Bombers Headed To State

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Nov 1, 2012

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

DULUTH- The Barnum Bombers are back in the state tournament for the first time since 2010 as the Bombers blasted the Cook County Vikings by a final score of 30-18 to move into the state quarterfinals next Saturday at Public Schools Stadium in Duluth.

The Bombers started fast as Danny Warpula scored the Bombers first touchdown of the game on a 58 yard touchdown run to give the Bombers a quick 8-0 lead following a Colton Selix two point conversion.

The Bombers then had a golden opportunity when the Vikings fumbled on their next series but the Bombers were unable to capitalize and the Vikings drove down the field and it was Collin Everson who scored on a 2 yard touchdown run to cut the Bombers lead to 8-6.

The Bombers answered right back as 20 seconds later it was Barnum quarterback Zac Carlson linking up with Colton Selix on a 59 yard touchdown connection and a Warpula two point conversion made it 16-6.

Again the Vikings responded right back when Everson scored his second touchdown of the game. This time it was a 1 yard touchdown run and a 16-12 Barnum lead. The Bombers again responded right back this time it was Brandon Newman scoring on a 1 yard touchdown run and his own two point conversion and Barnum led 24-12.

The Bombers scored one more touchdown before the end of the first half and the Bombers led 30-12 following Warpula’s second touchdown run; this time it was a 60 yard scamper for Barnum and a 18 point halftime lead.

Both teams struggled to get things going in the second half, but it was the Vikings who scored the lone score of the second stanza when Kale Boomer scored on a 2 yard touchdown run and the score cut the Bombers lead to 30-18.

The Bombers on their next drive failed to move the ball and it was the Vikings who took control and marched down the field looking to cut the Bomber lead to one touchdown or less. The Vikings drove down inside the Barnum ten yard line and on a fourth down and goal play the Bombers defense came up big as they stopped Boomer literally inches short of the goal line on a 4th and 2 carry and it was Barnum who would head back the other direction and after a couple of hard earned first downs, run out the clock to capture the Section 7A title.

“Our line did an amazing job tonight,” Head Coach Brian Robertson told Northland Sports Online, “They have done it all year long and again tonight they did a great job on both sides of the ball.” Robertson added “These kids worked so hard this season they deserve it and they deserve to play in the state tournament.”

The Bombers will face Mahnomen in the opening round of the state Class A football tournament next Saturday at 12:00 noon in Duluth. The Indians are the top ranked team in the state and the won the Section 8A title with a 46-22 victory over Red Lake County Thursday night at the Fargodome.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com