HISTORIC WIN
Relentless pressure on both sides of the ball pounded BOLD into submission, and the Awesome Blossom football team laid claim to its first state championship in school history and the number one rank in Class 1A football. The final 41-15 score pretty much indicated the dominance of the Blossoms.
Although the team had gained its reputation throwing the ball around, the menacing defense kept the Warriors unsettled throughout the game. “It’s amazing,” remarked Coach Chad Gimbel, “and it couldn’t have happened to a better bunch of boys.” Defenders like Mitch Fiebiger, Luke Rennie, Jarrett Larson, Dylan Nirk and others set the tone early and didn’t let up.
On the second warrior possession, Gabe Hagen intercepted a tipped pass and rumbled 18 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 score. BOLD took a lead when Jordan Sagerdahl found Drew Sagerdahl for four yards and an 8-7 edge. But it wasn’t for long.
Matthew Pryor got the lead back for BP with a 9-yard pass, and with 4 minutes left in the second quarter quarterback Kaden Thomas found Hagen for an over the shoulder catch for 25 yards.
It looked like BOLD had snatched some needed revitalization when the Warriors scored with just seconds left in the half to trail by six, but Hagen caught his second touchdown pass for 12 yards from Thomas in the third quarter, and Karson Vigeland added insurance with an 11-yard catch from Thomas. Pryor ended the scoring with a 6-yard run with just 45 seconds left.
As has been the case all year, Coach Gimbel credited the offense and defense equally for the victory. “It was truly a team effort,” he exclaimed, “and that is the way I like it.”
GAME SUMMARY
Blossoms 41, BOLD 15
Blooming Prairie 14 7 7 13— 41
BOLD 8 7 0 0— 15
PASSING Comp-Att Yds. TD Int
Kaden Thomas 23-30 298 4 0
RUSHING No. Yds. Avg. TD
Kaden Thomas 1 13 13 0
Alex Baldwin 3 21 7 0
Bradley Simon 1 0 0 0
Matthew Pryor 29 68 2.3 1
RECEIVING No. Yds. Avg. TD
Alex Baldwin 5 35 7 0
Bradley Simon 3 41 13.7 0
Gabe Hagen 8 125 15.6 2
Karson Vigeland 3 24 8 1
Matthew Pryor 2 13 6.5 1
Mitchell Fiebiger 2 60 30 0
DEFENSE Tck Sck Int
Gabe Hagen 2 .5 1
Jarrett Larson 5 3 0
Colton Krell 4 0 0
Zach Weber 6 0 0
Dylan Nirk 3 2 0
Bradley Simon 3 0 0
PUNT RETURNING Returns Yds/Ret
Bradley Simon 2 8.0
KICK RETURNING Returns Yds. Yds/Ret
Alex Baldwin 1 23 23.0
Bradley Simon 1 20 20.0
Mitchell Fiebiger 1 11 11.0
PUNTING Punts Yds. Avg.
Kaden Thomas 4 125 31.2
KICKING XPA XPM
Carson Brennecke 5 5