It ain't over until overtime

BUFFALO - If you've got to lose let it be in overtime. Then you know you gave it everything you had.

The Brainerd Warriors gave everything they had against the Buffalo Bison in a 20-14 overtime loss in the Section 8-5A semifinals Saturday.

Brainerd rushed 42 times for 186 yards, with 154 yards provided by Colby Ring. They finished with 273 total yards and turned the ball over only once. And, they played stout defensively.

"If there is a way to go out you go out in overtime," Warriors quarterback Scott Ramey said. "You go out playing your hearts out.

"I wouldn't have it any other way. I love these guys. You spend five months together, those bonds grow strong. They're not easily broken.

"I hope we can stay together. There are other things, but we've got to remember this. We make our own memories. As long as we can look back, look at the positive, I think all the guys will be OK."

Memorable milestones

The loss ended Brainerd's season with a 7-3 overall mark.

This year was the first since 1998 that the Warriors had a 1,000-yard rusher and 1,000-yard passer in the same season. In addition, it was the first time in four years the Warriors had a 1,000-yard runner.

Colby Ring finished his senior season with 1,186 yards and 21 touchdowns. Ramey ended his Warrior career with 1,236 yards passing and nine touchdowns.

The defense gave up an average of 12.6 points.

Kyle Crocker and Desmond Janousek threatened to return every kick or punt for a score. And, Crocker developed into a big-time receiver.

"It was an incredibly good season, a wonderful season, a great bunch of kids," said Warriors coach Ron Stolski, who finished his 47th season with 311 wins. "This is about as good a bunch of kids as there is. To me it's just a typical Warrior team.

"I just can't take anything away from our team. It's a wonderful group of seniors. We went out battling."

Buffalo stampede

The victory was the eighth straight for Buffalo, which entered the game averaging 33.2 points and giving up just 11.8.

"Our kids have been doing this all year," Bison coach Gerard Rohl said. "We screw stuff up, then somebody makes a play. I'm not ripping on our kids, but we're just a bunch of little (guys) that play hard. We've got a couple of good offensive linemen, I'm not saying we don't, but we're just a bunch of little snot-nose kids that play really hard."

MIKE BIALKA may be reached at mike.bialka@brainerddispatch.com or at 855-5861.