BP stunned by Maple River

Maple River upset the Blooming Prairie Awesome Blossoms  Friday in the Section 2AA championship game. The 40-18 defeat officially ended the team’s season.
Coming into the matchup, Blooming Prairie was ranked No. 1 in The Associated Press Class AA rankings, while Maple River sat outside the Top 10,  at No. 11.
“Unfortunately, we got ourselves in a hole where they played coverage that’s just really tough to beat. Their defensive line was everything that was advertised,” said head coach Chad Gimbel.
The hole for Blooming Prairie started early in the game.
Maple River cashed in on a quick score in its first drive of the game, thanks to a long 62-yard rush that brought the Eagles into the red zone.
A successful point-after attempt gave Maple River a 7-0 lead – one the team never relinquished.
Blooming Prairie had an opportunity to tie the game after a 52-yard passing touchdown from senior quarterback Drew Kittelson to junior wide receiver Cade Christianson, but the point-after try was blocked and the score remained 7-6.
Blooming Prairie’s defense forced a fourth down on the ensuing Maple River drive; however, a tricky fake punt by the Eagles converted the fourth down and continued the drive.The Eagles marched down the field and scored on a one-yard rushing touchdown to go up 13-6 after a blocked point-after attempt.
A daring fourth-down play by Blooming Prairie on its own 37-yard line backfired, as the Eagles stopped the Awesome Blossoms, regained possession, and began the ensuing drive with a 37-yard touchdown on the first play.
The two-point conversion after the score was unsuccessful, putting Maple River up 19-6 with 55 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Blooming Prairie put together a scoring drive late in the second quarter with 38 seconds before halftime, as Kittelson found the end zone on a two-yard rushing touchdown on fourth down.
However, the point after was missed, as senior Carson Brennecke hit the left upright.
The score remained 19-12, with Maple River on top at halftime.
Coming out of halftime, the Awesome Blossoms looked primed to make a comeback as Kittelson once again found the end zone on a 12-yard rush with 9:18 left in the third quarter.
However, the team’s two-point attempt to take the lead was unsuccessful as freshman running back Cole Wangen was stopped short of the goal line.
Maple River retaliated fast after the score, adding another touchdown at the 7:55 mark in the third quarter and adding a point after to make the score 26-18.
Blooming Prairie’s next drive didn’t go as planned. Kittelson was picked off by a Maple River defensive back trying to find senior wide receiver Colin Jordison deep downfield.
The interception proved costly, as Maple River marched down the field and scored with 11:51 left in the fourth quarter to go up 33-18 after a successful extra-point attempt.
A last-hope try on fourth down on Blooming Prairie’s own 40-yard line resulted in a Maple River stop, giving the Eagles possession with 10:47 remaining in the game.
The Eagles took advantage of the short field, driving down to the goal line where the team punched in a two-yard rushing score with a point after to go up 40-18.
The Maple River score was the last in the game, officially sealing Blooming Prairie’s fate.
Kittelson accounted for all three of Blooming Prairie’s touchdowns, rushing for two and passing for one.
With the loss, Blooming Prairie’s season ends along with the team’s 28-game winning streak dating back to 2019.