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Monday, November 9, 2009
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Raiders upset Rochester in OT to win title COLLEGE FOOTBALL By NATHAN BROWN Sports Writer ST. CLOUD - Despite a dominating defensive first half, the 12-ranked Raiders found themselves hanging on by a shirt tail during Sunday's 20-14 overtime win over the 10th-ranked Rochester Yellowjackets, claiming their first MCAC Championship in school history.
After holding the Yellowjackets to just 37 first half yards, the tables turned and the Raiders found themselves with the backs to a wall after surrendering 253 yards in the second half.
Tied at 14 and time running out, Adrian "Ace" Collie wrestled Jeremiah Harris to the ground by his shirt tail saving what would be the game-winning touchdown.
"I knew (the play) was big, that's why I was hanging on with every little fingernail I had left," said Collie, who had been sidelined throughout the week with the flu. "I just had to hold on and grab on and pull him down."
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Central Lakes College's Tyler Erickson made the winning catch in the Raiders' 20-14 overtime victory over the Rochester Yellowjackets in Saturday's MCAC state championship. For more photos, go to spotted.brainerddispatch.com. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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With Michael Kusnierz lining up for the game-winning field goal just four plays later, neither team felt secure. After converting 14 of 20 field goal attempts on the season, Kusnierz had already missed attempts from 35 and 46 yards earlier in the game.
A high snap was all the error it took as Kusnierz saw his third attempt knocked down by Torey Walker with 22 seconds remaining.
"You do it for those butterflies (in your stomach)... because that's what motivates you. That's what pushes you," Medeck said following the game. "I've never had butterflies like I had today."
The Raiders carried the momentum into overtime as Kyle Crozon came up with the Raiders second blocked field goal denying the Yellowjackets a 17-14 edge in overtime.
"Defensively, we made the plays when we had to," Andrew Maskell said. "We've relied on them to make plays all season long, just like they did here with the blocked field goals and the interception."
Maskell, who had converted just four passes in the second half, connected with Tyler Erickson for a 25-yard touchdown on the Raiders' first possession of the overtime. Maskell finished 14-17 with 171 yards and two touchdowns.
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Chase Abfalter was carried by Aaron Mevissen after Central Lakes College defeated the Rochester Yellowjackets 20-14 in overtime Sunday to win the MCAC state championship at St. Cloud State. For more photos, go to spotted.brainerddispatch.com. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
» Purchase reprints of this photo.
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"It was the defense and the offense, everything coming together," Erickson said. "I mean, two blocks... you just don't have a better team win that that."
Maskell, Erickson and the offense dominated the first half racking up 169 yards, despite losing the MCAC MVP Dennis Taute midway through the second quarter.
"If you lose the best offensive player in the conference during the championship game, that's very hard to deal with," Medeck said.
With Taute out, the Yellowjackets came to life as they recovered a fumble on the second half kickoff, and quickly turned it into seven as Carey Poarch found Ryan Deloach for a 25-yard touchdown.
Despite moving the ball well in the second half, Rochester would score just once more as Bruce Kelly blocked a punt and Sineo Scott recovered the ball in the end zone to knot the score at 14.
"It's just been a fantastic journey," Medeck said. "I couldn't write a better story book ending for you."
Raiders 20, Rochester 14 (OT)
Key: Torey Walker and Kyle Crozon blocked two field goals as the Raiders overcame the Yellowjackets 20-14 for their first MCAC Championship in school history.
Overall: CLC 10-1, Roch 10-1
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Central Lakes 6 8 0 0 6 - 20
Rochester 0 0 7 7 0 - 14
First quarter
CLC-Cody Robbins 8 run (kick failed) 3:331
Second quarter
CLC-Kevin Beehler 48 pass from Andrew Maskell (Michael Iverson run) 7:51
Third quarter
R-Ryan Deloach 25 pass from Carey Poarch (Michael Kusnierz kick) 13:53
Fourth quarter
R-Sineo Scott blocked punt recovered in end zone (Kusnierz kick) 13:36
Overtime
CLC-Tyler Erickson 25 pass from Maskell
Team statistics
Rushes-yards: CLC 34-28, R 44-167
Pass comp-att-int-yards: CLC 14-27-1-171, R 8-21-1-123
Total offense: CLC 176, R 290
Individual statistics
Rushing: CLC-Cody Robbins 6-40, Michael Iverson 17-28, Dennis Taute 4-12; R-Bryan Schroeder 27-107
Passing: CLC-Andrew Maskell 13-26-1-167; R-Carey Poarch 8-821-1-123
Receiving: CLC-Dustin Kramer 5-92, Tyler Erickson 2-49, Alex Leach 5-31; R-Chris Hicks 2-46
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