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Monday, August 3, 2009
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'Jacks overcame obstacles, skeptics SEMI-PRO FOOTBALL By Nathan Brown Sports Writer Following the Brainerd Lumberjacks tryouts March 28, head coach J.J. Kern believed his team could win the Semi-Pro Football League Championship.
Many didn't see things the way that Kern did.
Kern and the Lumberjacks were written off as a viable contender by opposing teams because it was their first year. Some community members didn't buy into the idea of semi-pro football in Brainerd, and ultimately wrote the league off all together, believing it would never catch on.
But Kern and the Lumberjacks knew they had something special.
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Brainerd Lumberjacks Mitch Feierabend (99), Mike Munsterteiger (67), Beau Oium (77) and Mike Foy (55) stopped a Metro Phoenix running back in the title game July 25.
Brainerd Dispatch/ Steve Kohls
» Purchase reprints of this photo.
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"We all had faith at the beginning of the year," defensive back Caleb Forstrom said. "We had a lot of athletes on our team. Everyone may not be young, but everyone had heart on this team. Whenever we were down nobody ever quit, everyone just put their feet back in the dirt and kept playing, hurt or not."
As with all first-year teams, the Lumberjacks had to overcome numerous obstacles. Their first obstacle came when their game-ending drive fell short during their opening 28-23 loss to the Detroit Lakes Screaming Eagles. Running back Shaun Peoples referred to the loss as a defining moment for the Lumberjacks.
"That put everybody in a different mindset," he said, "because we came in thinking that we couldn't be beat. After that loss we just kept working harder and harder."
The hard work paid off as the Lumberjacks reeled off four straight wins, including a 38-29 win over the Rochester Giants, one of the state's premier semi-pro teams.
"We came and played a perfect football game and we beat them," wide receiver Brad Simpson said. "I feel that game we meshed and it has been a great season."
Once the Lumberjacks seemed to get on a roll they faced another, more serious hurdle - injuries. As a team, they suffered torn hamstrings, two broken feet, and a torn MCL. The most significant injury was when leading rusher, Shawn "Crazy Legs" Nelson, suffered a season-ending broken foot in week six in a 21-19 loss to the Duluth-Superior Shoremen.
Although the loss of Nelson was significant, Shaun Peoples and Tony Martin stepped up and contributed where Nelson left off.
"We brought in some guys that really stepped up and played well for us and filled those roles," linebacker Mitch Feierabend said.
As they overcame tough losses to Duluth, injuries, and the typical growing pains of first-year teams, the Lumberjacks did something special. They finished 7-3 and substantiated Kern's belief in them by claiming the SPFL championship trophy.
"No team is going to come up (to Brainerd) and underestimate us like they used to," Simpson said. "The first three teams that came up thought they were going to come up and just beat us because we were a first-year team. That's not the case. We have a solid football team and we have what it takes to win."
After setting a benchmark this year, the Lumberjacks look to improve upon their banner first season.
"We need to keep getting better and better every year, from the fans in the stands, to the entertainment on the field, the plays we run and how we perform," Kern said.
Offensively, the Lumberjacks were led by quarterback Karson Pike, who completed 74 of 157 passes for 1,133 yards and 16 touchdowns in home games alone. The Lumberjacks had four players rush for more than 200 yards, while Brad Simpson and Trevor Gross led the receiving corps, combining for 29 catches, 433 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Mitch Feierabend led the defense with 24.5 tackles, followed by Forstrom with 14.5 and three interceptions. Adrian "Ace" Collie finished with 12.5 tackles and two picks.
Kern thanked sponsors and volunteers for their support.
The Lumberjacks have scheduled a co-ed volleyball tournament and awards banquet beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Fans can meet the Lumberjacks at Play and Trade in Baxter from 6 p.m. to midnight Aug. 13. Madden 2010 is scheduled to be released that night.
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