Bombers Run Over East Central To Win Conference

Dan Lingle for NSO

Click here for the complete game box score

Oct 12, 2012

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

BARNUM- As the Barnum Bombers ran on to the field Friday night in Barnum you could see the sense of determination in their eyes as being a team on a mission of making the state football tournament. Assistant coach Dave Carlson stated to NSO “This group works so hard and we have that goal set. Everyone wants that goal that’s why we work and focus so hard.”

The Bombers showed the determination on the East Central Eagles first two possessions as the Bombers forced two turnovers en-route to a 58-16 victory Friday night. The Bombers defense forced 4 turnovers on the night and could have finished with 8 forced turnovers as at least four passes thrown by Eagle quarterbacks fell in and out of the hands of the Bombers defenders.

Daniel Warpula scored three touchdowns on the night including the first one of the game. Following an Eagle interception, the Bombers working on a short field marched down and Warpula scored on 10 yard touchdown run.

The Bombers forced a fumble on the very next offensive play for the Eagles and Barnum quickly capitalized on a 1 yard run by Zach Peterson. Barnum scored their third touchdown of the first quarter a little later when Zac Carlson connected with Warpula on a 91 yard touchdown pass and Barnum led 22-0 after one quarter.

Barnum continued to roll Friday night as they moved into the second quarter. The Bombers Brandon Newman scampered in on an 11 yard touchdown run to start the second quarter scoring. Newman then connected with Stephan Swanson on a 56 yard touchdown pass and Barnum continued to add to their lead.

Following a kickoff by the Bombers, Barnum recovered the kickoff on the Eagles 30 yard line as no Eagle player made an attempt to field the kick, so Barnum again had a short field and Warpula ran it in on a 10 yard touchdown run four plays later to give Barnum a 44-0 lead at halftime.

Barnum quickly went out in the third quarter and added two more touchdowns, as Colton Selix exploded on a 66 yard touchdown run. The Bombers capped off their scoring in the third quarter as Brandon Newman scored his second touchdown of the game when he ran it in from 6 yards out and the Bombers led 58-0 after three quarters.

East Central added two late scores to cut the final margin to 58-16.

The Bombers pick up their fifth straight victory and move to 5-2 on the season while the Eagles fall to 2-5 overall. Barnum will close out their regular season on Wednesday at Deer River and the Eagles close at home against Rush City Wednesday night as well.

The Bombers, with the victory capture the Great Polar Red conference title and assure themselves the number one seed in the sectional playoffs which begin on October 23rd.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com

Dan Lingle for NSO