ML-WR Rebels Finish As Class AA Runner-Up

Wes Vork-NSO

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Nov 27

Wes Vork-NSO

MINNEAPOLIS – In Fridays Class AA Minnesota State Prep Bowl, the Moose Lake–Willow River Rebels fell to Waterville–Elysian–Morristown by a score of 33 -22. W-E-M defeated the number
one and number
two ranked teams in the state as well as the number
three ranked Rebels en-route to winning the 2009 state title. The Rebels finish their season with a school record of 13 wins and only one loss, while advancing to the prep bowl for the first time in school history.

Unfortunately for the Rebels, they ran into a much larger W-E-M offensive and defensive line that controlled the line of scrimmage. After a Rebel punt on their first possesion, W-E-M displayed its offensive power with a 21-play, 94-yard opening drive that took nine minutes off the clock and ended with a touchdown.

In the second quarter, the Bucs scored on a 68-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Gregor to extend their lead to 14-0. They also added a 4-yard touchdown run by Brady Ayers with 3:16 left in the second quarter to create a 21-0 halftime lead.

ML-WR opened the second half with an onside kick which was nearly recovered by Rejean Carlson; however, the Bucs managed to end up with the football on their own 49 yard line. After a 5-yard first down run, Reid Roemhildt scored on a 46-yard touchdown scamper. Later in the quarter, W-E-M scored on a 42-yard pass. After two failed extra point kicks, the Bucs led 33-0 at the end of three quarters.

The Rebels however did not quit and on the ensuing kickoff Rejean Carlson broke several tackles and, with some hard running, returned the kickoff 31 yards to the W-E-M 47 yard line. The Rebels drive ended with a turnover on downs, but the “never say die” attitude of ML-WR paid off when on the next series Lucas Probst forced an Ayres fumble and Ross Degerstrom returned it 35 yards to the W-E-M 42 yard line. Seven plays later the Rebels hit paydirt when Austin Jacobson scored on an 8-yard touchdown run.

ML-WR owned the rest of the fourth quarter with Michael Unzen scoring on a 71-yard touchdown run and Mike Bennett adding the extra point. On their next drive, Holden Olson found running room and scoring from 55 yards out, and with a Nick Kenemore two-point run the Rebels cut the lead to 33-22. It turned out to be
too little too late however as the clock ran out on the Rebels season.

Although the Rebels would have liked to go out as state champions, head coach Dave Louzek was very proud of his players and able to reflect on the season, telling NSO, “We finished our season with 13 wins. These kids worked their butts off to get here, they had so much heart going up against a much bigger team.” Louzek added, “When you look at [the Bucs] size and strength they were larger, but our kids played much bigger than they are. I am very proud of their efforts.”

ML-WR trainer Chris Klatchmark helped put the loss in perspective for the Rebels, pointing out to Michael Unzen, “Your last play as a high school
senior was a 71-yard touchdown run in the state title game, no one can ever take that away from you.”

For the Rebels, a perennial state contender, the semi-final win against Luverne and an appearance in the prep bowl marks another step forward in which to build on for their storied program. “We will hit the weight room and work to get back here, players change but expectations don’t,” Coach Louzek commented.

An interesting sidebar to the game: Although
this year’s
Esko Eskomos made an early exit from the playoffs, the school was well represented in the Prep Bowl. The two offensive coordinators matching wits were both Esko alums. ML-WR coach Josh Murto played lineman under Coach Bill Hudspith, graduating in 1994. Jon Bakken, the head coach for W-E-M is a 1973 graduate of Esko and played lineman for then Coach Bob Peterson.

Wes Vork can be reached at wes@northlandsportsonline.com