Southern Door’s Lauden Berg (3) advances the ball while being grabbed by the jersey by Oconto’s Joseph Bailey (1) during Friday’s Packerland Conference football game at Southern Door. Photo by Kevin Boneske.

Southern Door’s football team scored first and last, but not the most in Friday’s Homecoming game against Oconto.

The Eagles, who were bitten by the turnover bug with two fumbled punt returns and an interception, lost their Packerland Conference matchup to the Blue Devils, 23-20.

After a scoreless first quarter, Southern Door opened the second 12 minutes with a 14-yard touchdown run by Mason Paye. The lead remained 6-0 after the extra point failed.

The Eagles turned over the ball on a fumbled punt return at their own 15-yard line, then Oconto got on the scoreboard with 7:48 left in the first half on the first of three Finn Brady second-quarter rushing touchdowns. The extra point put the Blue Devils in front, 7-6.

After Oconto intercepted a pass from Southern Door quarterback Talon Mueller and returned it to the Eagles’ 11-yard line, Brady ran to paydirt with 4:55 left in the half.

The Eagles were able to tie the game at 14-14 with 3:33 remaining in the second quarter when Paye rushed into the end zone from 42 yards away and also ran in the two-point conversion.

Brady, who ended up running for 87 yards on 25 carries, scored his final rushing touchdown from 16 yards away with 1:28 before halftime to give the Blue Devils a 20-14 lead.

Southern Door advanced the ball deep into Oconto territory in the final seconds of the second quarter, but penalties and snap miscues kept the Eagles out of the end zone as the half expired.

In contrast to the 34 points the two teams totaled together by halftime, they only had nine points between them in the second half.

Oconto’s only points in the final 24 minutes came on a field goal by Colin Bailey to take a two-score lead.

Southern Door narrowed the deficit to three points on a touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter from Mueller to Lauden Berg, but that’s as close as the Eagles could come before time expired.

Southern Door’s Talon Mueller (2) rolls out to pass while being rushed by Oconto’s Carlos Guerrero (54) during Friday’s game at Southern Door. Photo by Kevin Boneske.

Mueller ended up completing 11 of 18 passes for 178 yards. Berg caught seven of those passes for 138 yards.

The Eagles also ran for 195 yards. Paye rushed 117 yards on 13 carries. Mueller added 78 rushing yards on 17 carries.

On defense, Southern Door was led by Lance Veeser with 14 total tackles.

The Eagles, who dropped to 1-3 in the conference and 2-4 overall, play their next Packerland game Oct. 3 at league leader Kewaunee (4-0, 5-1).

PACKERLAND STANDINGS

Kewaunee 4-0

Bonduel 3-1

Marinette 3-1

Mishicot 2-2

Oconto 2-2

Peshtigo 1-3

Southern Door 1-3

Sturgeon Bay 0-4

Southern Door’s Raymond Paye (18) runs with the football while being pursued by Oconto’s Colin Bailey (79) during Friday’s Packerland Conference game at Southern Door. Photo by Kevin Boneske.