RACINE — There won't be another bus trip for the Algoma football team this season.

The Wolves (8-4), who traveled about 900 miles in 12 days for three playoff games, came up short of their ultimate destination, falling 26-21 to Racine Lutheran (9-3) in a WIAA Division 6 quarterfinal matchup at Horlick Field.

"We just came up short tonight," Algoma coach Wade Vandervest said. "But you can't fault their effort because they fought to the very end."

Algoma's Craig Kirchman threw four interceptions and lost a fumble, and the Crusaders took advantage, scoring 20 points off the senior quarterback's miscues.

The costliest mistake came late in the fourth quarter with the Wolves down 20-14 and on the doorstep of taking their first lead.

After converting a fourth-and-2 with a 39-yard run to the 6 by Sid Geldmeyer, the offense sputtered, losing yards on a run and committing a penalty that moved the ball back to the 15.

Facing a third-and-goal, Kirchman rolled to his right and was intercepted by Neko Graf, who returned the ball to the Algoma 26.

Five plays later, Eric Oertel scored his fourth rushing touchdown of the game on a 9-yard scamper, extending the Racine Lutheran lead to 26-14 with 3 minutes, 4 seconds remaining.

Oertel, who was the Midwest Classic-South Conference's player of the year on offense and defense, gained 179 yards on 25 carries.

The Wolves responded by going 54 yards in 46 seconds and pulling within a score with Geldmeyer's third rushing TD of the game. The senior running back totaled 225 yards on 34 carries.

"He became the running back we thought he could be at the beginning of the season," Vandervest said about Geldmeyer, who had 709 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns during the postseason.

Following the quick TD, Kirchman's onside kick attempt was unsuccessful, and the Crusaders ran out the clock after converting on fourth-and-inches with a 1-yard sneak by Graf.

Racine Lutheran didn't turn over the ball, but had 12 penalties to Algoma's three. The Wolves outgained the Crusaders in total yards 351-272.

"We became closer as these bus rides have gone through," Vandervest said about his team, which was making its first trip to the quarterfinals since 2001. "It's one thing to take a little bus ride to Reedsville or Hilbert, but when you have to travel in a bus for two-plus hours, they became a closer unit."

Three of Algoma's four losses this season were to teams that advanced to the state semifinals (Racine Lutheran, Brillion and Kewaunee).