Seven days after Lake Mills football player Tyler Olson shattered a vertebra on the gridiron the Bulldogs returned to the field and delivered a 19-14 upset win over St. Angsar on the Saints home turf.

Lake Mills head coach Bill Byrnes called it the biggest win of his career.

“I have to say it’s the biggest win I’ve ever had,” Byrnes said. “With everything the team has gone through in the last seven days, this team found a way to win. Tyler was a huge part of that and the kids did the rest.”

Emotions ran high for the Bulldogs and the team was able to use that as an advantage during the first half as it grabbed a 13-0 lead at halftime behind the strong running of Jake Brekken.

Brekken scored a touchdown in the second quarter, but had already amassed 120 yards in the first half, on his way to 213 for the night. Brad Midlang scored on a 1-yard keeper in the first quarter to give Lake Mills the initial lead.

St. Ansgar was a district favorite coming into the season with 16 returning starters and a two-time all-state offensive lineman back to boot.

But Friday it was all about the Bulldogs.

“They were ready to go,” Byrnes said. “We were playing on emotion and that emotion carried us.”

Lake Mills forced a fumble in the first quarter as Jharred Millonig was close to scoring from the 1-yard line but Jerod Harmon recovered the football and prevented the Saints from scoring.

St. Ansgar did make an attempt to get back in the game as Millonig scored two touchdowns in the third quarter, but Brekken had scored early in the quarter and the Saints could only close the game to 19-14.

“It was a great effort every thing that we could hope for,” Byrnes said. “It was huge for us, we beat a very quality team.”

Lake Mills 19, St. Ansgar 14

Lake Mills – 7 6 6 0 – 19

St. Ansgar – 0 0 14 0 – 14

First Quarter

LM – Brad Midlang 1 run (Pedro Abreo kick)

Second Quarter

LM – Jake Brekken 1 run (kick blocked)

Third Quarter

LM – Brekken 7 run (run failed)

SA – Jharred Millonig 4 run (kick good)

SA – Millonig 1 run (kick good)