Rebels Extend Road Win Streak With 17-7 Victory

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Sept 23

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

ST. PAUL- When Moose Lake- Willow River added St. Paul Como Park to their schedule this season this was going to be the game on the schedule would be noted as the game of the regular season. The Rebels not only put a 33 game regular season winning streak on the line but a 16 game road winning streak that dated back to 2004 during the regular season. The concern over this game was all for not as the Rebels defeated the 4AAAA Cougars of St. Paul Como Park by a final score of 17-7.

The Rebels, playing against the much larger school in St Paul Como didn’t let the size of the school or the College like stadium affect their play, it was probably old hat to the Rebels after playing so often over the past few seasons at the Metrodome. The Rebels, used to big games came out right away and dictated the tempo of the game.

The Rebels stopped the Cougars on their opening drive and following a Cougar punt, they took over and on the first offensive play of the game for Moose Lake –Willow River, Chris Gassert broke off a 57 yard run only to be tackled on the four yard line of St. Paul Como Park. Holden Olson took the next hand off and scampered into the end zone giving the Rebels a 7-0 following a Michael Bennett extra point.

The Cougars used a fourth down and long situation to pull off a fake punt when Terrance Williams ran for 40 yards to put the Cougars deep in Rebel territory. The Rebels defense as it has done all season long, stepped up and the Cougars failed on their next fourth down attempt and the Rebels took over on downs.

The Rebels added their second score of the game as Jake Disterhaupt took a handoff and outran everyone on a 38 yard run to give the Rebels a 14-0 lead at halftime. Although the Rebels held a fourteen point lead at half, they did give the Cougars some hope as the Rebels two fumbles in Cougar territory in the first half and they were still down only 14 when it could have been much more.

The second half saw the rain come down as hard. It could have been the rain and the wind blowing something fierce but it was tough for either team to get anything going offensively. The third quarter ended with no scoring and with the third ending the rain let up to a soft mist also. With the Cougars struggling to move the ball, a third down and long play helped the Cougars move the ball 43 yards getting deep into Rebel territory. Williams scored the Cougars only touchdown, running in from 5 yards out and the game was one score apart at 14-7.

With the momentum switched now with the Cougars, the Rebels answered right back as Moose Lake – Willow River took the ball and marched down the field taking over eight minutes off the clock. Michael Bennett capped the drive and sealed the Rebels win with a 20 yard field goal with under a minute to play as the Rebels came away with the ten point win.

The Rebels improve to 4-0 on the season they extend their regular season winning streak to 34 and their regular season road winning streak to 17 games. The Rebels will be home next Friday as they host section rival Deer River in Willow River.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com