Gimbel’s gamble pays off with a win

Blooming Prairie conquered hostile territory to earn its first win of the season last week, triumphing 14-7 over St. Clair/Loyola (SCL) on the Spartans’ homecoming night.

The game was ultimately decided by a fourth-and-two gamble by the Blossoms with under a minute remaining.

Blooming Prairie Head Coach Chad Gimbel called running back Lukas DenHerder’s number, and his decision paid off with DenHerder finding a hole and extending the ball to gain the first down by mere inches.

“I wanted to put it on our offensive line. We’ve been struggling there a little bit. I wanted to put it on them and have them win it for us. They did enough… I have to give a lot of credit to Lukas DenHerder too. That kid never comes out of the game. He is a warrior in every sense… That second effort and spin to find space, that was all on him,” said Gimbel about DenHerder’s game-sealing rush.

The late-game theatrics were a result of a largely defensive game that also featured a seemingly endless string of penalty calls on each side.

Both teams had multiple touchdowns called back due to infractions over the course of the game, keeping the scoring total low despite some highlight-reel plays.

Neither team was able to score in the opening 12 minutes, but SCL came close after a 78-yard passing touchdown was called back due to a holding penalty.

Fireworks began in the second quarter when SCL made its second costly mistake of the game in its own territory.

The Spartans’ quarterback was looking for a shot downfield, but instead it was Blooming Prairie’s Gabe Staloch who made the catch for an interception that set the Awesome Blossoms up at the opposing 33-yard line.

The junior wasted no time making the Spartans pay, connecting with wide receiver Bradley Boyd for a touchdown pass on the first play of the drive.

Blooming Prairie tacked on the extra point to lead 7-0 with 7:48 left in the half.

SCL was visibly rattled by the opening score and right when the Awesome Blossoms needed their defense to make a stand, it delivered.

The Spartans found no room to run and went three-and-out for a grand total of -2 yards.

Blooming Prairie regained possession at its own 13-yard line and immediately went to work building on its lead.

Gimbel’s offense put together its best drive to date on the ensuing possession and capped an 11-play, 87-yard drive with a three-yard rushing touchdown by Boyd.

Another successful point-after attempt gave the Awesome Blossoms a 14-0 lead; the mark the team would carry into halftime.

While Blooming Prairie had silenced the home crowd and carried all of the momentum in the first half, the tide of the game began to switch drastically in the second half.

SCL managed to score on its first drive after halftime on a 17-play, 82-yard touchdown drive that almost entirely consisted of running plays.

The Awesome Blossoms had shown a propensity to struggle in the second half of games so far this season, but the team did not allow any doubt to creep into their minds.

Instead, Blooming Prairie Defensive Coordinator Matt Kittelson witnessed his squad put in a performance that could be a turning point in the team’s season.

The Awesome Blossoms allowed just a mere 20 yards on six plays to round out the game, forcing two interceptions by Staloch and Max Sorensen to shut down the Spartans’ offense in the fourth quarter.

“Matt called a great game tonight… We’re starting to learn as coaches where to get our adjustments at. They went down on that long drive, Matt saw one thing, made a little adjustment on where our guys were hitting the blitz and we were able to stop them the next drive,” said Gimbel on Kittelson’s defensive scheming.

Staloch put the finishing touches on the Awesome Blossoms’ first win by getting his guys in victory formation and taking a knee to seal the deal.

“We wanted it more. They came out here and didn’t want to play physical with us. They couldn’t match us and we just wanted it more. We hadn’t had a win and sometimes that’s all it takes is that will to get the job done,” said Staloch on the difference in the game.

The win was made especially sweet as it came in front of a packed house full of SCL supporters on the team’s homecoming night.

“It feels great. We heard a couple choice words coming from them before the game and that motivated us even more. There’s nothing better than beating someone on their homecoming,” said Boyd.

Player Stats

Passing

#5 Gabe Staloch – 11/19 178 yards 1 TD 1 Int.

Rushing

#44 Lukas DenHerder – 20 att. 75 yards 1 Fum.; #2 Bradley Boyd – 11 att. 66 yards 1 TD; #7 Eliot Gimbel – 3 att. 23 yards; #5 Staloch – 4 att. 4 yards

Receiving

#2 Boyd – 4 rec. 73 yards 1 TD; #52/13 Kingston Lee – 1 rec. 67 yards; #16 Kelvin McCarthy – 2 rec. 12 yards; #7 Gimbel – 1 rec. 11 yards; #44 DenHerder – 2 rec. 9 yards; #19 Max Sorensen – 1 rec. 6 yards