The Atlantic Trojans came out on the short end of a nail-biter on Friday night at Denison-Schleswig 31-28. The game was a methodical back and forth battle for about two and a half quarters before big plays took over down the stretch.

After a 14-all halftime score the Monarchs would score on their first possession of the second half to grab a 20-14 after a botched extra point attempt. The Trojans took a while to get the offense going in the second half but took a 1 point lead on a Chase Mullenix touchdown grab from Jaxson Eden with 11;53 left in the game. Trey Cappel’s extra point put Atlantic up 21-20.  Erik Jaime popped in a 22-yard field goal to give Denison the lead back 23-21 on the next possession. The teams would then trade three straight interceptions before a Denison punt gave the ball back to Atlantic with 3:02 to go on their own 7-yard line.

The Trojans mounted an improbable six play drive that traveled 93 yards and scored with 1:47 left in the game to lead 28-23. The drive was capped off by a 52-yard hook up between Jaxson Eden and Tyler Moen as he broke a tackle down the home sideline and scampered to paydirt.

But the Monarchs would answer right back.  Jaden Langenfeld had a terrific kick return that came out to midfield and set Denison up for the would be winning drive. Monarch quarterback Drew Polzin would hit Evan Wiebers for a 36-yard pick up on the first play of the drive. Three plays later the Monarchs scored on a Polzin lob to Cesar Rodriguez in the corner of the end zone. Rodriguez was right along the sideline but managed to make the catch on a jump and get his feet down in-bounds before falling over outside the boundary. Denison then lead 31-28. On Atlantic’s ensuing drive Rodriguez got his third interception of the quarter to seal the win.

Drew Polzin finished 11-16 for 182 yards and 2 touchdowns. Luke Staley led the ground game for the Monarchs with 81 yards on 17 carries and two scores.  Evan Wiebers led the Monarchs with 129 yards receiving and 1 TD.  Denison-Schleswig improves to 2-1 on the season and 1-0 in the district.

In the loss Atlantic’s Jaxson Eden threw for 203 yards and 2 touchdowns. Chase Mullenix caught 5 balls for 104 yards and one score.  Atlantic falls to 2-1 on the season and 0-1 in Class 3A District 7 play.

The Trojans return home to the Trojan Bowl next week to face Winterset.

CLASS 4A:

District 3

Council Bluffs, Thomas Jefferson 33, Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln 8 (ND)
Lewis Central 35, Sioux City, North 0 (ND)

CLASS 3A:

District 7

Denison-Schleswig 31, Atlantic 28
Glenwood 13, Carroll 12
Harlan 42, Creston/O-M 7
Winterset 34, ADM, Adel 13

CLASS 2A:

District 7

Clarinda 27, Underwood 14
East Sac County 46, Red Oak 7
Kuemper Catholic, Carroll 51, Shenandoah 21
South Central Calhoun 28, Southeast Valley 0

CLASS 1A:

District 6

Eagle Grove 41, West Central Valley, Stuart 20
Madrid 21, Panorama, Panora 7
South Hamilton, Jewell 46, Manson Northwest Webster 24
Van Meter 56, Ogden 6

District 7

AHSTW 43, Tri-Center, Neola 0
IKM-Manning 21, OA-BCIG 13
Logan-Magnolia 44, Treynor 10
Missouri Valley 42, ACGC 6

CLASS A:

District 7

Southeast Warren, Liberty Center 7, Martensdale-St. Marys 0
Southwest Valley 38, Earlham 15
St. Albert, Council Bluffs 59, Nodaway Valley 0
Griswold 74, Riverside 14

CLASS 8:

District 6

Murray 60, East Union, Afton 0
Stanton 60, Lamoni 12
Wayne, Corydon 26, Lenox 16

District 7

CAM, Anita 62, Woodbine 28
Clarinda Academy 52, Essex 22
Fremont-Mills, Tabor 46, East Mills 6
Sidney 61, Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton 25

District 8

Ar-We-Va, Westside 73, Collins-Maxwell 0 (ND)
Audubon 76, Coon Rapids-Bayard 14
Boyer Valley, Dunlap 60, River Valley, Correctionville 22
Glidden-Ralston 56, West Harrison, Mondamin 26

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Chiefs safety Eric Berry ruptured his left Achilles tendon in the fourth quarter of Thursday night’s victory in New England and the three-time All-Pro will miss the remainder of the season. Berry was hurt while covering Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski on a passing route. He hobbled at the end of the play and sat on the turf, and it took a cart to remove him from the field.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid suspected after the game that it was an Achilles injury, and he said Friday that an MRI exam confirmed the diagnosis. Berry has overcome plenty of hurdles in his career. He missed most of the 2011 season after tearing the ACL in his left knee, then missed much of the 2014 season after he was diagnosed with lymphoma.

He signed a $78 million, six-year contract this past offseason.