King Kurt caps week with win
Kurt Fahlen finished off a gratifying week with a 53-point homecoming victory against the St. Cloud Apollo Eagles.
The senior center, a part-time starter at guard last season who moved to center this fall, helped the Brainerd Warriors gain 346 yards Saturday.
Six days earlier he was crowned homecoming king.
"It's been amazing," Fahlen said of his week.
Brainerd linebackers Sam Pagel (54) and Jordan Goos (42) converged on St. Cloud Apollo's Derek Steve (7) Saturday.
Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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"We came into this week off a tough win against Moorhead (26-7)," he added. "We didn't really have a second half there. We came in in the first half (Saturday) and finally got it done."
The Warriors scored on four of their first five possessions (the fifth ended at the Apollo 1) and scored on their first two series in the second half.
"We did a heck of a job this week," Fahlen said. "We fired out low, we kept our feet moving. We just fired off, got that space and everything we needed for the counter."
Deep defense
Brainerd's defense pitched a shutout, allowing 44 yards through three quarters. The Eagles gained 59 yards on the game's last two plays.
The Warriors' defensive line continued to play at a high level. Defensive line coach Aron Anderson has been alternating several players in and out without a drop in performance.
"We're pretty deep this year up front," he said. "We're rotating at least six guys, sometimes seven or eight depending on how the game's going. We're rolling in more than we have in past years with our depth.
"We try to tell all the kids that whenever we put you in we don't want a drop in performance. Those upper six guys are rolling in and out of there."
Anderson said the top six include Aaron Pavek, Chad Ohman, Kris Garin, Myles Marcil, Luke Stone and Sam Lastovich.
"And, we've got some seniors on the bubble, like Luke Paulson and Dan Wheeler, and we've got some good juniors coming, like Zach Brown, Cody Matthies, guys like that who are working hard," he said.
Saturday, Cayle Winkler and Nick Belgum had sacks and Dan Wheeler recovered a fumble.
First interception
Brainerd forced six turnovers in the season's first four games, all fumbles. Defensive back Nate Gervenak ended the interception drought when he picked off a pass in the second quarter and returned it 29 yards.
"I was really excited to catch that," Gervenak said. "It was the first one of the year so it was kind of a big deal for all of us."
He can run too
Quarterback Reid Mimmack entered the game having passed for 475 yards, but having rushed for minus-12 yards.
Saturday, he rushed for 28 yards on three carries, including a 21-yard run, and two first downs.
"After the Moorhead game I think (opponents have) kind of counted me out as not being much of a running threat," Mimmack said. "I think it opened up for us because it's kind of like, 'He can pass, but we don't have to worry about that so the option was definitely there."
Extra point
Virtually every Warrior saw action, including exchange student Hernando Aguirre. The senior from Venezuela converted one of two extra-point kicks.
"He's a real project," Warriors coach Ron Stolski said. "He wants to learn. He's really a fine young man, and the kids are happy for him."
MIKE BIALKA may be reached at mike.bialka@brainerddispatch.com or at 855-5861.