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Friday, October 23, 2009
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Sartell controls ball and Warriors HIgh school football Sports Editor SARTELL - It's virtually impossible to score when you rarely have the ball.
That proved true for the Brainerd Warriors in a 28-0 regular-season-ending loss to Class 4A's fourth-ranked and unbeaten Sartell Sabres Thursday night.
Sartell 28, Warriors 0
The key: The Sabres racked up 416 yards in total offense
Conference: Brd 4-2, S 7-0
Overall: Brd 5-3, S 8-0
Next: No. 3/No. 6 winner at Brainerd in Section 8-5A semifinals 2 p.m. Oct. 31
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Brainerd ran just 38 plays from scrimmage, 21 in the first half, 17 in the second. It had just 116 yards in total offense and seven first downs. The Warriors turned the ball over three times and Sartell converted one of the turnovers into a score.
"We couldn't get our defense off the field," Warriors coach Ron Stolski said. "I thought our defense really played hard, against a very good team. A couple of our drives that stalled in the first half told the tale.
"They were the better team tonight, there's no other way about it."
The Sabres, meanwhile, unleashed a balanced ball-control attack and gained 416 yards in total offense. They rushed for 194 yards and passed for 222. They ran 36 more plays from scrimmage than Brainerd.
Sartell halfback Josh Kremer rushed 26 times for 115 yards. Quarterback Cole Jenkins completed 18 of 27 passes for 207 yards and a score. Receiver Brent Orndorff had 10 catches for 116 yards.
"Our defense played outstanding," Sartell coach John Ross said. "We kind of took the run away from them early. Brainerd can throw the ball, but I think they like to be balanced, or rely some on the run.
"Offensively, we had a nice mix. We came out throwing the ball and were executing well early. I think we got them a little off balance, then we were able to kind of take over physically down the stretch and run the ball."
It was a night of milestones for the Sabres. They won their second Central Lakes Conference title, Ross earned his 100th career victory and Sartell beat the Warriors for only the second time in 15 games between the schools.
"(100 wins) is something you don't think about a whole lot," said Ross, in his 15th season as the Sabres' head coach, "but sometimes you peek back and go 'Wow, this is a lot of times I've gotten out here.' Maybe it took me a little longer than some people, but I'm glad to get there.
"In 1998 we got Brainerd here in a tight ballgame. This was a big milestone for us. Beating Brainerd, that's the gold standard for us, and we feel great about that."
Sartell received the opening kickoff and breezed 85 yards in four plays, culminating with Jenkins' 44-yard TD pass to tight end Tony Schmitz, which turned out to be the only score of the half.
"We get contributions from different people all the time," Ross said. "Our tight end, Tony Schmitz, is a pretty good blocker. People are aware of that, but early in the game he catches a touchdown pass down the middle.
"We're somewhat diverse in some of the things we can do. It was nice to have the ability to kind of use all of those facets tonight."
On its second possession, Brainerd got inside the Sabres' 30 for the only time all night. But Taylor Main fumbled on first down and Sartell recovered at the 25.
"This will hurt our kids a lot because I think we were ready to play," Stolski said, "and we played very hard. After their first drive it was anybody's game. We fumbled on our drive, and missed a couple other opportunities."
In the first half, Jenkins was 11 of 20 passing for 148 yards and Kremer had 65 yards rushing on 14 carries
The Sabres scored on their first three series in the second half.
The first was a 6-yard run by Brent Orndorff and capped an 11-play, 66-yard possession.
Sean Tillman scored on Sartell's next possession, on a 9-yard run. It capped another long drive, 11 plays, 61 yards.
Warriors quarterback Reid Mimmack was intercepted on the next possession, and Sartell turned it into a score, Tyler Page's 3-yard dive. It was another 11-play drive, covering 56 yards.
Despite the defeat, Brainerd had already locked up the No. 2 seed in the Section 8-5A playoffs and will host a semifinal game at 2 p.m. Oct. 31.
"I know our kids are disappointed," Stolski said, "but we lost to a good team tonight. They're a full senior outfit, and they played like it. They have a lot of weapons."
Brainerd 0 0 0 0 - 0
Sartell 7 0 7 14 - 28
First quarter
S-Tony Schmitz 44 pass from Cole Jenkins (Cole Karsky kick) 10:40
Third quarter
S-Brent Orndorff 6 run (Karsky kick) 4:34
Fourth quarter
S-Sean Tillman 9 run (Karsky kick) 9:40
S-Tyler Page 3 run (Karsky kick) 2:13
Team statistics
First downs: Brd 7, S 23
Rushes-yards: Brd 17-43, S 46-194
Pass comp-att-int-yds: Brd 7-21-1-73, S 19-28-0-222
Total offense: Brd 116, S 416
Fumbles-lost: Brd 2-2, S 0-0
Penalties-yds lost: Brd 0-0, S 6-40
Individual leaders
Rushing: Brd, Reid Mimmack 3-(-10), Jordan Hayes 6-43, Taylor Main 1-(-2), Kyle Crocker 2-2, Carsten Nelson 2-2, Jaron Hanson 1-2, Jack Luke 1-(-9), Mason Fussy 1-13; Sar, Kremer 26-115, Tillman 9-40
Passing: Brd, Mimmack 7-19-73, Fussy 0-2-0; Sar, Jenkins 18-27-207, Ben Omann 1-15
Receiving: Brd, Crocker 2-39, Dylan Wheeler 1-10, Main 1-4, Mitch Bzdok 3-20, Cole Stegora 1-22; Sar, Rob Voshell 6-43, Orndorff 10-116, Schmitz 2-55
MIKE BIALKA may be reached at mike.bialka@brainerddispatch.com or at 855-5861.
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