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Saturday, September 12, 2009
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Loss to Bemidji stuns Warriors HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL Sports Editor BEMIDJI - Bemidji Lumberjacks football fans haven't had much to cheer about since 1990.
In that span Bemidji has had three winning seasons. Probably its biggest moment in that period was a 27-25 win over the Brainerd Warriors for the 2000 Section 8-5A championship at the Fargodome.
Lumberjacks fans had plenty to cheer about Friday night after their rebuilding program took a monumental step forward with a 15-13 victory over the Warriors at Chet Anderson Stadium.
"The town should be excited," Bemidji coach Troy Hendricks said. "I'm happy for the kids and the community, to be able to celebrate, to go to a dance and have won a game."
Bemidji won with a ball-control offense that ruled the line of scrimmage, running 67 plays to the Warriors' 47. In the first half Brainerd gained 20 yards on 12 plays. The Warriors finished with 219 total yards but 150 were gained in the final quarter.
Bemidji 15, Warriors 13
The key: The Lumberjacks had 20 more offensive plays than Brainerd.
Overall: Brd 1-1, Bem 1-1
Next: Brainerd at Willmar 7 p.m. Friday.
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"We didn't play enough offense," Warriors coach Ron Stolski said. "You can't leave your defense on the field all night. Bemidji played inspired."
Brainerd wasn't inspired until the fourth quarter. Trailing 15-7 the Warriors put together an 80-yard scoring drive. It culminated with a 57-yard pass from quarterback Reid Mimmack to wide receiver Kyle Crocker, who was interfered with but made the catch and cut in and to the sideline to score.
Trailing by two with 2:01 remaining Brainerd had to go for a 2-point conversion. Mimmack rolled out on the conversion but was tackled short of the end zone.
"That's the way it goes, that's football," Stolski said. "We're disappointed but not discouraged. It's a long season."
Bemidji then had to punt after going three and out and the Warriors took over with 45 seconds left but no timeouts.
Brainerd made four first downs and moved to the Bemidji 30 where, with one second left, Mimmack spiked the ball into the turf in an attempt to stop the clock and set up an approximate 47-yard field goal attempt.
"We were running out there with our field goal team, but I thought there were a couple more seconds on the clock," Stolski said. "Anyway, we didn't get it done.
"We battled back and gave ourselves a chance. That's all you really can ask for is a chance, and we got there."
The Warriors had a chance to blow out Bemidji early. An untouched Crocker returned a punt 35 yards for a score following the game's first possession. But Brainerd rarely got the ball back.
"I've seen it for X number of years," Stolski said. "I never like to score that fast in a game, and I can chronicle so many games when you score that fast right away."
Brainerd lineman Aaron Pavek ended the next Lumberjacks possession when he recovered a fumble at the Bemidji 22. But Mimmack was sacked on fourth down, ending the threat.
The Lumberjacks got on the board with 10:11 left in the second when soccer player Mike Rees kicked a 32-yard field goal.
Bemidji seized a 9-7 halftime edge when a 21-play, 94-yard march was capped by Mitchell Hendricks' 1-yard plunge.
The Lumberjacks expanded their lead to 15-7 in the third quarter when Ryan Rude caught a 24-yard touchdown pass from Mitchell Hendricks.
Brainerd 7 0 0 6 - 13
Bemidji 0 9 6 0 - 15
First quarter
Brd-Kyle Crocker 35 punt return (Zach Cadwell kick) 10:15
Second quarter
Bem-Mike Rees 32 FG, 10:11
Bem-Mitchell Hendricks 1 run (pass fails) :09
Third quarter
Bem-Ryan Rude 24 pass from Hendricks (pass fails) 1:21
Fourth quarter
Brd-Crocker 57 pass from Reid Mimmack (run fails) 2:01
Team statistics
First downs: Brd 13, Bem 20
Rushes-yards: Brd 21-65, Bem 49-177
Pass comp-att-int-yds: Brd 12-26-0-154, Bem 11-18-0-142
Total offense: Brd 219, Bem 319
Punts-avg: Brd 2-36.0, Bem 3-29.7
Return yards: Brd 87, Bem 12
Fumbles-lost: Brd 0-0, Bem 1-1
Penalties-yds lost: Brd 5-30, Bem 5-40
Individual leaders
Rushing: Brd, Carsten Nelson 5-19, Jaron Hanson 1-3, Jordan Hayes 2-2, Mimmack 4-16, Taylor Main 7-30, Crocker 2-(-5); Bem, Evan Olson 20-68, Czar Woods 15-59, Kevin Nelson 9-46
Passing: Brd, Mimmack 12-25-154, Main 0-1-0; Bem, Hendricks 11-18-142
Receiving: Brd, Crocker 5-118, Kevin Peterson 1-11, Mitch Bzdok 1-6, Jordan Hayes 3-6, Cole Stegora 2-13; Bem, Carey Woods 1-35, Rude 6-64
MIKE BIALKA may be reached at mike.bialka@brainerddispatch.com or at 855-5861.
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