The Goessel football team may want to forget the first three quarters of Friday’s game and savor the fourth.

The Bluebirds scored three touchdowns in the final period, but converted only one 2-point conversion, losing to the Ellinwood Eagles 20-22.

In spite of several touchdown-saving tackles by the Bluebirds, Eagles runners slipped away twice in the first period to take a 14-0 lead. A Goessel fumble killed a Bluebirds drive in the first quarter.

In the second period, Ellinwood began a drive from its own 19-yard line. In spite of Bluebirds getting into the Eagles backfield, Ellinwood put together enough first downs to keep its drive alive. The Eagles scored on a 16-yard pass with 26 seconds remaining in the half. Goessel trailed 22-0.

Neither team scored in the third period. Kenneth Hammond and Connor Davis made several tackles for losses. As the third period ended, the Bluebirds were marching out of their own end of the field.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Chase Flaming hit Trevor Beisel on a 42-yard pass for the Bluebirds’ first score. Miguel Guerrero ran in the extra points and the Bluebirds trailed 8-22. After the kickoff, an errant Ellinwood pass was intercepted by Guerrero, and within 14 seconds the Bluebirds cut the Eagles lead to 14-22 .

Matt Regier stopped an Eagles drive with a sack and the Bluebirds mounted a drive of their own. With 4:40 left in the game, Guerrero ran around the left side and went 15 yards for the third Bluebird score in the quarter. The Eagles prevented the extra points.

Ellinwood ran the clock down to one minute before punting, and Goessel was unable to score again, losing 20-22.

Josh Schmidt, Kellen Froese, Guerrero, and Flaming combined for 111 yards rushing. Lucas Hiebert caught 6 passes and Beisel pulled in 5 with one going for a touchdown.

Kenneth Hammond was credited with 10 tackles, followed by Matt Regier with 7 and Froese with 6.

Goessel is now 1-4 for the season and 0-2 in district play. Goessel will travel to Solomon on Friday for another district game.