The Lake Mills football team suffered a 48-18 loss to St. Edmond Friday night in Fort Dodge.

Fort Dodge, St. Edmond used a strong rushing attack against the Bulldogs for the big victory. Bryan Sandvig rushed three touchdowns, each from 20 yards or more as the team had 361 yards on the ground.

Fort Dodge, St. Edmonds, rated No. 7 in Iowa, scored on each of its possessions in the first half and led 35-12 at halftime.

“It’s been tough,” Lake Mills head coach Bill Byrnes said. “We’re not the team we were three weeks ago. We’re a tired team.”

The had plenty to battle. Two weeks into the season Tyler Olson broke his neck against Forest City. Then two weeks ago the Bulldogs lost leading rusher Jake Brekken for the season and starting quarterback Brad Midlang in the same game.

The injuries couldn’t have come at a worse time for Lake Mills as the team was starting to become a contender for a playoff spot, but those injuries quickly ended any playoff hopes.

Those losses have added up and Lake Mills is starting sophomore Royce Byrnes at quarterback and sophomore Alex Grunhovd at running back. Grunhovd and Chuck Thorson each had 44 yards rushing and Byrnes finished 7-for-19 for 73 yards in the air. Thorson scored two touchdowns in the game.

The Bulldogs had 201 yards of offense, but the struggle was on defense as the team had difficult stopping Sandvig. Both Brekken and Midlang were starting linebackers for Lake Mills and their absence has been felt the most on defense.

The opponents don’t get any easier as Lake Mills faces Emmetsburg Friday in the last regular season game.

St. Ed 48, Lake Mills 18

Lake Mills – 6 6 0 6 – 18

St. Ed – 21 14 7 6 – 48

First Quarter

St. Ed – Bryan Sandvig 28 run (kick good)

LM – Chuck Thorson 3 run (kick blocked)

St. Ed – Sandvig 25 run (kick good)

St. Ed – Flattery 48 pass from John Engler (kick good)

Second Quarter

St. Ed – Steinkamp 3 run (kick good)

St. Ed – Sandvig 30 run (kick good)

LM – Alex Grunhovd 1 run (pass failed)

Third Quarter

St. Ed – Baldwin 16 pass from Engler (kick good)

Fourth Quarter

St. Ed – Steinkamp 2 run (kick failed)

LM – Thorson 6 run (pass failed)

Total offense

LM – 201

St. Ed – 499

Total passing

LM – 73

St. Ed – 138

Total rushing

LM – 128

St. Ed – 361