Scoreboard operator kept busy as Brainerd rolls to 63-14 win over Rocori

COLD SPRING -- Jason Goerges' right leg must have been dragging.

The Brainerd High School junior booted eight extra points and kicked off nine times in 2 1/2 quarters as the Warriors routed a Central Lakes Conference football opponent for the third consecutive week.

On Wednesday the Rocori Spartans became the latest victims of the Warriors' scoring machine as Brainerd roared to a 63-14 triumph in the final game of the regular season.

With its offensive line manhandling the Spartans, Brainerd rolled up 567 total yards, 539 rushing. It was the third game in the last four that Brainerd has had 500 yards and its third consecutive game scoring at least 50 points.

On defense the Warriors were equally as imposing, limiting Rocori to 231 total yards and eight first downs. The Spartans crossed midfield only twice through three quarters -- on both of their touchdown drives.

Brainerd finishes 6-1 in the conference and is 7-1 overall after securing its sixth straight victory.

"This is a nice football team," Warriors head coach Ron Stolski said. "We knew coming into the season we would be young in a lot of places but we also knew we would be skilled. We thought it would take a while to play like we wanted to, and we're still not there, but we're playing well."

It's difficult to imagine the Warriors can play better. They scored on their first seven possessions as they bolted to a 49-7 halftime edge. Brainerd scored on its first two possessions in the second half to seize a 63-7 lead. Midway through the fourth quarter Brainerd punted for the only time.

The Warriors did not fumble and were not penalized. Reserves began to play with 7:48 left in the second quarter.

"They're great," Rocori coach Mark Johnson said of Brainerd. "We definitely got outclassed, no doubt about it. Their line play was spectacular. Maybe we didn't play as well as we can but I don't think that would have done us any good.

"We didn't give up. We did the best we could against a team that should go a long way, I feel, in the playoffs. They've got a great running attack. Their defense is tough. They don't have many weak links."

Warriors halfback Mike Weiss had an incredible first quarter, rushing six times for 100 yards. He finished the game with eight carries, 157 yards and a touchdown, all in the first half.

"Our offensive line is just steamrolling people," Weiss said. "We're moving the ball like ... we never did this last year."

Halfback Adam Hardy ended the Warriors' first two series with touchdown runs and finished with 87 yards on only nine carries. Quarterback Mike Zauhar scored first-half touchdown runs on his only two rushes.

Halfback Tyler John scored twice, halfback Dan Kirkpatrick tallied once and tight end Derrick LaPointe caught a scoring pass from Zauhar to round out the Warriors' scoring.

Brainerd 21 28 14 0 -- 63

Rocori 0 7 7 0 -- 14

First Quarter

B-Adam Hardy 5 run (Jason Goerges kick) 9:11

B-Hardy 32 run (Goerges kick) 5:07

B-Mike Zauhar 61 run (Goerges kick) 2:46

Second Quarter

B-Zauhar 2 run (Goerges kick) 11:27

R-Brett Theisen 73 run (Zach Reif kick) 11:06

B-Mike Weiss 49 run (Goerges kick) 10:44

B-Derrick LaPointe 4 pass from Zauhar (Goerges kick) 7:48

B-Tyler John 14 run (Goerges kick) 4:26

Third Quarter

B-John 3 run (Goerges kick) 7:25

B-Dan Kirkpatrick 7 run (Kirkpatrick kick) 3:35

R-Tim Kraemer 4 run (Reif kick) :10

Team statistics

First downs -- B 25, R 8

Rushes-yards -- B 45-539, R 22-127

Pass comp-att-int--yds -- B 3-4-0-28, R 7-19-1-104

Total offense -- B 567, R 231

Punts-avg -- B 1-24.0, R 5-36.2

Return yards -- B 66, R 184

Fumbles-lost -- B 1-0, R 2-1

Penalties-yds lost -- B 0-0, R 2-23

Individual statistics

Rushing -- B-Zauhar 2-63, Hardy 9-87, Jeff Goodman 4-42, Weiss 8-157, John 8-61, Kirkpatrick 8-46, J.P. Platisha 4-37, Billy Tadych 1-4, Brandon Kraemer 4-2, Cole Trinkley 2-15, Jeff Hight 5-25; R-Theisen 9-84

Passing -- B-Zauhar 3-4-28; R-Nate Sauer 7-16-104, Alex Kofoed 0-3-0

Receiving -- B-Tim Siekas 2-24, LaPointe 1-4; R-Tim Kraemer 3-59

Conference -- B 6-1, R 3-4. Overall -- B 7-1, R 4-4. Next game -- Brainerd in Section 8, Class 5A quarterfinals 7 p.m. Tuesday vs. TBA.