By Terk Lazenga | Longtime reader, first-time writer

Thanks to a spectacular fourth-quarter rally, Bass Lake Canoes nearly won Friday vs. Prairie Depths Housecats, before succumbing, 26-20.

Entering the fourth quarter, Bass Lake trailed 26-0. Then the onslaught began, initiated by Canoes QB Turfy Brown, who connected with Marsh Bueller for a 67-yard touchdown. On the ensuing kickoff, Prairie Depths fumbled on the 20-yard line, and Bass Lake was back in contention (potentially). Five plays, two timeouts and several penalties later, Brown scrambled into the end zone to cut the deficit to 26-14.

With a smidgeon under two minutes left, the Canoes scored again when Mikey Zurlmaglio scooped up a fumble and rambled 37 yards to paydirt, making it 26-20.

The extra point kick was unsuccessful — in fact, it wasn’t even close. It was a harbinger of things to come.

Bass Lake followed with an onside kick attempt, which was botched. Prairie Depths achieved possession and proceeded to run out the clock effectively.

The loss drops Bass Lake to 0-2 in the Moonshine Conference and marks another step back after the Canoes won their first two games over River-Road Junction Homeschool Academy Church (30-6) and Pegasus Valley (21-16).

Last week, the Canoes lost a squeaker to Hogback Lake in the league opener, 29-6.

Head coach Zeb Dreppelin remained upbeat following the latest defeat.

“I feel defeated,” Dreppelin said, with a slight grimace. “But we have to move forward, not look back and do the other things. If our team is on the same page, we’ll open a new chapter. Something like that.”

Next on the schedule: Countryfarm.