Anderson Runs Through Barnum in Section Semi-Finals

Wes Vork-NSO

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Oct 31

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

BARNUM – The Barnum Bombers were hoping to exact revenge against one of the two teams that beat them earlier in the season. However, on Saturday it was the Lions of Ogilvie that would take Section 7A playoff game by scoring 34 unanswered points to notch off the Bombers 34-16. Running back Michael Anderson scored four touchdowns to lead the Lions to the 18 point victory.

Barnum scored on their opening drive of the game at the 9:43 mark of the first quarter. Starting the advance at their own 15-yard line, Josh Hogan sealed the deal with a one yard touchdown run. Hogan then added the two point conversion to put the Bombers up 8-0. That was the end of the Barnum offense until the last drive of the game, where the Bombers would score to close the final margin of victory.

Head coach Kevin Haley told Northland Sports Online, “We need to make sure we don’t give up any big plays and win the battle of the turnovers…We had too many turnovers and gave up big plays the last time we met so we need to control those if we want to win.”
Haley was referring to the two huge 55-yard touchdown runs by Anderson in the 3rd quarter that sealed the fate of the Bombers.

Anderson’s two 55-yard runs were anchored by a 3-yard run in the 2nd quarter and a 31-yard touchdown run in the fourth; he finished with 214 yards rushing on the day. Thomas Sullivan, the Lions’ quarterback scored the other touchdown. With Ogilvie leading 34-8, Barnum scored with thirty seconds remaining in the game. Taylor Carlson put in his final effort with a 3-yard run and the two point conversion.

The Bombers struggled to get an offensive rhythm going after their early lead, but it was a hard fought game and closer than the final score would indicate. Taylor Carlson had another strong rushing performance Saturday with 120 yards on 17 carries. Josh Hogan finished with 62 yards rushing for the Bombers.

Barnum ends its season at 7-3 overall, with all three losses coming from the top two seeds in Section 7A. Ogilvie improves to 8-2 on the season and will face East Central, who beat the defending section champion, the Chisholm Bluestreaks, 24-0 Saturday afternoon in Sandstone. The Section 7A championship game is to be held Thursday afternoon at 4:45 at Public School Stadium in Duluth, Minnesota.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com