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Thursday, October 15, 2009

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Warriors bounce back, trap Otters

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

By MIKE BIALKA

Sports Editor

The winless Fergus Falls Otters gave the Brainerd Warriors a game.

For a half.

After the feisty Otters blocked a punt on the game's first possession, and scored, Brainerd rattled off 28 straight points on its way to a 41-21 Central Lakes Conference victory Wednesday night at Adamson Field.

"It was the Fergus Falls team we thought we would see," Warriors coach Ron Stolski said. "They're pretty good offensively, they just kind of ran out of some players. I thought our quarterback, offensive line and receivers had another nice night."

Brainerd's Cole Stegora (left) caught the ball for a touchdown in the first quarter Wednesday night against Fergus Falls. The Warriors defeated the Otters 41-21. For more photos of the game go to Spotted@brainerddispatch.com. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
» Purchase reprints of this photo.

Brainerd quarterback Reid Mimmack passed for 138 yards and three touchdowns and ran one yard for a score. He is 100 yards shy of 1,000 passing.

Wide receiver Dylan Wheeler had a substantial night, grabbing four passes for 77 yards, including a 24-yard scoring pass.

Brainerd's defense limited the Otters to 117 first-half yards and forced two turnovers. Defensive back Tate Rusk recovered a fumble and linebacker Tyler Kohlmeier had an interception and the Warriors had four tackles for loss.

"I was pleased with our second-half defensive effort," Stolski said. "That helped a lot. It gave us a chance to control the game."

Brainerd erased the memory of a disappointing 38-35 loss at Alexandria last weekend.

"We needed this," Rusk said. "It's a big win. We came out a little slow, then realized we've got to pick it up, so we picked it up in the second half."

Fergus Falls didn't play like a winless team. On the game's first possession the Otters' Jesse Laugen blocked Taylor Main's punt. Eight plays later Will Rader caught a 7-yard TD pass from Zach Rengel.

The Warriors scored on their next four possessions.

They tied it 7-7 on a 19-yard pass from Mimmack to tight end Cole Stegora.

Mimmack capped the next drive with a 1-yard plunge for a 7-point lead.

On the ensuing kickoff the boot off the foot of Brainerd kicker Matt Pohlkamp shot high in the air, the Otters fumbled and Rusk recovered at the Fergus Falls 25.

"Usually, I put my head down and take a couple, three strides," Rusk said. "I looked up and saw that it was a pop-up. I saw it come down, I saw a scramble, then I saw it come flying out of there. I just got there as fast as I could and just hung on to that ball."

Two plays later, Mimmack hit Wheeler for a 24-yard score.

Jordan Hayes, who finished with 92 yards on 12 carries, ran 24 yards for a TD and a 28-7 Brainerd edge.

The Otters refused to back down, trimming the halftime deficit to 28-14 as Lars Ronnevik ran for an 18-yard TD.

Brainerd sealed the deal with back-to-back scores in the second half.

Warriors 41, Fergus 21

The key: Brainerd scored 28 straight points after falling behind 7-0.

Conference: Brd 4-1, FF 0-5

Overall: Brd 5-2, FF 0-7

Next: Brainerd at Sartell 7 p.m. Oct. 22.

Midway through the third, Rusk caught a 14-yard scoring pass from Mimmack for a 38-14 edge.

"We ran that play about two plays before that and I was wide open," Rusk said. "The coaches said to run that again, and sure enough they fell for the flat route and I was wide open with the corner route."

Seven plays before his touchdown, Rusk caught a missed field goal attempt and returned it 42 yards.

"I remembered this is a field goal, not an extra point, so you can pick it up and run with it," Rusk said. "I just said, 'I've got to go,' and I ran with the ball."

Jack Luke ended the Warriors' scoring with a 10-yard run in the final quarter.

Brainerd, 5-2 overall, ends the regular season Oct. 22 at unbeaten Sartell, which is ranked fourth in Class 4A.

"I don't know how many teams think they're still a work in progress, I think we still are, but that's OK," Stolski said. "We're in the hunt, that's where everybody wants to be."

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