HAYFIELD — A handful of plays came back to haunt the Hayfield football team as it lost its opener to Stewartville 20-0 in Hayfield Friday.

The Tigers (1-0 overall) took control at the end of the first half when they scored two touch downs in less than a minute to take a 20-0 lead they would not relinquish.

Stewartville quarterback Steve Jezeski hooked up with Isaac Tapp on an eight yard fade pass for a touch down on fourth and three with 2:47 left in the half and on the Vikings’ ensuing possession, Stewartville’s Bryant Maschoff picked off a screen pass and ran it back 25 yards for a score to make it 20-0 Tigers with 2:26 left in the half.

Stewartville scored on it’s opening drive after they converted a fourth and four on a 12-yard run by Jezeski, that set up a 10-yard scoring run by Rodney Smith.

The Tigers had other opportunities but twice the Hayfield defense made stops after Stewartville had possession inside the Hayfield 10-yard line.

“The defense made some big plays early and they didn’t roll over,” said Hayfield head coach Chad Anderson. “They kept fighting and that’s what I’ve asked them to do from day one. I’m proud of them.”

Offensively, the Vikings (0-1 overall) couldn’t find their rhythm. They had just 77 yards of total offense and had five turnovers behind the quarterbacking of Tyler Nelson and freshman Brady Kramer — who were filling in for the injured Evan Bungum.

“I’m pretty confident in the two young guys we have at quarterback. They’re willing but things happened tonight. We turned the ball over multiple times and it killed us,” Anderson said. “It’s the first game, everyone’s going to make mistakes. Brady’s a ninth grader and we threw him to the wolves. They did a good job of defending us properly when you have a young quarterback in a new system. They came after us and they earned the win.”

Hayfield’s best chance to score came in the third quarter when they drove inside the Stewartville 10-yard line for the only time all night. That drive ended with an interception by Stewartville’s Brandon Larson.

STATS

Hayfield rushing: Brady Kramer, 6-for-22; Jake Siemers, 4-for-20; Jarred Ellis, 6-for-4; Kody Kramer, 1-for-1; Broderick Dieckmann, 1-for-0; Tyler Nelson, 4-for-(-3); Adam Kruger, 5-for-(-3)

Hayfield passing: Brady Kramer, 2-for-6, 24, 2 INT; Nelson, 2-for-8, 12, INT

Hayfield receiving: Nelson, 2-for-24; Kody Kramer, 1-for-10; Kruger, 1-for-(-2)

Fumble recoveries: Devin Murphy

Penalties: 4-for-20

Stewartville rushing: Rodney Smith, 14-for-62, TD; Alex Hain, 11-for-48; Steve Jezeski, 8-for-25; Branden Bentley, 1-for-2; Peter Elton, 1-for-2; Richard Skic, 1-for-1; Gabe Langseth, 1-for-(-15)

Stewartville passing: Jezeski, 14-for-24, 183, TD

Stewartville receiving: Bentley, 5-for-86; Jacob Schwalbach, 3-for-61; Isaac Tapp, 3-for-28, TD; Hain, 2-for-8

Sacks: Hain, Alex Svoboda

Interceptions: Svoboda, Brandon Larson, Bryant Maschoff

Fumble recoveries: Hain, Andrew Irlbeck

Penalties: 13-for-105

SCORING SUMMARY

Stewartville 7 13 0 0 — 20

Hayfield 0 0 0 0 — 0

First quarter

(S) 7:14 Rodney Smith 10 run (Hain kick) (6 plays, 69 yards)

Second quarter

(S) 2:47 Isaac Tapp 8 pass from Steve Jezeski (kick failed) (4 plays, 15 yards)

(S) 2:26 Bryant Maschoff 25 interception return (1 play, 25 yards)

Third quarter

No scoring

Fourth quarter

No scoring