Rebels Come Up Short Against Eden Valley-Watkins

Wes Vork-NSO

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Nov 12

Dwight Cadwell and Wes Vork-NSO

St. Cloud – An old sports line is it isn’t fair to ask for wins, you ask for effort and accept the results that effort produces. Such was the case with the Moose Lake-Willow River Rebels on Friday night in the quarterfinal round of the Minnesota Class AA state tournament. Although they played hard throughout, the end result was a 21-6 loss to Eden Valley-Watkins.

In a game where defense usually dictates who will win,
it was the Eden Valley Watkins defense capitalizing on Rebels turnovers that proved the final difference in victory. The Rebels were hampered by uncommon fumbles and stalled drives Friday night at St. Cloud State University.

After a scoreless first quarter, Eagles quarterback Brendan Ashton connected with Kevin Kramer on a 27 yard go-route for the game’s first score. A penalty on the extra point moved the ball back five yards, but made little difference with Peter Euerle booting through an extra point that would have been good from 40 yards out.

With little time left in the half and the Eagles backed up on their own 25 yard line, it appeared the Rebels would go in down by a touchdown and regroup at halftime. EVW however put together a drive in which they passed seven out of nine times including a final strike that moved the ball to the Rebels two yard line. On the next play, only the second run of the drive, Jake Forcier scored on the two yard touchdown run, sending the teams to intermission with the score 14-0 Eagles.

The Rebels came out with great determination and put together a long sustained drive to start the second half. It did appear the Rebels would be right back in it when they methodically marched down the field, only to be turned back from the two yard line on fourth down. In a backbreaker, EVW then
headed down the field in the other direction. A complaint about a non-call when the receiver and defenders feet got tangled up on a pass play to the end zone drew a 15 yard penalty. Facing fourth and 20 from the 25 yard line, Ashton connected with Forcier on a beautiful pass which Forcier stretched over the pylon for the score.

The Rebels continued to move the ball in the second half but were not able to complete or finish a drive to put points on the scoreboard. Nathan VanZee scored the only points of the game for the Rebels when he recovered an Eagle fumble. The fumble, which at three different times players thought they had covered, popped out and VanZee grabbed it on the run and scampered
26 yards into the Eagles end zone for the touchdown. The extra point bounced off the right upright and the score ended the with the Eagles taking a 21-6 win into the state semi-finals where they will face either Triton or Maple Lake, who play Saturday night in Lakeville.

With the loss went the Rebels hopes of a 2010 state championship, however they did put together a great season, making a school record fifth straight state tournament appearance and playing in the Section 7AA title game for the past seven consecutive years. ML-WR Head Coach Dave Louzek spoke to NSO after the game, commenting. “These kids shouldn’t have any regrets; we talk about not having regrets at the beginning of the season. They (EVW) are a great team and may very well win the state championship. We played toe to toe with them, at this level it comes down to a break here or there and we just didn’t get one tonight.”

Coach Louzek was also very proud of how his players handled defeat, something the Rebels have had little practice at. “It is all about the respect we show each other and our opponent, you didn’t see any helmets thrown in frustration, we don’t scream and holler or intimidate kids, but we work hard on teaching them the right way of doing things, to respect themselves and others.”

The Rebels finish the season with a 11-1 overall record. Head Coach Dave Louzek told Northland Sports Online: “It wasn’t where or how we wanted to the season to end, but I am proud of everyone on this team.” Louzek added “it takes a lot of hard work and effort to build a program like we have and the success goes back to the kids.”

Northland Sports Online would like to congratulate the Rebels on a fine season and for making another appearance in the state football playoffs. NSO also wants to thank all this year’s seniors for all of their hard work and dedication over their careers.

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