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Friday, November 6, 2009
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Brainerd, Bison to collide in scenic setting High school football Sports Editor There are few settings better for football than Collegeville.
The campus of St. John's University is the home of Johnnie Bread and of the vaunted Johnnies football program, coached by the legendary John Gagliardi, who has won more games than any coach in college football history.
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Brainerd assistant coach Chet Stevenson talked to Warriors offensive linemen during the Section 8-5A semifinals against Cambridge-Isanti. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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It's also home of the artificial turf at Clemens Stadium, where the second-seeded Brainerd Warriors (6-3) and the top-seeded Buffalo Bison (8-1) will battle for the Section 8-5A championship Saturday.
"It's fun and exciting to be in the section final again," Warriors coach Ron Stolski said. "I know our kids are excited about it. If we can build off of last week's game, which I felt was probably our best all-around game of the season, we should go in representing Brainerd well, and represent the Central Lakes Conference as well.
"One of the things we enjoy so much about section play is being able to extend what is typically a fairly short season. Our goal every day in practice is to help the individual player get better. Then what we see, collectively, is we just get better.
Warriors vs. Buffalo
When: 11 a.m. Saturday
Where: Clemens Stadium, St. John's University, Collegeville
The series: Tied 1-1. Buffalo won 20-14 in overtime in the 2008 Section 8-5A semifinals.
Section title games Saturday at St. John's
Sections 8-5A and 8-4A will play their championship football games Saturday at Clemens Stadium at St. John's University.
At 11 a.m., Buffalo and Brainerd will play for the 8-5A title. Sartell will play Alexandria for the 8-4A championship at 1 p.m.
Tickets will be sold only at the gate. Cost is $7 for adults, $4 for students.
Security will direct fans to parking spots on campus. Shuttle buses will transport fans from off-campus parking lots to the stadium.
The main grandstand area will be split for fans from both teams. Seating is also available on the visitors sideline.
Noisemakers will not be allowed in the stadium.
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"I think last week in particular was a nice indicator of that. We played a lot of kids for a section game, then you end up in a game where you have running time in the fourth quarter. I think that speaks well to the depth of our team."
While Brainerd was routing Cambridge-Isanti 38-3 in the semifinals, the Bison were locked in a struggle with No. 5 St. Cloud Tech. Buffalo, tied for seventh in the final Associated Press 5A poll, trailed 7-0 before scoring two second-half touchdowns.
"We fumbled four times and lost all four," Bison coach Gerard Rohl said. "We had a touchdown called back in the fourth quarter. It was obviously very close right to the end, and Tech played very well. They were tough on defense especially, but it was as much our mistakes as anything else."
Senior running back Josh Gaughan makes the Bison tick, rushing for 1,095 yards and 16 touchdowns. Against Tech he ran for 168 yards with TD runs of 13 and 15 yards.
"He's a tiny guy who's real quick," Rohl said. "He's tough to tackle, tough to get a hand on. He's a persistent fella, and we have a pretty decent offensive line that's well-coached. They don't make a lot of mistakes."
Stolski said Gaughan reminds him of Matt Peterson of Alexandria and Josh Kremer of Sartell, two of the better backs Brainerd has faced this season.
"He's a quick, fast back and runs hard," Stolski said. "They run the Wing-T and do it well. They're the best Wing-T team we've seen this year."
Buzz Tryggeseth has added 625 yards rushing and nine TDs for the Bison, who are averaging 28.4 points.
Junior quarterback Tyler Peterson keeps defenses honest. He has thrown for 575 yards but for only one touchdown and has completed just 38.8 percent of his passes. However, he threw for 121 yards against Tech.
Gaughan also is the leading receiver with 16 catches for 284 yards. Tight end Nick Vetrano has six grabs for 140 yards.
"Their pass action is pretty efficient, but their forte is running the ball," Stolski said.
Brainerd's forte has been a balanced offense that averages 27.9 points. Quarterback Reid Mimmack has thrown for 1,063 yards and 12 TDs. Jordan Hayes has rushed for 477 yards and a score and Carsten Nelson for 371 yards and six TDs.
Kyle Crocker is Brainerd's wild card. He has accounted for 687 yards in total offense (138 rushing, 549 receiving) with six touchdowns from scrimmage.
He's equally dangerous on special teams, returning eight punts for a 29.9 average and four TDs and seven kickoffs for a 20.3 average.
Buffalo's defense has allowed 13.7 points a game and Brainerd's 14.9.
"We cause a lot of turnovers," Rohl said. "We're just quick, not big, and we don't make a lot of mistakes."
MIKE BIALKA may be reached at mike.bialka@brainerddispatch.com or at 855-5861.
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