Rebels Prepare For Seventh Straight State Tournament Appearance

Nov 8, 2012

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

The Moose lake-Willow River Rebels will be making their seventh consecutive state football appearance this Friday night in the state football tournament. This year the Rebels are looking to complete some unfinished business. Two of the past three seasons the Rebels have played for the state title only to come up just short.

The Rebels, who fell a season ago to Caledonia 27-0 in the championship game, could be facing a potential rematch if things play out the same as a season ago. Three years ago the Rebels fell to Waterville-Elysian-Morristown by a score of 33-22.The Buccaneers lost this season in the section finals and will not be in the 2012 state tournament.

Last season the Rebels used a big strike offense that often stuck quickly and from distances that were more the 50 yards at a time to build huge leads and a team that averaged near 50 points per game. This season’s team still is an offensive juggernaut, but the offense is more balanced with the Rebels using more sustained drives and a more balanced rushing attack and running attacks on the season.

Jake Disterhaupt the top back from a season ago, which saw him rush for 2000 yards while scoring 40 touchdowns is still a touchdown threat as he has scored 21 touchdowns entering the state tournament, He is matched by his teammate Michael Pender who also has 21 touchdowns. Pender leads the Rebels in rushing with 1380 yards and averages over 10 yards per carry while Disterhaupt has rushed for 1292 yards and is averaging 11.2 yards per carry.

The Rebels have shown new looks this season with new offensive formations and using Disterhaupt as a wide receiver in many situations this year. Disterhaupt leads the team in receptions with 11 and has five touchdown receptions. Isaac Coil has 9 receptions and two touchdowns while Pender has 8 receptions this season from Tony Adamczak who is 34-64 with 707 yards passing.

The Rebels will face Hawley in the state quarterfinal. The game is a rematch from three seasons ago when Hawley and Moose Lake-Willow River battled to a 41-35 overtime victory for the Rebels in Fargo. The Rebels advanced to the state title game that season. The Nuggets defeated Barnesville in the Section 8 AA title game last week.

The Nuggets are led by running back Alex Ames, who has rushed for 1117 yards and is averaging 7.7 yards per carry. Quarterback Jordan Harms is 42-71 for 928 yards and has 18 touchdowns on the season. Harms has a favorite target in David Ellefson, who has 24 receptions this season and has 623 yards receiving and 12 touchdown receptions. The Nuggets average 315 yards rushing and 100 passing per game.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com