“Crazy game - everything that could happen seemed to happen, kick-off return for TD's, fumble returns for TD's, long passes, tipped passes for conversions, it was so up and down all night it was nuts,” said Barnesville Head Coach Bryan Strand.  “We were approached Monday to change our game to Morris as another team needed a game and felt they would match up better with Crookston than with Morris, and since we would have played Morris if both of us made the state tourney this year we figured it would be great.  They are #5 in QRF and we are #3, seemed like a good idea - very tough to prep in basically two days if that, but credit to the kids they just came out and played their butts off.  Fun way to end the season being 6-0 and to beat a good team like Morris is the icing on the cake. Over 1000 yards of offense between the two teams, hard to imagine.”

The two teams combined for 57 points in the first quarter.  The scoring started when Aaron Schiefert scored on a one yard run and Nolan Rick booted the extra point for a 7-0 Barnesville lead.  Morris Area cut the lead to 7-6 when Zach Bruns hit Kenny Sodeberg with a 37 yard TD pass.  Adam Tonsfeldt followed with an 80 yard kick-off return.  Another extra-point kick by Rick gave the Trojans a 14-6 lead.  Bruns and Sodeberg hooked up on a 14 yard TD pass and a two-point conversion run by Bruns tied the game at 14-14.  Tonsfeldt delivered a 13-yard touchdown pass to Kaden Zenzen and Rick’s PAT kick put the Trojans on top, 21-14,  The lead didn’t last long as Bruns hit Gonnerman with a 53-yard bomb and Bruns ran in the two-point conversion, handing Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta a 22-21 lead.  Tonsfeldt then broke loose for a 29 yard TD run, followed by a two-point conversion run as Barnesville took a 29-22 lead.  Sodeberg’s 77 yard kick-off return brought the Tigers within a point at 29-28.

In the second quarter Schiefert put Barnesville ahead 35-28 on a 4 yard run and then scored on a 3 yard run which was followed by a two-point conversion run by Noah Krause to make it a 43-28 Barnesville lead.  That lead expanded to 51-28 when Cameron Heng scored from one yard out and Krause ran in the two-point conversion.  Bruns threw a 3 yard touchdown pass to Jackson Loge and then Bruns scored on a two-point run to cut the Barnesville lead to 51-36.  Tonsfeldt hooked up with Heng on an 8 yard TD pass and it was a 57-36 Barnesville advantage at the half.

The third quarter started with Durgin Decker scoring on a 15 yard fumble recovery.  A Gonnerman reception from Bruns was good for the two-point conversion and it was 57-44 Trojans.  Bruns connected with Loge on a 16 yard pass, cutting the lead to 57-50, but Tonsfeldt carried the ball 20 yards for a score and Schiefert ran the ball in for the two-point conversion and the Trojans led 65-50 after three quarters.

The final touchdown of the game was scored by Morris as Bruns delivered a 53 yard scoring strike to Decker, putting the final score at 65-56.

Barnesville ran for 525 yards and compiled 589 yards of total offense.  Tonsfeldt ran for 248 yards on 30 carries and Schiefert had 151 yards on 17 attempts.  Tonsfeldt completed 4-of-5 passes for 64 yards.  Zenzen hauled in 3 passes for 56 yards.

Krause and Tonsfeldt each had an interception, while Schiefert recorded a pair of sacks.  Jonny Robideau, Brady Kroll and Joey Mark had one sack each.  Kroll also had two fumble recoveries.  Tackle leaders were Schiefert (6 solo tackles, 4 assists), Robideau (2 solo tackles, 7 assists) and Tonsfeldt (4 solo tackles, 4 assists).

Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta had 471 passing yards and 511 total yards.

“Now we need to heal up for the playoffs, we get a first round bye/forfeit as neither Menahga nor Bagley will compete in section play,” noted Strand.  “Kids have done a great job staying healthy and now we are on the home stretch, two more weeks/two more games!  Great group of seniors and underclassman have really answered the call this year.”