The MACA football team found themselves on either side of the win-loss record through the first two weeks of the 2026 season. The team opened up at home on a busy night of MACA activities Sept. 3 hosting the Minnewaska Lakers and fell to their rival 24-15. Just over a week later, MACA traveled to Montevideo Sept. 11 and took out their frustrations on the Thunderhawks, blowing out Montevideo 49-6 to start the season 1-1.
Minnewaska 24
MACA 15
The Tigers opened the season on their home field against their rival, the Minnewaska Lakers. Despite two safeties from MACA, the Tigers fell in the opener 24-15 against the Lakers.
MACA broke open the scoring in the first quarter when Riley Saito booted a 37-yard field goal through the uprights to make it 3-0.
Minnewaska scored two unanswered touchdowns in the second quarter to take a 14-3 advantage. The Tigers got back on the board when they blocked a punt through the endzone for a safety to make it 14-5. Minnewaska scored one more touchdown before the end of the half to make it 21-5 at the break.
The Tigers were able to climb closer with their second safety of the game at the end of the third quarter to make it 21-7 heading into the fourth quarter.
Minnewaska scored their final points of the game off a 39-yard field goal with under four minutes left to push their lead to 17 points. MACA did score just 16 seconds later with a 78-yard pass from Ben Hallman to Riley Saito. After a successful two-point conversion, the final score of the game was 24-15.
MACA finished the game with 204 total yards and 195 of it was through the air. Ben Hallman was the starting quarterback and finished 9 for 22 for 171 yards and a touchdown. Alex Asmus also threw one pass for 24 yards.
Riley Saito caught two passes for 94 yards and a touchdown. Drake Asmus caught three passes for 47 yards and Alex Asmus pulled in three balls for 31 yards.
On the ground, Benton Schaefer led the team with 22 yards off nine carries.
On the defensive side of the ball, MACA only allowed 19 yards passing, but the Lakers did have 217 yards on the ground. Schaefer led the team on defense with four tackles, a sack and three tackles for loss.
Waska 0 21 0 3 – 24
MACA 3 2 2 8 – 15
Scoring Plays
1st Quarter
MACA – 37-yard field goal by Riley Saito (3:42)
2nd Quarter
Waska – 5-yard TD run (11:56)
Waska – 11-yard TD run (8:40)
MACA – Blocked punt safety (3:10)
Waska – 6-yard TD pass (1:11)
3rd Quarter
MACA – Safety (1:24)
4th Quarter
Waska – 39-yard field goal (3:53)
MACA – Ben Hallman 10-yard pass to Riley Saito (3:37)
Passing – Ben Hallman 9-24, 171 yards, TD; Alex Asmus 1-1, 24 yards
Rushing – Benton Schaefer 9-22; Riley Saito 5-12; Ben Hallman 6-(-25)
Receiving – Riley Saito 2-94, TD; Drake Asmus 3-47; Alex Asmus 3-31; Parker Nohl 1-15; Benton Schaefer 1-8
Defense – Benton Schaefer 4 solos, 5 assist, TFL-3, Sack; Brecken Schmidgall 2 solos, 3 assist; Riley Saito 3 solos, 1 assist; Brady Mahoney 3 solos, 1 assist, TFL-2; Hunter Westerman 3 solos, 1 assist, TFL; Davis Mundal 3 assist, TFL-0.5; Billy Young 1 solo, 2 assists; TFL-1.5; Drake Asmus 3 solos; Jack LeTendre 1 solo, 2 assists, TFL; Parker Nohl 2 assists; Isaac Persing 2 assists, TFL-0.5; Alex Asmus 1 solo, TFL; Eathan Nunez 1 solo; Dane Dybdahl 1 solo; Raul Velez 1 assist, TFL-0.5; Aidan Hermann 1 assist
MACA 49
Montevideo 6
After a loss in their season opener, the MACA Tigers got in the win column in a big way, blowing out the Montevideo Thunderhawks on the road 49-6 behind a 200-yard rushing performance from Schaefer.
The Tigers started quickly in the first quarter with a one-yard touchdown run from Saito, a 55-yard rushing touchdown from Schaefer and a 28-yard scoop and score to give MACA a 21-0 advantage at the end of the first quarter. MACA added one more score in the second quarter on a 25-yard pass from Hallman to Alex Asmus to make the halftime score 28-0.
The Tigers continued to pour it on in the second half, adding a seven-yard rushing touchdown and a 76-yard explosion from Schaefer to make it 42-0. Montevideo did get on the board with a touchdown in the fourth quarter, but the Tigers matched it with a 59-yard run from Brecken Schmidgall to make the final score 49-6.
Schaefer was the main weapon on offense for the Tigers, finishing the game with 213 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just 11 carries. Schmidgall carried the ball three times for 59 yards and a score and Saito had eight carries for 53 yards and a touchdown.
Starting quarterback Hallman finished the game 4 for 9 for 62 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Alex Asmus caught three of those passes for 65 yards and a touchdown.
On the defensive side, Schaefer led the team with two solo tackles, four assists, a sack and two tackles for loss. Velez had one solo, one assist, a fumble recovery and the first defensive touchdown for the Tigers this season.
The Tigers will stay on the road this week and travel to Sauk Centre to take on the Mainstreeters Friday, Sept. 18.
MACA 21 7 14 7 – 49
Monte 0 0 0 6 – 6
Scoring Plays
1st Quarter
MACA – Riley Saito 1-yard rushing TD – 7-0
MACA – Benton Schaefer 55-yard rushing TD – 14-0
MACA – Raul Velez 28-yard fumble return TD – 21-0
2nd Quarter
MACA – Ben Hallman 25-yard TD pass to Alex Asmus – 28-0
3rd Quarter
MACA – Ben Hallman 7-yard rushing TD – 35-0
MACA – Benton Schaefer 76-yard rushing touchdown – 42-0
4th Quarter
MONTE – 46-yard passing TD – 42-6
MACA – Brecken Schmidgall 59-yard rushing TD – 49-6
MACA Individual Stats
Passing – Ben Hallman 4-9, 62 yards, TD, INT; Landon Cihak 1-1, 15 yards; Alex Asmus 0-1
Rushing – Benton Schaefer 11-213, TD-2; Brecken Schmidgall 3-59, TD; Riley Saito 8-53, TD; Hallman 5-13, TD; Alex Asmus 1-3, Hunter Westerman 3-3
Receiving – Alex Asmus 3-65, TD; Feuchtenberger 1-15; Schaefer 1-(-3)
Defense – Schaefer 2 solos, 4 assists, sack, TFL-2; Davis Mundal 1 solo, 7 assists, INT; Raul Velez 1 solo, 1 assist, FR, TD; Alex Asmus 2 solos, 3 assists, FF; Jack Letendre 6 assists, TFL; Drake Asmus 2 assists, FF, PBU; Aidan Herrmann 2 assists, sack-2; Dane Dybdahl 1 solo, 4 assists; Brady Mahoney 1 solo, 1 assist, TFL; Hunter Westerman 2 assists, PBU; Saito 2 solos; Brecken Schmidgall 1 solo, TFL; Isaac Persing 1 assist, sack-1; Parker Nohl 1 solo, 1 assist; Hallman PBU; Billy Young 2 assists; Blair Feuchtenberger 2 assists; David Diaz 1 solo; Kruz Running Hawk 1 solo; Andrew Adamietz FR; Jaxon Seggerman 1 assist; Gus Lietz 1 assist.
