Botched snap propels Blossoms over Trojans 43-8
The Blooming Prairie defense swarmed Rushford-Peterson all night. Here, Jacob Pauly (14) and another teammate (partially hidden) stopped the rush on a failed third-down attempt. Staff photo by Kay Fate
Blooming Prairie football opened its 2023 season in a major way by downing Rushford-Peterson 43-8 at home.
The Awesome Blossoms were dominant on both sides of the ball, and even began the game’s scoring with its defense as opposed to its offense.
Head coach Chad Gimbel’s squad scored its first points of the season on a safety – yes, you read that right – after the Blossoms tackled the Trojans’ quarterback in the endzone following a botched snap.
The safety gave Blooming Prairie a 2-0 lead with two minutes remaining in the first quarter, but more points were soon to follow.
Exactly one minute later, Blossoms’ quarterback Brady Kittelson connected with wide receiver Dylan Anderson for a 51-yard touchdown pass to go up 8-0.
Rushford-Peterson managed to tie the game at 8-8 following a tough, long drive that ended with a three-yard rush and a successful two-point conversion at the 8:40 mark of the second quarter.
Blooming Prairie was not deterred by the sudden Trojans' momentum as quick few plays a 26-yard completion from Kittelson to Anderson put the Blossoms right back at the Rushford-Peterson 15-yard line.
This time it was Alex Lea who made the touchdown grab, scoring on a quick out route from nine yards out.
Blooming Prairie converted its two-point conversion once more to make the score 16-8 with 4:13 left to go in the half.
The game would begin to unfold for Rushford-Peterson on its next drive when a three-and-out possession was followed by a botched snap on a punt attempt, giving the Blossoms the ball back on the Trojans’ three-yard line where the punter elected to fall on the ball.
Blooming Prairie managed to score the next play on a three-yard rush by Lea to go up 22-8 – the lead the Blossoms would take into halftime.
The first half of the third quarter was largely quiet until Blooming Prairie’s Cole Wangen capped a long drive with a 15-yard rushing touchdown.
Wangen’s touchdown put the Blossoms up 29-8 after a made point-after try.
Wangen went on to score the Blossoms' next touchdown with 55 seconds remaining in the third on a two-yard scamper to cap a 65-yard drive and put the Blossoms up 36-8.
Blooming Prairie’s final touchdown of the game came on an eight-yard rush by runningback Gage Mullenbach with 9:53 remaining in the game.
The Blossoms' rushing game posted 241 yards on the ground over the course of the game, proving to be too much for the Trojans to handle.
Leading the way was Wangen with 87 yards on 16 carries and scoring two touchdowns.
Up next for Blooming Prairie is a road game against Fillmore Central on Friday at 7 p.m.
|
Team |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
Final |
|
Rushford-Peterson |
0 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
|
Blooming Prairie |
8 |
14 |
14 |
7 |
43 |
Player Stats
Passing
#9 Brady Kittelson – 13-25 175 yards 2 TD 1 int.; #5 Gabe Staloch – 3-3 15 yards
Rushing
#4 Cole Wangen – 16 att. 87 yards 2 TD; #9 Kittelson – 9 att. 70 yards; #6 Gage Mullenbach – 6 att. 57 yards 1 TD; #12 Alex Lea – 3 att. 14 yards 1 TD; #21 Cannon Wacek – 3 att. 8 yards; #2 Bradley Boyd – 1 att. 5 yards
Receiving
#1 Dylan Anderson – 3 rec. 81 yards 1 TD; #12 Lea – 4 rec. 49 yards 1 TD; #21 Wacek – 3 rec. 17 yards; #14 Jacob Pauly – 2 rec. 17 yards; #13 Kingston Lee – 1 rec. 10 yards