 13-31, Caleb Reeves 3-18, Chris Grimelli 18-84, Rieken 1-1; Northwood-Kensett, Cameron Batton 20-36, Logan Butler 8-40, Brandon Brockman 18-72, Mitchell Athey 10-70

PASSING — Janesville, Meyer, 6-10-2-111, Batton, 5-9-1-55

RECEIVING — Janesville, Chris Bright 4-90, Grimelli 1-8, Montana Meyer 1-13; Northwood-Kensett, Butler 1-11, Brockman 2-23, Alexander Ritzert 1-16, Brady Cotter 1-5.

 

Team statistics

Janesville: 12 first downs, 5 penalties for 31 yards, 2 fumbles with both lost, 37 rushing attempts for 118 yards and 2 touchdowns, 10 passing attempts with 6 completions for 111 yards, 1 interception and 1 touchdown

Northwood-Kensett: 16 first downs, 6 penalties for 47 yards, 3 fumbles with 2 lost, 56 rushing attempts for 218 yards and 2 touchdowns, 9 passing attempts with 5 completions for 55 yards, 2 interceptions and 1 touchdown.