by Scott DCamp
Sports Editor
When the Chargers and Gators get together, fireworks are typically not far behind.
Goodridge/Grygla returned to Badger Field Friday night for the first time since it suffered a devastating 22-18 loss in last year’s Section 8 nine-man semifinal. The Gators scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 58-yard touchdown pass on the final play of the game.
The Chargers got a bit of vindication Friday night with a 34-28 double overtime win over the Gators.
“The double overtime win for the Chargers football team over the BGMR Gators was a huge victory in many ways,” said Goodridge/
Grygla Head Coach John Wilebski. “Showing that they could overcome adversity and keep their composure and finish. It was nice also to recapture the ‘Top of the State’ traveling trophy and bring it back into Charger country.”
Points were hard to come by early in Friday night’s game. The Chargers scored the only points of the opening quarter on a 20-yard touchdown run by Matt Busse.
The Gators’ only points in the first half came on a six-yard run by Treston Nichols.
The Chargers went in front 14-6 on a third quarter touchdown run by Busse from 11 yards out. Lewis Jones added the two-point conversion.
The Chargers added to their lead early in the fourth quarter with Kehan Nelson scoring on a 34-yard run. The two-point play failed and the Charger lead stood at 20-6.
Much like last year’s playoff game, the Chargers had a two-score lead in the fourth quarter. Also like last year’s playoff game, the Gators found a way to score twice.
The first BGMR score in the fourth quarter came on a six-yard touchdown pass from Gabe Warne to Jaxson Janousek. Warne’s pass attempt on the two-point play was incomplete and the score was 20-12 in favor of the Chargers.
The Gators pulled to within two later in the quarter on a three-yard run by Dylan Von Ende. Warne passed to Zach Blawat for two to tie the game.
The Chargers were on offense first in overtime and regained the lead on an 11-yard touchdown run by quarterback Blake Rychlock. Elliot Philipp hauled in a pass from Rychlock on the two-point conversion to make the score 28-20.
The Gators answered on the ensuing possession. Von Ende scored on a three-yard run and added a two-point conversion from the same distance to tie the game 28-28.
The Gators got the ball first in the second overtime and the Chargers came up big on defense to turn the Gators away.
The defensive stand meant that the Chargers could win the game with a score, and that is exactly what they did when Jones punched it in from six yards out.
“As a team, everybody contributed in some way big or small,” Wilebski said. “Games like this you find out how important every player is, whether on the playing field or in practice making each other better.
The Chargers are back in action Friday night against unbeaten Win-E-Mac. Game time is 7 p.m.
Scoring
1234OTT
GG 6 0 8 6 14 34
BGMR 0 6 0 14 8 28
First quarter
GG – Matt Busse 20-yard run (kick failed)
Second quarter
BGMR – Treston Nichols 6-yard run (kick failed)
Third quarter
GG – Busse 11-yard run (Lewis Jones run)
Fourth quarter
GG – Kehan Nelson 33-yard run (run failed)
BGMR – Jaxon Janousek 6-yard pass from Gabe Warne (pass failed)
BGMR – Dylan VonEnde 3 run (Warne pass to Zach Blawat)
First overtime
GG – Blake Rychlock 9 run (Jones pass to Elliot Philipp)
BGMR – VonEnde 2 run (VonEnde run)
Second overtime
GG – Jones 7 run.
Individuals
• Rushing – (GG) Matt Busse 15-73, 2 TD; Lewis Jones 14-53, TD; Blake Rychlock 9-44, TD; Kaylor Torgerson 7-31; Kehan Nelson 5-38, TD; (BGMR) Dylan Von Ende 82 yards, 2 TD; Treston Nichols 26 yards, TD.
• Passing – (GG) Blake Rychlock 2-for-7, 29 yards; (BGMR) Warne 20-for-31, 152 yards, TD.
• Receiving – (GG) Lewis Jones 2-29; (BGMR) Zach Blawat 70 yards; Jaxson Janousek 63 yards, TD; Dylan Von Ende 44 yards.
• Tackles – Matt Busse 14, Lewis Jones 12, Elliot Philipp 11, Blake Rychlock 8, Kaylor Torgerson 7, Tre Alten 6, Reece Sundberg 5, Kehan Nelson 5, Carson Rubischko 2, Anthony Englund 2, Dane Arveson 1,
Donny Johnsrud 1.
• Sacks -Kaylor Torgerson 2, Blake Rychlock 1, Reece Sundberg 1.
• Interceptions – Elliot Philipp 1, Kaylor Torgerson 1,
• Forced fumbles – Lewis Jones 1.
9-Man West North
DivisionOverall
Goodridge/Grygla 1-0 2-0
Kittson County C 1-0 2-0
WAO 1-0 2-0
Win-E-Mac 1-0 2-0
BGMR 0-1 0-2
Lake of the Woods 0-1 0-2
Northern Freeze 0-1 0-2
Stephen-Argyle 0-1 0-2
• Scores (Week 2) – Goodridge/Grygla 34, Badger/Greenbush-Middle River 28 (2OT); Kittson County Central 36, Stephen-Argyle 8; Warren-Alvarado-Oslo 42, Northern Freeze 12; Win-E-Mac 44, Lake of the Woods 24.
• Upcoming games (Week 3) – Goodridge/Grygla at Win-E-Mac; Kittson County Central at Northern Freeze; Warren-Alvarado-Oslo at Stephen-Argyle; Lake of the Woods at Badger/Greenbush-Middle River.