by Scott DCamp
Sports Editor
East Grand Forks scored 20 unanswered points over the final 17:45 Friday night to turn a close game into a blowout. The Green Wave defeated the Prowlers 41-14 in a battle of Mid Northwest (Red ) and Section 8AA football teams.
“We just made too many mistakes in the second half,” said Thief River Falls Head Coach Kurt Reynolds. “The opening possession was a perfect example of that. Three penalties coming out of the half. That just doomed our drive, even though Bridger [Wilcox] almost broke a big run when he scrambled out of the pocket. Then we had a high snap on the punt and missed a block in our second level of punt protection and EGF blocks it. Their first possession of the second half begins on our one-yard line. Couldn’t have asked for a worse start than that.
“Then we turned the ball over again to EGF as the result of another high snap. Our defensive back got caught peaking at the QB on an out and up and suddenly we were down two scores.”
The two quick scores to open the second half put the Green Wave up 21-7. The opening half was all about defense, with each team mustering just one scoring drive.
Th Green Wave opened the game with an 11-play, 83-yard drive that took almost six minutes off the clock. It was aided by a pair of offsides calls against the Prowlers, including a fourth and two play at the EGF 43 that could have given the Prowlers great field position.
“We had two key mental errors on that opening drive where our nose tackle and defensive tackle jumped offsides on third and fourth and short,” Reynolds said. “That hurt. Lack of focus and discipline there.”
After sputtering on their first two possessions, the Prowlers found their footing on their third offensive possession off the game. Wilcox began the drive with a 49-yard run on a keeper. He completed passes to Wyatt Nelson and Tucker Grindeland for 10 and 29 yards respectively, with fullback, Spencer Anderson capping the drive with a one-yard scoring run. Edgar Velasquez Fernández added the extra point to tie the game.
Trailing 21-7 in the third quarter, the Prowlers came up with a big stop defensively and forced the Green Wave to punt from their own 28. EGF punter Cole Schmiedeberg had the wind at his back and booted a 44-yard punt that was hauled in by Thief River Falls senior Tucker Grindeland.
“Grindy broke several tackles and then just turned on the jets,” Reynolds said. “He is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. Have to find ways to keep getting him the ball. Good things happen when he touches it 5-10 times a game.”
The Prowlers’ momentum wouldn’t last long. On the ensuing kickoff, EGF running back D’Aijalon Hall broke several tackles on an 82-yard kickoff return touchdown. Chayson Boespflug kick added the extra point to make it 28-14.
“Though we clawed back on Tucker’s amazing punt return for a TD, the penalties and inability to move the ball cost us,” Reynolds said. “We left the defense out to dry, and EGF made us pay as they hit a couple big passes on our defensive backs.”
Rounding out the scoring for the Green Wave were Jaxon Stassen scoring on a 42-yard touchdown pass from Jakob Stassen, and Brody Anderson scoring on a 36-yard interception return.
Stassen and Stassen connected for three touchdowns on the night: a 22-yarder in the first quarter, a 22-yarder in the third quarter and the 42-yarder in the fourth.
“On the pass plays for touchdowns, it was just our defensive backs not doing what they have been coached to do,” Reynolds said. “On the out and up that led to EGF third TD, you can see Coach Kruse jumping up and down on the sideline screaming for the left corner to watch for that route, but we got caught looking in the backfield, and it cost us.”
It won’t show up on the scoreboard, but there were some bright spots for the Prowlers.
“I thought Brayden Thomson filled in for an injured Knute Hams well at left guard,” Reynolds said. “He had some struggles, but we were able to hammer the ball inside on his side for a good chunk of the night. Teagan Syverson also did well at the right guard spot too. I thought Spencer played well at fullback, ripping of a big run and continually getting tough yards up the middle, and he played solid at his defensive end spot.”
The Prowlers will look to get back into the win column Friday night when they travel to Park Rapids to play the 3-3 Panthers. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Scoring
1 2 3 4 T
East Grand Forks 7 0 21 13 41
Thief River Falls 0 7 7 0 14
First Quarter
EGF – Jaxon Stassen 22-yard pass from Jakob Stassen (Chayson Boespflug kick)
Second Quarter
TRF – Spencer Anderson 1-yard run (Edgar Velasquez Fernández kick)
Third Quarter
EGF – Cole Schmiedeberg 3-yard run (Boespflug kick)
EGF – Jaxon Stassen 22-yard pass from Jakob Stassen (Boespflug kick)
TRF – Tucker Grindeland 72-yard punt return (Velasquez Fernández kick)
EGF – D’Aijalon Hall 83-yard kickoff return (Boespflug kick)
Fourth Quarter
EGF – Jaxon Stassen 42-yard pass from Jakob Stassen (Boespflug kick)
EGF – Brody Anderson 36-yard interception return (kick failed)
Team Statistics
• First downs – EGF 13; TRF 10.
• Fumbles (total-lost) – EGF 2-2; TRF 2-2.
• Penalties (number-yards) – EGF 3-30; TRF 6-40.
• Punts (number-average) – EGF 4-46.0; TRF 1-45.0.
• Rushing (attempts-yards) – EGF 26-103; TRF 35-180.
• Passing – EGF - 11-for-17, 167 yards, 3 touchdowns; TRF 7-for-18, 123 yards, 2 interceptions.
• Total yards – EGF 270; TRF 303.
Individuals
• Rushing – (EGF) Cole Schmeideberg 15-75, 3 touchdowns; D’Aijalon Hall 5-13. (TRF) Spencer Anderson 15-97, touchdown; Bridger Wilcox 8-62; Tucker Grindeland 1-13; Wyatt Nelson 2-7.
• Passing – (EGF) Jakob Stassen 11-for-17, 167 yards, 3 touchdowns; (TRF) Bridger Wilcox 7-for-17, 123, 2 interceptions; Tucker Knott 0-for-1.
• Receiving – (EGF) Jaxon Stassen 7-120, 3 touchdowns; Darion Hall 1-23; (TRF) Wyatt Nelson 4-38;Ian Winter 1-53; Tucker Grindeland 1-29; Connor Bruce 1-3.
• Tackles – Clay Nelson 8, Hudson Brouse 7, Tucker Grindeland 6, Ian Winter 5, Wyatt Nelson 4, Tucker Knott 4, Connor Bruce 4, Spencer Anderson 3, Brody Arlt 3, Joey Bruggeman 2, Hudson Hall 2, Keaton Tillet 2, Kaleb Merkhens 1, Chris Young 1, Hunter Miller 1, Bridger Wilcox 1, Noah Lee 1, Taylor Erickson 1.
• Tackles for loss -Hudson Brouse 1, Tucker Knott 1, Connor Bruce 1, Spencer Anderson 1, Brody Arlt 1, Joey Bruggeman 1, Hunter Miller 1, Noah Lee 1.
• Sacks – Connor Bruce 0.5, Spencer Anderson 0.5.
• Forced fumbles – Clay Nelson 1, Connor Bruce 1, Hudson Hall 1.
• Fumble recoveries – Spencer Anderson 1, Keaton Tillett 1.
Mid Northwest Red District
Division Overall
W L W L
East Grand Forks 3 1 3 3
Park Rapids Area 3 1 3 3
Pelican Rapids 2 2 2 4
Thief River Falls 2 2 2 4
Warroad 1 3 2 4
Roseau 1 3 1 5
Section 8AAA
Overall QRF
W L
DGF 4 2 50.3
Minnewaska Area 3 3 44.2
East Grand Forks 3 3 38.9
Perham 2 4 36
Morris Area/CA 3 3 35.5
Park Rapids Area 3 3 31.9
Thief River Falls 2 4 24.8
• Results Week 5 – Park Rapids Area 29, Warrod 14; Minnewaska Area 40, Sauk Centre 6; East Grand Forks 41, Thief River FDalls 14; Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 40, Hawley 21; Pillager 41, Perham 13; Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta 38, Litchfield 36.
• Upcoming games, Thursday, Oct. 9 – Roseau at East Grand Forks ;Friday, Oct. 10 – Thief River Falls at Park Rapids Area; Minnewaska area at Montevideo; Hawley at Perham; Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta at Glencoe-Silver Lake; Barnesville at Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton