By JIM OTTS

Register Correspondent

LINDSAY — The Windthorst Trojans used a strong running attack to score three unanswered touchdowns and limited the Lindsay Knights to an early field goal Friday for a 20-3 come-from-behind win.

Two turnovers kept the Trojans in check in the first quarter.

A fumble near midfield halted the visitors' first possession and a pass interception at the Windthorst 31 returned to the 20 by Madison Parkhill set up the lone Knight score.

A pair of Ryan Haverkamp runs netted three and quarterback Dax Fleitman, returning to his starting role after an injury had him sidelined a week ago, was sacked on a third and long passing attempt.

Ross Jones sent a 41-yard kick through the uprights with plenty of distance to spare, giving the hosts a 3-0 lead with 4:35 remaining in the first quarter.

Jones sent the ensuing kickoff through the end zone, setting the Trojans in business from their own 20.

Windthorst went on a 10-play, go-ahead drive from there that featured successive 21 and 22-yard option keepers by quarterback Joe Hoegger that moved the Trojans from their own 47 to the Lindsay 15.

Halfback Tyler Berardi scored from the 11 on a run into the middle that he cut to the outside. Raul Andablo added the PAT kick.

The Knights began a promising drive midway through the second quarter that included a 20-yard pinpoint completion, Fleitman to John Block, that got them near midfield.

Another Fleitman for Block attempt was picked off by Windthorst's Hoegger and returned to the Knight 31 and the Trojan's second group of backfield players took over.

Three running plays brought up a fourth-and-5 for the Trojans at the Knight 26 and reserve quarterback Ty Duncan went the distance from there with an option keeper. Andablo's PAT kicking attempt was blocked.

Lindsay again responded with a promising drive and used passes from Fleitman to Jones and Block to reach the Windthorst 25 where a Fleitman scramble picked up seven to the 18.

The drive stalled and Jones came on for a 35-yard field goal attempt, but it pushed just wide to the right.

Lindsay reached the Trojan 43 with its opening drive of the second half, but had to punt.

After the Knights forced a Trojan punt, Fleitman threw a strike to Jones along the left sideline good for 16 yards and followed that by hitting Jones along the opposite sideline for another 32 yards to the Windthorst 33.

A reverse cost them six yards and Fleitman was sacked for another minus-six, then a Fleitman pass intended for Block was intercepted by Chase Schreiber at the Windthorst 26.

Lindsay stopped a fourth-and-two Trojan attempt at their own 39 to begin another long drive nine minutes into the final frame and passes to Jones and to fullback Frankie Cornett moved the Knights ahead to the Windthorst 26.

A holding call thwarted that effort and a fourth-and-15 pass sailed over Jones.

Hoegger ran another option keeper for 20 to help the Trojans reach the Lindsay 31, then the quarterback scored from there with a draw play, putting the game out of reach for the Knights with 3:27 remaining. Andablo added the point after.

“They (Windthorst) have a good team but we did not play very well,” Lindsay coach Cody Bounds said. “Our defense is based on speed but our linebackers over-pursued a lot. All of their big plays game on cutbacks.”

The coach thought his quarterback was "a little rusty" in his return but said his offense did not give Fleitman much help.

“We did not have a running game tonight and a running game would have helped the passing game,” Bounds said. “We are going to get to work and get better.”

Lindsay (1-1 overall) will be back at home Friday against Gainesville State School.