Rebels Come Up Just Short of a State Championship

Wes Vork-NSO

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Nov 23, 2012

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

MINNEAPOLIS-The Moose Lake-Willow River Rebels had one goal in mind this season which was to make it back to the state championship game Their second goal was to win the Prep Bowl Championship, not just finish a distant second. When Jake Christopherson tackled Alex Varney at the Rebels 2 yard line on a fourth down and goal play with 7:02 to play and the Rebels in front 22-15 it looked like the Rebels were going to win their first state championship.

Alex Varney had led the Caledonia Warriors on a 14 play 56-yard drive the ended at the Rebels two yard line after the Rebels took over on downs after coming up big like they had so many times during the contest. Just three plays later, a tipped ball resulted in a game tying touchdown when Varney picked a fluttering ball in midair at the Rebels 14 yard line and scampered into the end zone for the game tying touchdown.

With the game tied at 22-22, a Rebels drive of only six plays was stopped and the Rebels were forced to punt the ball away. Once again the Rebels would need to rely on their defense to stop the two time defending state champions; but it was the Warriors who drove down the field and with: 01 second remaining on the clock Levi Schmitz connected on a 24 yard field goal to give the Warriors their third straight Class AA title and fifth in their last six seasons.

The Rebels, who fought back from a 15-7 deficit in the third quarter used two huge plays to take a 22-15 lead. Jake Disterhaupt broke through the center of the Warrior defense and raced 71 yards to tie the game at 15-15 following a Michael Pender two point conversion. Disterhaupt had also scored the Rebels first touchdown of the game in the 1st quarter with two minutes remaining which put the Rebels in front 7-6 following a Caledonia touchdown run from Brad Strub.

Tony Adamczak connected with Isaac Coli on an 84 yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter to put the Rebels in front 22-15 which would be the last points the Rebels scored in this state Class AA title game. The Rebels fell for the third time in four seasons in the states title game and this was the closest chance to date to capture the state title.

“Obviously everyone is disappointed to come this close and not get the win, but these kids have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of,” Rebels Head Coach Dave Louzek explained after the game. “Every [Class AA] team in the state, with the exception of Caledonia would love to trade places with these kids. They are 13-1 this season and 26-2 over the past two years. They have won the conference and section titles for their entire career and represented our communities very well.”

Disterhaupt finished with 91 yards rushing on the afternoon to lead the Rebels, Pender finished with 42 yards on the ground. The Rebels were held to only 149 yards rushing for the game 150 yards less than their season average.

As mentioned, the Rebels finish the season 13-1 overall and Northland Sports Online would like to thank the entire Rebels team on a wonderful season and to the seniors, thank you as well for all their hard work and dedication to the Rebels football program.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at Dwight@northlandsportsonline.com