WARNER – Class 9A third-rated Warner jumped in front early and then prevailed late for a 28-20 victory over Class B second-rated Faulkton in a Lake Region Conference football battle Friday night.

The Monarchs, the defending 9A state champion, has now won 16 games in a row and 27 of their last 28.

“We have been blessed with some dang good football players,” said Warner coach Derek Hoellein.

The matchup against Faulkton, which Hoellein referred to as “a good old fashion Orient Street Dance,” was the battle everyone expected.

Noah Bakeberg had a pair of first-half touchdown passes, one to Devon Fischbach and another to Payton Volk, to stake the Monarchs to a 14-0 lead.

Faulkton responded with a pair of Tristen Baloun touchdown runs to tie the contest.

The Monarchs jumped back in front in the third quarter on Bakeberg’s third touchdown pass of the game, this time to Jesiah Baum. Baloun, who finished with 112 yards rushing, added his third TD run of the game, but the Trojans missed the PAT to trail by one point. Baum, who rushed for 127 yards, then provided the final blow with 30-yard touchdown run to ice the hard-fought victory.

“Gotta give them credit,” Hoellein said of the Trojans. “That’s a dang good football team, well-coached, physical. That team will make a deep playoff run.”

Hoellein was also pleased with the way his players rose to the challenge.

“I’m proud of our guys,” Hoellein said. “We knew going in what type of game it was going to be, and our guys rose to the occasion.”

Faulkton (2-1) 0 8 6 6 – 20

Warner (3-0) 7 7 7 7 – 28

W – Devon Fischbach 6 pass from Noah Bakeberg (Alec Mikkelsen kick).

W – Payton Volk 60 pass from Bakeberg (Mikkelsen kick).

F – Tristen Baloun 41 run (Drake Mueller pass from Gian DiMaria).

F – Baloun 1 run.

W – Jesiah Baum 23 pass from Bakeberg (Mikkelsen kick).

F – Baloun 5 run.

W – Baum 30 run (Mikkelsen kick).

OFFENSE: Faulkton, rushing (Baloun 14-112, Landon Coyle 20-91), passing (DiMaria 9-17-0 for 144), first downs 15; Warner, rushing (Baum 12-127, Volk 7-28), passing (Bakeberg 5-9 for 101), receiving (Volk 1-60, Baum 2-26), first downs 8.

DEFENSE: Faulkton, team effort; Warner, Preston Cavalier 11 tackles and 2 sacks, Chays Mansfield 10 tackles, Baum 10 tackles, Kaden Sauer 6 tackles and 1 fumble recovery.