AlBrook Gets Last Second Win Over Bigfork

Wes Vork-NSO

For Additional Photos Click Here To View Our Photo Gallery

Oct 14

Wes Vork-NSO

The AlBrook Falcons came away with a 30-28 victory over Bigfork Wednesday in Saginaw, courtesy of a last minute goal-line stand to stop a two point conversion.

In a game featuring two offenses that couldn’t be more different, both teams moved the ball well at times and struggled with turnovers and penalties at others.

AlBrook brings a spread offense, capable of the deep strike, with a heady strong armed quarterback and a receiving corps that doesn’t drop a lot of balls. The closest thing to a bonifide run on the evening came off of a hook and lateral. Bigfork on the other hand, runs a triple option that showcases both speed and power. While they did mix it up and pass for a touchdown in the second half, many fumbles caused some setback.

Bigfork opened the scoring halfway through the first quarter when tailback Brandon Vail scored on a 7-yard run. Quarterback Tony Anselmo ran in the two point conversion for an 8-0 Huskies lead. AlBrook responded with a first quarter drive of its own, capped off with an 8-yard touchdown pass from Cody Anderson to Bryce Karppinen. The Falcons completed the two point conversion through the air, again with Anderson passing to Kolten Karppinen, knotting the score at 8 apiece.

AlBrook took a 16-8 lead in the second quarter on a 1-yard run by Bryce Karppinen and a two point pass from Anderson to Lance Luomala. Bigfork added a five yard touchdown run by Zac Lovdahl. Howevery, there were stopped on the two point run. AlBrook maintained a 16-14 lead. With 6:08 left in the first half, the Falcons added to their lead when Anderson hit Luomala with a 25-yard touchdown pass. AlBrook, denied on the two point run, took a 22-6 lead into halftime.

Both teams traded field position in the third quarter, with Bigfork getting the only score of the quarter when Anselmo passed to Vail for a touchdown. The Huskies converted on the two point run and once again the score was tied, this time at 22 all.

The Huskies had to change their running attack when starting quarterback Anselmo was forced to leave the game midway through the 3rd quarter. With his speed out of the lineup, Bigfork became a bit more predictable. This allowed the Falcons to clog the middle a bit more. That strategy paid off when AlBrook recovered a Huskies fumble. Working on a shortened field, Anderson passed to a streaking Kolten Karppinen for a 41-yard toucdown strike, Anderson’s 27th touchdown on the season, with 2:11 left in the game. The Falcons then, doing what they do best, passed to Bryce Karppinen for a very big two point conversion and a 30-22 lead.

The Huskies were not about to roll over however, and worked the ball down the field in their two minute drill getting out of bounds to stop the clock. Coming out of a timeout and with 8 seconds left in the game, Lovdahl kept the Bigfork hopes alive with an 8-yard touchdown run. The Huskies hopes of overtime were dashed however, when the AlBrook defense swarmed the ball carrier and stopped the two point attempt, preserving the 30-22 win.

Anderson finished the game 30-42 for 345 yards passing for 3 touchdowns and one interception for the Falcons. Receiving leaders were Kolten Karppinen with nine catches for 171 yards and a touchdown and Bryce Karppinen with 12 catches for 87 yards and a touchdown. Bryce Karppinen also scored on a 1-yard touchdown run.

AlBrook will finish its regular season on the road when they travel to Tower-Sudan on Tuesday.

Wes Vork can be reached at wes@northlandsportsonline.com