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Trojans Impress with 49-14 Win Over DL

By Craig Olson, 10/09/21, 9:45PM CDT

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The Barnesville Trojans hosted the Detroit Lakes Lakers for their homecoming football game on Friday night and the Trojans were able to overcome a 14-6 first quarter deficit to post a 49-14 victory over the Lakers.  The game featured a lightning delay early on and after the game resumed the Trojans held the Lakers scoreless the rest of the way.

“Last night was totally two games, one before the lightning delay and the one after,” commented Head Coach Bryan Strand of Barnesville.  “Before the lightning delay, which was about the first 10 minutes of the game, DL had 14 points, and in two drives had ran for 63 yards and thrown for 59 which was a total of 122 yards.  After the break they would not score again and only get 146 more yards the rest of the game.  It basically came down to our attitude and knowing that we could be on the field with them.  First two drives I felt like they did what they wanted and we backed off, that was not acceptable.”

DL scored first when Mason Carrier took the ball in from five yards out and Caeden Yliniemi ran the ball into the end zone for the two-point conversion.  Barnesville answered with a Noah Krause to Cameron Heng touchdown pass, covering 68 yards and cutting the Lakers lead to 8-6.  Carrier’s 37 yard TD run made it 14-6 and after a failed conversion attempt the lightning delay came into play.  Once the game resumed Barnesville pulled even on a John Roller 11 yard touchdown run and a Cameron Heng two-point conversion run.

In the second quarter, Heng scored on three 3 yard runs with Krause completing a two-point conversion pass to Kaden Zenzen after the first score.  The Trojans took a 34-14 lead into halftime.

Andrew Pederson scored on a one yard run and a two-point conversion run in the third quarter for a 42-14 Barnesville lead.

Heng completed the scoring with his fifth touchdown of the night, this one on a 22 yard run.  Isaac Maneval kicked the extra point to put the final score at 49-14.

Defensively, it was such a team effort,” said Strand.  “The boys worked hard all week on their film prep and morning practices. We had our assignments and they executed it perfectly.  Offensively, we got into guys and finally our offensive line played the way I felt they could all year long.  We got off the ball and into guys and they struggled at times to find the ball and then we just kept going at them.  We didn't turn the ball over and at the same time we forced 3 turnovers on them, 2 fumbles and a pick.”

Heng had a huge night with 221 yards on 26 rushing attempts and four touchdowns.  He also caught a 68 yard TD pass.  Krause was 2-for-3 for 85 yards.  Braeden Bredman added 67 rushing yards on 7 attempts.  Barnesville had 471 yards (386 rushing, 85 passing) of total offense on the night and recorded 23 first downs.  Defensive leaders were Owen Riddle with an interception, and fumble recoveries by Zenzen and Logan YeskeJonny Robideau had 1 solo tackles and 7 assisted tackles and Aaron Baker was in on 7 tackles.

“To have this game on homecoming and to have the crowd there to enjoy it with us was amazing,” added Coach Strand.  “We also had our tackle cancer game in which we raised over $1000.  I'd like to personally thank Nicky Nelson for all of her hard work in this along with her husband.  They did some great things last night, including a 50/50 raffle, free will donations and we raffled off two game balls, one from Barnesville and one from DL.  Such a great cause and will benefit the Randy Shaver Tackle Cancer event, which is put on yearly by our coaches association.”

Strand concluded, “Again, great win and so proud of my players and coaches for doing what many thought was impossible.  Hopefully this is just what we needed and at the right time of the season.”

Barnesville (4-2) will host Staples-Motley on Friday night.