For the first time in their three-year existence the Brainerd Lumberjacks will not be champions.
The second-seeded Minnesota Sting stung the No. 3 Lumberjacks 31-21 at Roseville High School in the Midwest Premier Football League semifinals Saturday.
Brainerd had won titles in the Semi-Pro Football League, which dissolved and merged with another league to become the MPFL this year. The Lumberjacks finished 4-5.
“I’m really disappointed with our overall record,” Lumberjacks coach J.J. Kern said. “That’s not our goal, to be a 4-5 team and out in the first round. Going into the playoffs I thought we still had a chance to achieve our goal. We went through a lot this year. I’m proud of the guys who stuck with us.
“At the end of the game the guys who were there, everyone seemed committed to go out and help recruit players for next year. We have to get bigger and stronger. I need to coach better, get players who will put more time in, get back to where we were the last two years.”
Brainerd was missing three key defensive linemen for various reasons and the Sting capitalized on their absence. The Lumberjacks were also hurt by interceptions and penalties.
“We played short-handed again, with about 25 guys, which is fine,” Kern said. “We’ve played with 25 before but the problem was our short numbers depleted our defensive line. Our three best players, all defensive linemen, were all gone. That hurt us, but this is semi-pro football, there are no excuses. You play with who you’ve got.
“We really don’t get run on ever when we’ve got all our guys. They beat us up with a full-house backfield and power running. They took advantage of where we were thin Saturday.”
James Singer and Trevor Gross scored on TD passes from Wade Steiery, who ran for the other Lumberjacks’ score.
“We moved the ball all game long, then we had four interceptions,” Kern said. “Every time we moved the ball it seemed we had an interception or a lot of penalties. A couple of questionable penalties really hurt us, and we got behind.
“I’m proud of our mentality. The reason we won both years was because we do play hard. We were down 17-8 at halftime and nobody thought we couldn’t come back and win. Nobody gave up. As a coach, there’s nothing more you can ask from your guys.
“Everyone went out and played hard. We made some adjustments, trying to make things work with what we had. They knew we didn’t have some of our defensive linemen and it ended up hurting us. They took advantage of it.”
Kern said the team has scheduled a co-rec volleyball tournament Aug. 27 at Oak Lawn Tavern. Call Kern (218) 831-1400 to register.
MIKE BIALKA may be reached at mike.bialka@brainerddispatch.com or at 855-5861.
