Warriors run to state
SECTION 8-5A FOOTBALL
COLLEGEVILLE - The Brainerd Warriors had to jump out of bed early to play the Buffalo Bison in the Section 8-5A championship game Saturday.
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At Clemens Stadium for the 11 a.m. kickoff at St. John's University, the Warriors jumped on the Bison early, and often, for a 33-20 victory on a magnificent November day.
In two postseason games the Warriors have outscored the opposition 47-8 in the first quarter, propelling Brainerd into the state tournament for the second time in three years.
Saturday, the second-seeded Warriors scored 26 first-quarter points on their way to a 33-8 halftime edge.
Brainerd's Carsten Nelson (left), Taylor Main, Tate Rusk and Aaron Pavek celebrated their 33-20 Section 8-5A championship win over Buffalo Saturday at St. John's University. For more photos, go to spotted.brainerddispatch.com.
Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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"We just came out bolting," Warriors coach Ron Stolski said. "I'm real proud of the kids."
Brainerd rammed its running game at the top-seeded Bison, rushing for 308 yards and four touchdowns.
"We played with a lot of heart," said Warriors running back Jordan Hayes, who rushed for 123 yards. "Buffalo, we owed them one. They got us last year (20-14 in overtime in the section semifinals). We're happy to be going to state."
The defense was sturdy, limiting Buffalo, which was tied for seventh in the final 5A rankings, to 66 yards in the first half, 241 in all. Barry Nelson, Tate Rusk and Nate Parsons intercepted first-half passes for Brainerd.
"Our plan going into the game was to stop the run first, the pass second, and we did exactly that," said Rusk. "We know we have a lockdown defense for the passing game. We came out and made the plays."
Brainerd's Jordan Hayes tightened his grip on the ball while being tackled by a Buffalo defender Saturday at St. John's University. Hayes rushed for 123 yards and a score. For more photos, go to spotted.brainerddispatch.com. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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Brainerd scored on its first four possessions, opening with Hayes' 6-yard run at 7:34 of the first quarter.
Eighty seconds later, Barry Nelson returned his interception 19 yards to the Buffalo 5. Three plays later, quarterback Reid Mimmack scored from the 2.
Dillon Miller returned the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for Buffalo's only score of the first half. Josh Gaughan ran in the 2-point conversion, trimming the deficit to 14-8.
Eight plays later, Mimmack burrowed in from the 1, capping a series that included Mimmack's 16-yard keeper, Hayes' 11-yard run and a 21-yard pass to Dylan Wheeler.
On their next possession, the Warriors went up 26-8 as Kyle Crocker, in the wildcat formation, dashed 76 yards for a TD.
"It was kind of congested up in the line, so I busted outside," Crocker said. "Dylan and Reid had great blocks. They sprung me loose, then nobody caught me."
Crocker scored again, with 5:37 left in the half, when he battled a Bison defender in the end zone to catch a 23-yard pass from Mimmack.
Kyle Crocker (right) caught a 23-yard touchdown pass over Buffalo's Brian Holthaus in the first half of the Section 8-5A championship game at St. John's University. For more photos, go to spotted.brainerddispatch.com. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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"Reid threw it to my back shoulder, so I just turned around and it was there," Crocker said. "The guy didn't see it so it was an easy score."
Buffalo rallied to score twice in the last six minutes, but it was too little, too late.
The section title is Brainerd's third in six years.
"I always think in our section we need to be a factor," Stolski said. "I'm not shocked at all, I'm very pleased."
Brainerd 26 7 0 0 - 33
Buffalo 8 0 0 12 - 20
First quarter
Brd-Jordan Hayes 6 run (Zach Cadwell kick) 7:34
Brd-Reid Mimmack 2 run (Cadwell kick) 6:14
Buf-Dillon Miller 93 kickoff return (Josh Gaughan run) 6:00
Brd-Mimmack 1 run (kick fails) 3:03
Warriors 33, Buffalo 20
The key: Brainerd scored 26 points in the first quarter.
Overall: Brd 7-3, Buf 8-2
Next: Brainerd vs. Centennial in Class 8-5A state quarterfinals, 8 p.m. Friday, St. Cloud State University.
Brd-Kyle Crocker 76 run (kick fails) 7.4
Second quarter
Brd-Crocker 23 pass from Mimmack (Cadwell kick) 5:37
Fourth quarter
Buf-Buzz Tryggeseth 7 run (pass fails) 5:33
Buf-Gaughan 5 run (pass fails) 1:54
Team statistics
First downs: Brd 16, Buf 13
Rushes-yards: Brd 49-308, Buf 41-202
Pass comp-att-int-yds: Brd 3-9-1-57, Buf 7-13-3-39
Total offense: Brd 365, Buf 241
Punts-avg: Brd 3-45.0, Buf 4-33.0
Return yards: Brd 77, Buf 137
Fumbles-lost: Brd 0-0, Buf 0-0
Penalties-yds lost: Brd 7-40, Buf 2-25
Individual leaders
Rushing: Brd, Mimmack 6-24, Hayes 20-123, Carsten Nelson 16-70, Crocker 3-87, Taylor Main 2-7, team 2 (-3); Buf, Tim Ernster 7-84, Gaughan 19-62, Tryggeseth 6-28
Passing: Brd, Mimmack 3-9-57; Buf, Tyler Peterson 6-12-39, Tucker Vogt 1-1-0
Receiving: Brd, Crocker 2-36, Dylan Wheeler 1-21; Buf, Nick Vetrano 3-39, Gaughan 2-10
MIKE BIALKA may be reached at mike.bialka@brainerddispatch.com or at 855-5861.