The Lake Mills football team ended a seven-game losing streak and got some revenge Friday in a 28-20 victory over Garner-Hayfield in Garner.

The Cardinals beat the Bulldogs last season when they scored with 1 minute, 50 seconds left in the game for a 28-21 lead. Lake Mills took the ensuing drive down to the Garner-Hayfield 5-yard line, but the Cardinals got an interception to end the game.

The Bulldogs (1-3, 1-1) were the ones fending off a comeback after they put together a superb first half.

Lake Mills took a 14-0 lead at halftime after Chuck Thorson’s 4-yard touchdown run and Alex Grunhovd’s 24-yard touchdown catch from Royce Byrnes.

Thorson scored again in the third quarter to extend the lead to 21-0, but Garner-Hayfield was beginning to get back in the game.

Josh Thompson got the Cardinals on the board with a 6-yard touchdown reception and Cody Mass broke free for a 33-yard touchdown run to get within one score.

But Lake Mills senior Jake Brekken, who rushed for 88 yards, scored from a yard out to make it a two-score game.

It was a lot of hard-nosed running for the Bulldogs and Brekken who dealt with Garner-Hayfield stacking eight in the box for most of the night.

Garner-Hayfield scored once more but it was inconsequential.

The win came was obviously big for Lake Mills, but head coach Bill Byrnes said it will give his team a chance to feel more relaxed on the field.

“It’s a good deal,” Brynes said of the win. “I think it’s a little bit of pressure off of everyone.”

The Bulldogs face Belmond-Klemme on the road next Friday and host West Hancock next week for homecoming. Brynes sees the stretch as an opportunity to put some wins together.

“We’ve got an opportunity here to win a few football games,” he said.

Lake Mills 28, Garner-Hayfield 20

Lake Mills 7 7 7 7 — 28

Garner-Hayfield 0 0 6 14 — 20

First Quarter

LM—Thorson 4 run (Brekken kick).

Second Quarter

LM—Grunhovd 24 pass from Byrnes (Brekken kick).

Third Quarter

LM—Thorson 2 run (Brekken kick).

GH—Thompson 6 pass from Engstler (kick failed).

Fourth Quarter

GH—Mass 33 run (Engstler run).

LM—Brekken 1 run (Brekken kick).

GH—Risius 11 pass from Engstler (kick failed).

LM GH

First downs 12 12

Total net yards 283 313

Rushes-yards NA-165 NA-93

Passing 118 220 Punt Returns NA NA

Kickoff Returns NA NA

Interception Ret. 1-NA 1-NA

Comp-Att-Int 6-9-1 16-31-1

Sacked-Yards Lost NA NA

Punts 4 5

Fumbles-Lost 0-0 0-0

Penalties-Yards 8-NA 9-NA

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Lake Mills, Brekken 22-88, Byrnes 10-53, Thorson 8-18.

PASSING—Lake Mills, Byrnes 6-9-1-118