Offense sells tickets but defense wins games. That old motto rang true for the Lindbergh Flyers, as Nathan Norman’s squad got past a tough Ritenour Huskies squad, 28-21 during LHS’s homecoming game on Sept. 29. The win improved Lindbergh’s record to 3-3 on the season; the team is now 5-3 following wins against Kirkwood on Oct. 6 and Mehlville Oct. 13.

“We felt like that we were going to have to win all three phases of the game to have a chance,” Lindbergh Head Coach Nathan Norman said. “We played complimentary football on offense. We put together long drives and played keep away. That was one of our goals.”

Ritenour struck first, early in the second quarter, as Jayden Barnett connected with Percy Childs on a 43-yard touchdown pass to take an early 7-0 lead.

Lindbergh answered back on its next possession, as running back Victor Wheaton ran for a 14-yard touchdown. Zach Earley’s extra-point made it 7-7 with 7:38 to go in the first half. The score would remain tied at halftime.

In the third quarter, Owen Norman gave the Flyers a 14-7 lead on a 29-yard touchdown run. The score capped a 75-yard drive for Lindbergh.

Following a Ritenour punt, Earley put Lindbergh up 21-7 with a 63-yard touchdown run.

The Huskies refused to go away, as Ritenour was able to tie the game at 21-21 despite Lindbergh leading 21-7 at the end of the third quarter.

Barnett added an 8-yard rushing touchdown for Ritenour to pull them within a touchdown at the 10:32 mark of the fourth.

Ritenour tied the game at the 9:58 mark on a 20-yard sweep by Derrick Smith Jr.

With 2:59 remaining in the game, Lindbergh took a gamble on a 4th and 2 play from the 2-yard line. The gamble paid off as Connor Lanham hit paydirt, giving Lindberg a 28-21 lead.

Ritenour made things interesting on the next drive, as the Huskies moved the ball deep into Lindbergh territory.  With a fresh set of downs on the Lindbergh 19-yard line, the Huskies were held out of the end zone by Lindbergh. The Huskies had one last shot on fourth down with two seconds left, but Lindbergh knocked down the pass into the endzone as time expired, securing the win, 28-21.

Norman said he was concerned with the athletes that Ritenour had, but the game plan the team had worked well and got the Flyers the win.

“You look at the game as a whole, we were obviously concerned with Ritenour’s athleticism,” Norman said. “We didn’t give up the big play and made them go the distance. Our kids did a nice job.”