by Scott DCamp
Sports Editor
A 50-yard touchdown pass from Landon Nordby to Shay Jacobson with 1:35 left to play proved to be the winning margin for the Goodridge/Grygla Chargers in a 15-12 win over previously unbeaten Stephen-Argyle Thursday night (Oct. 10) in Grygla.
The win over the rival Storm was big for section seeding, as it put the Chargers back in the driver’s seat for the number one seed a week after stumbling on the road against Kittson County Central.
“Besides being an exciting victory against one of our biggest rivals, it put us in the position for a first round bye if we can defeat Northern Freeze,” said Head Coach John Wilebski.
“That would help us heal up before the playoff. Any team in the top-five can win the section this year.”
Thursday night’s game was a rematch of last year’s Section 8 nine-man championship game, and the Chargers and Storm brought a combined 11-1 record into the game.
Both teams moved the ball well on their respective opening possessions. The Chargers took an 8-0 lead with Sebastian Groven scoring on a two-yard run and Shay Jacobson adding the two-point conversion to cap a 12-play drive, 65-yard drive.
The Storm answered with a 10-play, 67-yard drive that ended with a three-yard touchdown run by Blaine Smith. The Storm two-point pass failed and the Chargers remained in front 8-6.
The Chargers picked up a first down on their next possession before turning the ball over on downs at the Storm 47-yard line.
“They started to manipulate the line of scrimmage, but we made adjustments the second half,” Wilebski said.
The Storm took advantage of the good field position on their second possession and took the lead with a 12-play, 53-yard drive that ended with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Shay Setterholm to Caden Pagnac. The two-point conversion pass failed.
Already up 12-8 at the half, the Storm looked like they would add to their lead early in the third quarter with an eight-play drive that reached the Charger 28, with the Chargers getting a big stop on a fourth and two play.
“Their offensive is explosive,” Wilebski said. “They have so much team speed. So it was nice to shut them down the second half.”
The Chargers also threatened with an 11-play drive later in the quarter. The Chargers faced a fourth and 10 at the Storm 27 but only got eight yards on a completion from Landon Nordby to Trustin Wiseth.
The Chargers’ third possession of the half also ended with a turnover on downs on an incomplete pass by Nordby at the Storm 29-yard line.
The Storm picked up a first down and ran about three minutes off the clock on the ensuing possession before punting.
The Chargers began what would be the go-ahead possion at their own 32 with 5:02 remaining. On first down, Nordby was sacked for a loss of 10 on a flea-flicker that didn’t fool the Storm. The Chargers got 15 yards back on a horse collar tackle on the Storm. The penalty set up a second and five that was converted into a first down on an eight-yard run by Sawyer Jacobson. Four plays later, Nordby completed the 50-yard go-ahead touchdown to Shay Jacobson on a fourth and six play.
“What a beautiful catch by Shay Jacobson and on-target pass from Landon Nordby,” Wilebski said. “Great call by offensive coordinator Brady Olson in a big time situation.”
Davi Barros kicked the extra point to give the Chargers a three-point lead with 1:35 left to play. The Storm’s final possession lasted just two plays, with Sawyer Jacobson picking off a pass by Blaine Smith to effectively end the game. Sawyer Jacobson paired the interception with 12 tackles, which were tied for the team high with Groven, and a team-leading 18 carries for 109 yards.
“Sawyer Jacobson really shined on offense fighting for key first downs,” Wilebski said. “Gus Jones off the bench was a highlight on the defensive line, coming in and adding pressure with his quickness when our starter’s needed some breathers.”
The Chargers were back in action Tuesday night against the Northern Freeze in Newfolden. Results from that game will appear in the Northern Watch.
Scoring
1 2 3 4 T
Stephen-Argyle 6 6 0 0 12
GG 8 0 0 7 15
First Quarter
GG – Sebastian Groven 2-yard run (Shay Jacobson run)
SAC – Blaine Smith 3-yard run (pass failed)
Second Quarter
SAC – Caden Pagnac 17-yard pass from Shay Setterholm (pass failed)
Fourth Quarter
GG – Shay Jacobson 50-yard pass from Landon Nordby (Davi Barros kick)
Team Statistics
• First downs – SAC 13; GG 15.
• Fumbles (total-lost) – SAC 0-0; GG 1-0.
• Penalties (number-yards) – SAC 4-50; GG 1-5.
• Punts (number-average) – SAC 3-27.0; GG 1-23.0.
• Rushing (attempts-yards) – SAC 39-175; GG 42-167.
• Passing – SAC 3-for-10, 31 yards, TD, Int.; GG 8-for-15, 119 yards, TD.
• Total yards – SAC 206; GG 286.
Individuals
• Rushing – (SAC) Blaine Smith 23-95, TD; Raydon Woinarowicz 6-42; (GG) Sawyer Jacobson 18-109; Sebastian Groven 10-48; Shay Jacobson 9-27.
• Passing – (SAC) Shay Setterholm 2-for-10, 26 yards, TD; Blaine Smith 1-for-2, 5 yards, interception; (GG) Landon Nordby 8-for-15, 119 yards, TD.
• Receiving – (SAC) Caden Pagnac 1-17, TD; (GG) Shay Jacobson 3-80; Sawyer Jacobson 2-10; Owen Larson 2-21; Trustin Wiseth 1-8.
• Tackles – Sebastian Groven 12, Sawyer Jacobson 12, Jennings Johnsrud 8, Gavin Aune 8, Abe Miller 7, Shay Jacobson 5, Brandon Burns 2, Brett Rychlock 2, Gus Jones 2, Owen Larson 1, Evan Rubischko 1.
• Sacks – Abe Miller 1.
• Interceptions – Sawyer Jacobson 1.
District 9 – West (North)
Division Overall
W L W L
Fertile-Beltrami 6 0 7 0
Fosston 6 0 7 0
Goodridge/Grygla 5 1 6 1
Stephen-Argyle 6 1 6 1
Park Christian 3 3 4 3
Win-E-Mac 3 3 4 3
KCC 3 4 3 4
WAO 2 4 3 4
Clearbrook-Gonvick 2 4 2 5
BGMR 2 5 2 5
NCE/UH 0 6 0 7
Northern Freeze 0 7 0 7
Section 8 9-Man
Division Overall
W L QRF
Goodridge/Grygla 6 1 34.4
Stephen-Argyle 6 1 25.6
Win-E-Mac 4 3 22.7
KCC 3 4 19.2
WAO 3 4 16.3
BGMR 2 5 10.9
Northern Freeze 0 7 6.3
• Scores Week 7 – Clearbrook-Gonvick 20, Park Christian 14; Fosston 54, Badger/Greenbush-Middle River 30; Goodridge/Grygla 15, Stephen-Argyle 12; Warren-Alvarado-Oslo 28, Kittson County Central 20; Win-E-Mac 18, Norman County East/Ulen-Hitterdal 8; Fertile-Beltrami 42, Northern Freeze 8.
• Upcoming games – Park Christian at Stephen-Argyle; Win-E-Mac at Kittson County Central; Goodridge/Grygla at Northern Freeze; Warren-Alvarado-Oslo at Badger/Greenbush-Middle River; Fertile-Beltrami at Clearbrook-Gonvick; Fosston at Norman County East/Ulen-Hitterdal.