extended sports coverage for the B-B-E community brought to you by the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper in Brooten, MN. (Address: P.O. Box 250, Brooten) http://www.bonanzavalleyvoice.com. ALL VIEWS posted are strictly and without exception the opinions of the newspaper owner and no one else; they're written in first hand format. Please submit feedback in writing to the address posted above. **This is Minnesota's oldest varsity high school sports blog. We hope to keep it going into the future!
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Step II: Jaguars pound out another sweep
After Morgan Gronli earned a kill, the Jaguars are seen giving her high fives during game two tonight.
A 3-0 score in sets was the outcome once again for the B-B-E Jaguars volleyball team as they overpowered the Osakis Silverstreaks in the Sub-Section 5A-South semifinals tonight. Game scores were 25-11, 25-13, 25-16. You can read more about it in this week's Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper.
The next hurdle to climb: the sub-section finals at 7:30 p.m. in Little Falls on Thursday night. The Jaguars (17-13) face Royalton (22-7) for a section final berth. B-B-E and Royalton last met in the playoffs in the 2013 Sub-Section 5A-South championship. The Jaguars, ranked sixth in Class 1A at the time, won that match 25-14, 25-13, 23-25, 25-10.
In tonight's late semifinal match, Royalton took a 2 to 1 lead in sets after Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg won game one. K-M-S then put the Royals back on their heels with a convincing 25-18 game four win. The Fighting Saints carried the momentum over to game five with an early 5-2 lead, but Royalton tied it at 6-6 and then dropped the hammer in a 15-9 win. K-M-S finishes their season 12-17 overall.
Below, action from game two tonight:
(Removed to hinder any scouting from taking place)
And below, catch a post-match interview with senior starting hitter Jenna Fischer and sophomore reserve hitter Brittany Berge. You did great, girls! I have zero training on this type of sports reporting, so thanks for bearing with me!
Then Wednesday night I head west with family and friends to the University of Minnesota-Morris campus. We'll be cheering on the Cougars women's volleyball team in their conference semifinal playoff match. Two more wins and the Cougars are in the NCAA tournament! Other sub-section semifinal scores from across Section 5A on October 31:
Rush City (the highest-ranked team in Sub-Section 5A-North) swept Nevis 25-12, 25-16, 25-20; Nevis's season ends 19-11 overall.
In other area volleyball playoff matches:
Top-seeded Rocori ended Sauk Centre's season by a 3-1 score in the Sub-Section 6AA-West semifinals.
Annandale 3, Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted 1
Maple Lake 3, Dassel-Cokato 0
St. Cloud Cathedral 3, Albany 1
Paynesville Area 3, New London-Spicer 2
Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta 3, Litchfield 1
Willmar 3, Alexandria 1
Today is Alayna Ertl's seventh birthday. She was taken from her Watkins home in August 2016 by a family friend, brutally assaulted and killed. It's wrong beyond imagination that she's not with us but the monster who brutally ended her life still has air in his lungs. But beyond that...here's an uplifting message: Alayna’s birthday celebration is at the Catholic Church in Watkins this evening (Halloween). It’s a great time for the kids and probably a better option than being out in the cold!
Here's a message from the B-B-E Community Education department. This announcement was published on page 2 of the Oct. 26 issue of the Bonanza Valley Voice:
B-B-E schools Open Gym is here! We have NEW times! Join us at the high school on Saturday evenings from 7-9 p.m. or at the elementary on Sunday afternoons from 1-3 p.m. It’s only $1 per person, so come and have fun!
Friday Night Lights X: total, complete heartbreak at home
Ryan Illies scored on a one-yard touchdown on fourth down in this photo; the clock read 7:28 in the first quarter.
Total and complete heartbreak. That's all there is to say right now.
Final score in the Section 4A semifinals from our home field: No. 4-seeded Upsala/Swanville Area 20, No. 1-seeded and 10th-ranked B-B-E 14.
The B-B-E Jaguars took a 14-6 lead on the first play of the fourth quarter. Isaiah Gilbert plowed in for a three-yard touchdown on third down with 11:56 on the clock. Quarterback Ryan Illies scampered in the two-point conversion.
USA tied the game at 14-14 with 5:58 left in the game.
With the game tied, the Jaguars drove deep into USA territory in the final five minutes of the game They had first down around the USA 13-yard line. A couple plays later, the Patriots picked off a pass in the end zone with just 108 seconds left in the game (Jorgan Kiley interception...he is also USA's quarterback.) They proceeded to drive 80 yards and score to go up 20-14 with around 20 seconds left in the fourth quarter. I think it was 17.8 seconds...have to review game tape.
The touchdown was caught in double coverage in the right corner of the end zone (just inside the right pylon) by junior wide receiver Alex Thieschafer.
That was all she wrote.
*Watch the final minutes of the game here...the whole game changed completely at the 4:40 mark in this video:
So many thoughts right now. All the tough, heartbreaking losses in B-B-E football history are flooding through my mind. This one will rank near or at the top of that list. Right now it stands right below the toughest B-B-E football loss I've watched: the 14-12 Section 5AA championship game loss to No. 10-ranked Eden Valley-Watkins on Halloween night, 1997.
My sports department did everything it could to support this team and rally the community around it. If there was more I could have done, it would have happened.
It is cliche, and it is a very used phrase in many facets of life. It fits here: the state tournament for this team was not meant to be. I was fully convinced, every part of me believed it, that the Jaguars could get three section wins and land themselves in B-B-E's first state football tournament in 30 seasons of football dating back to the 1988 pairing.
I've had a front row seat to B-B-E football nearly every season since 1993. That dates back 25 years. I missed just a few seasons: 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002. So going from there, I've had a front row seat to 21 of the last 25 B-B-E Jaguars football teams. It makes today's loss very difficult to swallow - because they had legitimate hopes and dreams of a state tournament. I did not talk about it. I don't think anyone talked about it. You put it in the back of your mind and you hold onto that. One game at a time. Coming into today, Upsala/Swanville was all that mattered. That is the long and short of it.
Somehow, I have to get back to conquering my day. I have to put my best face on and plow through my evening - just as we all do.
It still hurts very, very much.
Regardless, nothing changes how much these guys and the seniors on this team mean to me. They will always be warriors in my mind. A band of brothers.
*Below, the National Anthem, sung by B-B-E junior Kaylee Torgerson:
Around the area...and I'll fill this out more on Sunday:
In the other Section 4A semifinal game today, No. 2-seeded Mayer Lutheran crushed No. 6-seeded Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg by a 42-7 score. I haven't decided what to think about that yet. To put it mildly, that score is an eye-opener. *The Crusaders led 21-7 at halftime.
In another afternoon game today, Minnewaska Area was defeated on the last play of the game in their home playoff contest against Holdingford. It was a No. 2 seed (Lakers) vs. No. 6 seed (Huskers) game. Final score: Holdingford 21, Minnewaska Area 18.
New London-Spicer, who has been knocked out of the last two years of Section 6AAA playoffs by Albany in the semifinals, earned some revenge on the No. 2-seeded Huskies by defeating them 28-20 in Albany. NL-S (7-3) is the No. 3 seed and now gets top-seeded and third-ranked Pierz in the section finals. Their section final is at 8 p.m. next Friday, Nov. 3 at SCSU. Congratulations to NL-S head coach Dan Essler and his team! Coach Essler is a 1981 graduate of Brooten high school. Side note: in Week Eight this season, Albany won 38-36 over NL-S in Albany.
Halftime: still 6 to 0 good guys. In the second quarter, the Jaguars came up with an incredible goal-line stand. It was amazing! USA was stopped on fourth down with just a foot to go.
The Jaguars stalled out inside the USA 14-yard line with about a minute to go before halftime. *The Jaguars drove to the USA nine-yard line with 55 seconds left. On fourth down, six to go to convert downs, USA came up with an interception just inside the left pylon to take over on their own 20-yard line in the final minute.
The Jaguars outgained the Patriots 122 to 51 yards in the first half.
**Update: with 5:58 left in the fourth quarter, this game is tied 14-14.
With 100 seconds left: tied 14 all. The game hangs in the balance.
With 19.8 seconds left: USA 20, B-B-E 14.
The day went south. Final score: USA 20, B-B-E 14.
It's game day, and as I get caught up on a few things at the Bonanza Valley Voice office, it's shortly after 8 a.m. with a temperature outside of 27 degrees. There is effectively no wind, and the sun is out.
At kickoff at 3 p.m., the temperature should be 38 degrees with identical conditions to what we have now. Sunshine! Grab some blankets and come out to show your support!
Today is gonna be a GREAT DAY in Jaguar Country!
Here's what's on deck:
1. Trinity Lutheran of Brooten hosting their fall bazaar (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
2. B-B-E Jaycees hosting a youth Halloween party at the elementary (12 p.m. to 2 p.m.)
3. THE HOME PLAYOFF FOOTBALL GAME AT 3 BELLS! - I hope this is not news to you!
4. Bonanza Valley Royal Strutters hosting their fall banquet at the Padua Pub starting at 5:30 p.m.
5. Ka-De Shack Halloween party with 3rd Addiction, Club 104 in Sunburg with Wasted Time on deck for the evening!
If you're reading this, especially through the Facebook portal, you probably know how badly I want to fill the stadium with Jaguar fans this afternoon. I know there's hunting, wedding and other travel commitments - plus some families are unable to attend for other family reasons (lack of babysitter!). I know if we didn't have a babysitter my afternoon would not go as planned. Many have to work this afternoon. If you are free, then grab a few neighbors and come to the game! Adult admission is $7. Worth the price of admission!!!
I'm checking on whether or not B-B-E's broadcasting team is streaming the game. I know the game will not be on local radio. I will be able to post game updates at least once per quarter and post a halftime report from the stadium. *Update at 09:45: the broadcasting team will do their thing for anyone out of the area. http://bbejaguars.org.
Just this morning I was reminded about the real struggles of people out there - struggles that have nothing to do with sports - while reading about one of former Brooten and B-B-E school administrator Mr. Frazee's daughters who was diagnosed with breast cancer a year ago today (Dawn Frazee-Redepenning) - and this was the second time in her life she was hit with that diagnosis. It is terrible news. I never got to know Mr. Frazee's daughters (Shane is the other one, now Shane Illies - 1984 Miss Brooten!) but I know him very well. He was Brooten's superintendent from 1980 to 1989 and then served for five years as high school principal for B-B-E. Frazee succeeded long-time Brooten superintendent Victor Clark (1956-1980).
Let's help out the Frazee/Redepenning family by holding Dawn in our prayers!!! Our small part in helping her conquer every day.
*Below, catch action from early in the third quarter of Tuesday's section quartefinal football game against Kimball. The Jaguars exploded with 16 points scored in less than two minutes and 20 seconds of game time!
As Dick Vitale emphatically says, "It's awesome, baby!"
##ConquerEveryDay
Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
The Jaguars huddle up one final time tonight after their post-match pep talk by Coach Weller.
The B-B-E Jaguars volleyball team won 3-0 over No. 5-seeded ACGC tonight to start the postseason on the right note. Game scores were 25-12, 25-12, 25-20. Karsee Kampsen won the KMGK Smooth Magic 107.1 FM Player of the Game award. Jenna Fischer won the Stony Creek Dairy Play of the Game.
Next! Tuesday night, Halloween night, October 31, at Long Prairie, against No. 3-seeded Osakis with a 6 p.m. start at LP-GE high school. The Silverstreaks swept No. 2-seeded Swanville tonight in another quarterfinal match; game scores were 25-21, 25-15, 25-16.
Spread the word!
Here's the end of tonight's match! And a special song by the volleyball team in the post-match huddle:
Other Section 5A volleyball playoff scores tonight:
Pine River-Backus 3, Verndale 1 (PR-B is a No. 1 seed)
Onamia 3, Braham 0
Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg 3, Kimball Area 1
Rush City 3, East Central 0
Nevis 3, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley 1
Royalton 3, Upsala 0
Below is a light post-match interview tonight with Coach Weller...thank you, coach!
I've slowly been getting caught up on photo album uploads at the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper's Smugmug gallery. I'm good through October 16! Here's the link to the overall fall sports album: https://bonanzavalley.smugmug.com/BBE-Jaguar-Fall-Sports-17 Area volleyball playoff scores on October 26 and 27: Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 3, MACCRAY 1 (Sub-Section 3A-North's No. 3 seed was upset by the No. 6 seed; game scores were 18-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-20 to end MACCRAY's season 24-7 overall; R-T-R improves to 16-11) Canby 3, Lakeview 1 Willmar 3, St. Cloud Apollo 0 Albany 3, Melrose Area 2 (Game scores were 20-25, 25-13, 25-20, 17-25, 15-5) St. Cloud Cathedral 3, Pierz 0 Sauk Centre 3, Holdingford 0 New London-Spicer 3, Montevideo 0 Paynesville Area 3, Minnewaska Area 0 Litchfield 3, Eden Valley-Watkins 0 Rocori 3, Little Falls 0
More updates to follow later. Time to head to Marcia's Bar up town to celebrate!
Coach Moscho talks to the Jaguars following their win at New York Mills on October 6.
This morning I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing B-B-E's Coach Moscho of the Jaguars football team in his sixth grade classroom. Surrounding me were 21 of the most well-behaved kids a teacher could ask for. True story! You wouldn't have guessed that the room was full of students during the near-six minute long interview.
See what Coach Moscho had to offer a day ahead of the Section 4A semifinal game that is on Saturday, October 28 at 3 p.m. at the B-B-E high school football stadium.
As I say often: onward and upward!! Here we go, Jaguar fans!!! Let's do our part in all this! ##ProtectThisHouse !!
##ConquerEveryDay
This B-B-E Jaguars sports coverage is supported by over 100 local businesses who advertise in the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper. Below are two examples of them:
Members of the 2012 varsity Jaguars volleyball team cheering on the football team at SCSU during the Section 4A championship game in November 2012.
How about it, Jaguar Country! Are you ready to help our B-B-E Jaguars volleyball and football teams rock this weekend's playoff contests? • Friday night, Oct. 27: home volleyball action when our B-B-E Jaguars volleyball team hosts Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City at 7 p.m. at the elementary school. ACGC won 3-1 tonight in a play-in round match of Sub-Section 5A-South at Benson. LET'S PACK THE GYM!
• Saturday afternoon, Oct. 28: home football action! Just the third time in school history that the B-B-E Jaguars football team will host a section semifinal game. Kickoff is at 3 p.m., so let's PACK THE STADIUM!! Bleachers, fenceline, you name it - let's fill it with a sea of blue and silver! If you have spent any time this fall watching our teams, you will know that the volleyball and football squads are heavily senior-dominated. They are chock full, top to bottom, underclassmen to seniors, of a terrific representation of the kids we have in Jaguar Country. If you've picked up a copy of my Bonanza Valley Voice "Band of Brothers" football section that printed on Monday this week, you'll know more about what I'm talking about. You've got your assignments! Your excuses for missing them are having to work, a wedding, a far-away hunting trip, or having too young of children and no babysitting...and I think that's about it!! Beyond that get yourself and anyone else around you to the playoffs! I won't talk about it more than this, but I am really, really, really hoping to burn a lot of gas in my '98 Buick traveling to road playoff games...but our Jaguars need to win these final home playoff contests for that to be possible.
There you have it. Let's do our part now to support our Jaguars!!!
Let's get pumped up!
##ConquerEveryDay; Luke 1:74 - "To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear."
Here's video from game three of the Verndale match way back on September 12:
I hope you have plans to make it on Friday to the home volleyball playoff opener! Read more in this week's Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper, which has a nice spread including a photo of the playoff team that will take the court.
I am waiting to hear confirmation of when kickoff takes place for Saturday's football game.
Stay tuned!
Kickoff is at 3 o'clock on Saturday, October 28 for the Section 4A semifinal game at the B-B-E high school. The B-B-E Jaguars football team will host Upsala/Swanville Area. Let's pack the stands!! Spread the word!!! Time to do OUR PART for our Jaguars! Friday: Belgrade Lions fish fry fundraiser at the Brother's Bar in Belgrade. Then the home volleyball playoff opener at 7 o'clock! Saturday: the B-B-E Jaycees Halloween party at the elementary school from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.! (time changed) - then home football playoffs! and another Halloween party at the KaDe Shack later that night with music by Third Addiction! Life in the fast lane!
Members of the Belgrade V.F.W. carry the U.S. and V.F.W. flags off the field following the singing of the National Anthem by Paige Benson.
Our B-B-E Jaguars football team is headed to the section semifinals! They defeated Kimball Area 40-14 tonight! Moving on, baby!! I am pretty jacked up right now!
After posting an 8-0 lead in the first quarter, the Jaguars went up 16-0 in the second quarter and then took a 24-6 lead into halftime.
B-B-E's defense came up big on the game's first drive, when Kimball Area coughed up possession on a lost fumble at their own 30-yard line on third-and-four. With 10:35 on the clock, the Jaguars took over and scored on a two-play drive that ended on a 27-yard touchdown run by Kyle Felling. It was amazing! Adam Jaeger ran in the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.
B-B-E scored two quick touchdowns early in the third quarter to go up 40-6. The Cubs posted a second touchdown later in the third quarter.
The Jaguars (8-1 overall) rushed for a season-high 338 yards! They totaled 391 yards of offense on 56 plays. The Jaguars had four ball carriers who rushed for 61 or more yards. Another huge statistic that contributed to the win was B-B-E's defense earning three quarterback sacks on Kimball's very talented, hard-throwing sophomore quarterback, Tucker Schultz.
Full statistics will appear in the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper that prints tomorrow morning.
Next: Upsala/Swanville Area (6-3) will come to Belgrade for a 1 o'clock kickoff* on Saturday, October 28. *That time is subject to change. Regardless of when kickoff takes place, we must bring the whole countryside to this game!!!!
USA beat Parkers Prairie 22-16 tonight at Swanville.
In other Section 4A playoff games:
Mayer Lutheran destroyed Browerville by a final score of 42-16. The No. 2-seeded Crusaders (8-1) are in the other bracket of Section 4A and move on to host Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg on Saturday. The K-M-S Fighting Saints upset No. 3-seeded Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity tonight 26-7 and move on to the semifinals as a No. 6 seed. (Great job, K-M-S! I predicted you would win.)
Here's video! Just got it uploaded and processed shortly after 23:00 on Tuesday night. It features quite a bit of action, including a very special, memorable and amazing performance of the National Anthem by B-B-E freshmen Paige Benson. (Her singing starts at 2:10 on the video) Members of the Belgrade V.F.W. were on hand as the Color Guard carrying the U.S. Flag and the V.F.W. flag. It was truly inspirational to have those men in the stadium!!! See for yourself:
Other playoff opening scores on October 24:
BOLD 81, Lakeview 0
Hancock 52, Underwood 20
Ada-Borup/Norman County West 31, New York Mills 0
West Central Area/Ashby 30, Osakis 13
Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta 34, Breckenridge 7
Pillager 54, Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 7
Dawson-Boyd 56, Ortonville 14
Coach Gossen gives a final talk to the Jaguars at the end of Monday's practice - the eve of the Section 4A quarterfinals.
'Twas the night before long-awaited football playoffs began, and all throughout Jaguar Country, players, coaches and fans were all thinking "YES WE CAN!"
The oncoming night will be Friday Night Lights IX, coming on the heels of a regular season where the Jaguars did very fine!
The football pads and gear were hung in the equipment shed with great care, with hopes that a vast crowd of Jaguar fans will soon be there.
The Jaguars were geared up with intensity that Kimball's team dreads, as visions of their opponents' schemes danced in their heads.
And the coaches with their chalk talk and well-stated game plans, knowing throughout the game the Jaguars will be fired up for their great fans.
As Tuesday arrives a stunning level of Jaguar Pride will arise, as the Jaguar football team will come out for battle with FIRE IN THEIR EYES!
The long Jaguar-Cubs rivalry will play out through four quarters, providing plenty of notes to keep busy the reporters.
Many years of gridiron experience has made this Jaguar team wise, as everyone in Jaguar Country knows they have their eyes on the prize!
Then comes a loud rumble in the stands that puts fear in Kimball's faithful: whose house? OUR HOUSE! whose house? OUR HOUSE! Anything but a mouthful.
Great in numbers and passion, Jaguar fans will Kimball's spirit douse, chanting in a grand chorus, "WE MUST PROTECT THIS HOUSE!"
(Video) The Jaguars break it down following Monday's practice:
When: 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 24. Where: the B-B-E high school football stadium What: the Section 4A football quarterfinals Who: the B-B-E Jaguars host the Kimball Area Cubs Why: come to the stadium and help the Jaguars protect their house!!!
**...and be sure to grab a copy of the special edition of the "Band of Brothers" football spread that printed on Monday. They are available for free at Coop's Corner in Belgrade, plus at Mike's Market / Roosters / RJ's Mini-Mart in Brooten.
Earlier today, the B-B-E Jaguars volleyball team was given the No. 1 seed for Sub-Section 5A-South-A. It was not unexpected, as they were far and away above the next-ranked team in their sub-section pod.
As stated in last week's Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper, the playoffs begin this Friday, Oct. 27 when the Jaguars host a sub-section quarterfinal match at 7 p.m. The opponent will be the winner of Thursday's play-in round match between No. 4-seeded Benson and No. 5-seeded Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City.
If the Jaguars win on Friday, they will travel to a site TBD on Tuesday, Oct. 31 for the semifinal round.
I am neck deep right now getting my October 26 issue ready for press. It has to happen far ahead of schedule, as my Tuesday night will be consumed by the football team's playoff opener. The press rolls on Wednesday morning - so the clock is ticking!
Further volleyball playoff updates, including the full seedings for Section 5A, will be posted late tonight or Tuesday morning.
B-B-E students cheering during Homecoming on September 29 against Parkers Prairie.
Following B-B-E's recovery of a lost fumble just inside the final minute of the game, Upsala/Swanville Area called a timeout. In this video, Kaylee Torgerson is shown leading the student section in a cheer during that timeout.
This is the type of enthusiasm our fans will need on Tuesday night to give our Jaguars an extra boost in the playoffs!!!
Digging up some stats and other information on the Kimball Area Cubs football team. They are what stands in the way for our B-B-E Jaguars football team earning a section semifinal berth for the first time in two years. In case you haven't heard, the No. 1-seeded Jaguars host No. 8-seeded Kimball Area on Tuesday night, October 24 at 7 p.m. This will not be a typical 8-vs-1 match up. While I would not call it a "toss up" - I will call it the toughest game of the season to this point not including the season opener.
The Kimball Area Cubs have 52 players on the 9-12 grade roster. On that roster, 15 of them are seniors who no doubt played their part in helping the Cubs snap a 42-game losing streak when they beat Upsala/Swanville Area in Week Six. At the time, the 42-game losing streak was the second-longest in the country. Kimball's first-year head coach, John Benson, is a grandson of former St. John's University football coach John Gagliardi. Coach Gagliardi retired in 2012 as the nation's winningest college football coach - in any division.
The last time these two teams met in the playoffs was the 2013 Section 4A quarterfinals. That year, with then-senior Brian Goodwin as quarterback, the No. 2-seeded B-B-E Jaguars struggled to shake an 0-8 Kimball team but managed to win 21-13 in a playoff run that ended in the section finals.
Kimball is gonna bring it! We need to be ready!
This is what else I found on the Kimball vs. Browerville game (Week Seven) in which the Tigers pulled out a 35-32 win:
The Cubs just couldn’t get the luck they needed last Friday, Oct. 13, as they were edged out by Browerville, 35-32. Kimball made a valiant effort, but Browerville held on to earn its second victory of the year. The Cubs move to 1-6 following the loss.
Kimball rushed for four touchdowns and earned a fifth score through the air (Zack Garding). The lone time they converted an extra point attempt was when Weston Hine powered in a two-point conversion.
Kimball stats:
passing - Tucker Shultz 17-27 for 106 yards, one TD;
rushing - Zack Harding 16-163 with 3 TDs; Riley Miller 5-13 with one TD; Tucker Schultz 6-27; Payton Schiefelbein 2-17; Grant Garding 1-1.
receiving - Zack Garding, 8 receptions, 57 yards, TD; Thomas Pearson, 5 receptions, 59 yards; Payton Schiefelbein, 2 receptions, 2 yards; Hayden Gagnon, 1 reception, 10 yards; Weston Hine, 1 reception, 3 yards.
Here's a short video from the end of game one on Tuesday night:
**And here's a fun clip!! This is from the end of game four, when the Jaguars successfully attempted forcing a game five to decide the match against Pierz. Emily Wosmek and Katherine Mastey both had terrific plays to score the last two points:
After tonight's church auction at Big Grove Lutheran, I'll be posting more photos, video, etc. on this blog. I hope you have a terrific weekend across Jaguar Country and beyond!
Rambow, Inc. has opened a special B-B-E Jaguars football clothing store! Go to their website and use the promo code BBE17 to order. The store closes at midnight on Thursday, October 26.
Here's the B-B-E Jaguars football team in action in the fourth quarter against Upsala/Swanville Area. The video actually starts late in the third quarter and continues well past the quarter break:
I hope you get out and enjoy this glorious day across Jaguar Country and beyond!!
Tyler Bents (10) shows his excitement after the Jaguars recovered a lost fumble at Kimball Area during the first half of their Week Two match up with the Cubs.
Kimball Area will be the first-round opponent for our B-B-E Jaguars football team. The Section 4A seedings are official! B-B-E is the No. 1 seed for the first time in school history!
The B-B-E Jaguars (7-1) will host Kimball Area (2-6) in the Section 4A quarterfinals on Tuesday, October 24 at 7 p.m. at the high school football stadium. Spread the word!!! They have earned a special place in the fall of 2017 in Jaguar Country with the memorable regular season now behind us. It's our duty now to come out and support them as they venture into one of the toughest section fields in Class 1A football. The section is loaded with state contenders. One game at a time!! That begins with the opening round!
*Added Thursday night...here's video from the final 104 seconds or so of the second quarter last night:
The updated Section 4A rankings were released earlier this morning. The Jaguars earned the No. 1 seed by defeating Upsala/Swanville Area 14-6 last night. USA was ranked No. 15 in the latest QRF calculations, while the Jaguars were ranked No. 9.
With the Week Eight results in, the Jaguars climbed to the No. 5 spot. Mayer Lutheran sits at No. 12 and is the No. 2 seed in Section 4A.
These are the other two Section 4A playoff dates: Saturday, October 28 and Saturday, November 4.
By the way, I somehow forgot that the 2013 football team (led by the likes of Brian Goodwin, James Kuefler, Billy Borgerding, Trey Heinsius along with a long list of terrific wrestlers) was seeded No. 2 for the playoffs. For some reason I forgot about Minneapolis North. B-B-E was highly ranked on the QRF that year, in the Top 10 for playoffs, but North was No. 1 on that list. North ended up being upset by LP/HT in the semifinals, so the Jaguars never faced North that year. (They would two years later, in the semifinals at Minneapolis)
Other strong teams for B-B-E were not ranked higher than No. 2 = in 1988, when the Jaguars went 7-1 against mostly Class C opponents, they were seeded No. 3 in Section 4B. They went 1-1 in the playoffs to finish 8-2 overall. Nine years later, in 1997, the Jaguars went 5-3 in the regular season and got the No. 2 seed in Section 5AA. They came oh-so-close to earning a state berth - the closest any team at B-B-E has gotten - losing 14-12 at Eden Valley-Watkins in the finals to finish 7-4 overall.
Fast forward to 2006, and a 2-6 regular season actually landed the Jaguars a No. 4 seed in what was a very weak Section 5A that year. The Jaguars blasted Ortonville 53-19 in the playoff opener before losing a tough one at the Murdock Skydome to K-M-S by a 14-7 score. Final record that year: 3-7.
In 2008, a high-octane, Jackson Illies-at-quarterback led Jaguars team went 4-4 in the regular season and earned a No. 4 seed for the playoffs. They again went 1-1 in the postseason, getting a tough win over Lakeview in the opener before getting drilled by a 55-6 final score in a season-ending, afternoon section semifinal game at Minneota. Final record that year: 5-5.
The Jaguars made memorable playoff pushes starting in 2010 under new head coach Chris Moscho. In 2010 they were seeded No. 3 and went 1-1 in the playoffs with a first-round bye to finish as Section 4A runners-up. I forget what their seed was in 2011, when Brian Goodwin and Co. were sophomores. They went 1-1 that year and lost a section semifinal heartbreaker that I'll never forget at Lester Prairie by a 22-21 score.
The 2012 squad went 4-4, earned the No. 3 seed in the playoffs and then finished as Section 4A runners-up with a 6-0 loss at SCSU to Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City. They upset fifth-ranked (state polls) and No. 2-seeded LP/HT by a 15-3 score at Lester Prairie in the section semifinals. Another game I will never forget!! Final record that year: 6-5.
The 2015 squad, with much of the team made up of guys who are seniors this year, was seeded No. 4 and finished 5-5 overall.
My predictions held true. Here are the 2017 Section 4A playoff seedings with each team's overall record: 1. B-B-E (7-1) 2. Mayer Lutheran (7-1) 3. Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity (5-3) 4. Upsala/Swanville Area (5-3) 5. Parkers Prairie (4-4) 6. Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg (4-4) 7. Browerville (3-5) 8. Kimball Area (2-6)
The first round pairings are interesting, top to bottom! Look at the No. 3 vs. No. 6 game, for example...you have a brawny K-M-S team that is stinging from a 35-0 defeat at Royalton and ranked sixth traveling to Lester Prairie to take on a very talented LP/HT Bulldogs squad. That one is not in the bag for the Bulldogs by any means. The USA vs. Parkers Prairie game will be very intriguing. USA went to Parkers Prairie and won 30-18 in Week Four, and today I rate their playoff meeting as a near-toss up with a slight edge to USA with the home field advantage in Swanville. Mayer Lutheran will have a fired-up Browerville team to deal with. I rate the Crusaders' chances as "good" with the home field advantage, but the Tigers will definitely put up a fight. That leaves me with B-B-E's match up with long-time rival Kimball Area. Interestingly enough, the Jaguars and Cubs have met on the gridiron every year since the fall of 1989. For years it was the season opener, a non-conference game, with Kimball usually having the advantage. From memory, I believe the Jaguars beat Kimball just one time in the season opener: a 15-7 win in Week One in the 1997 season. They later hosted Kimball in the Section 5AA playoff opener and won 41-0. In 1999, the Jaguars joined the Central Minnesota Conference, and they've met every year in that capacity, with the last three years coming in Sub-District III play. I don't have to say too much about how tough Tuesday night's game will be. Kimball Area has nothing to lose and will give the Jaguars a real battle. I hope to get scouting information posted over this weekend. Stay tuned!
*Update: Rambow, Inc. of New London will have a clothing store posted on Friday at their website for Jaguar football District Champion apparel! Stay tuned for details.
Friday Night Lights VIII: Jaguars run the table!!!
Quarterback Ryan Illies in action readying a handoff against Upsala/Swanville Area tonight.
The B-B-E Jaguars football team is sole champions of the Midstate District, Sub-District III! Tonight against Upsala/Swanville Area, the Jaguars won 14-6. At halftime, the Jaguars were in front 6-0 thanks to an eight-yard touchdown run by Isaiah Gilbert in the first quarter.
A truly incredible, near-nine minute long drive in the fourth quarter won the game. The Jaguars received possession at the 10:35 mark in the fourth quarter on their own 26-yard line. Almost nine minutes later, with 1:48 left, Adam Jaeger punched in a 10-yard touchdown to break a 6-6 tie. Jaeger then ran in the two-point conversion virtually untouched to salt the lead.
Here's Coach Moscho with a light post-game interview. Even with his voice failing him, he was gracious enough to offer a few of his thoughts. Thank you, Coach Moscho, you are one CLASS ACT. Bravo to you, your coaching staff and your players!
Tonight's win completed a perfect 7-0 run through Sub-District III for the Jaguars. It marks the first undefeated conference or district championship for B-B-E since 1988. In 30 seasons of B-B-E football, the Jaguars have now won two conference/district titles. As stated in the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper: the 29-year drought is over!!
The Jaguars outgained the Patriots 280 yards to 228 yards in a truly knock-down, drag-'em-out battle on the gridiron. A huge factor in the win was a sizeable advantage in rushing yardage: 243 for B-B-E compared to 144 for USA.
Another big factor in B-B-E's win was being Plus-One in the turnover category. The Jaguars suffered one interception and no lost fumbles. USA had two lost fumbles in the game, and both were costly to their cause. Tyler Bents recovered the first one, while Cody Lewis grabbed the second one.
With this win, the B-B-E Jaguars will be the No. 1 seed for the upcoming Section 4A playoffs. They will host the No. 8-seeded team next Tuesday, October 24 with a 7 p.m. kickoff for the quarterfinal round. PLEASE spread the word starting now and on Thursday and get everyone you know to the game!
The other two Section 4A playoff dates are October 28 and November 4. However, I will not be saying much, if anything at all, about what comes after Tuesday. Right now next Tuesday is all that matters for our Jaguars!!
*And here are the predictions for seeding!
1. B-B-E (7-1)
2. Mayer Lutheran (7-1)
3. Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity (5-3)
4. Upsala/Swanville Area (5-3)
5. Parkers Prairie (4-4)
6. Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg (4-4)
7. Browerville (3-5)
8. Kimball Area (2-6)
Final scores from games involving Section 4A teams in Week Eight, October 18:
Royalton 35, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg 0
Browerville 41, Parkers Prairie 22
Kimball Area 33, New York Mills 14
Mayer Lutheran 27, Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity 15
Below, video from pregame and the opening stages of the first quarter. The clip begins (with very poor videography as I was still getting set up) with B-B-E junior Kaylee Torgerson singing the National Anthem in her usual SPLENDID and FLAWLESS acapella style!
And here's some celebration video, with the coaching staff getting the Jaguars set up for a team photo taken by Cheryl Kampsen. It was high time to soak up the huge accomplishment!
Later tonight I will post my predictions for the Section 4A seedings!
Area football scores in Week Eight on October 18: Ottertail Central 43, West Central Area/Ashby 14 Minnewaska Area 35, Benson 14 Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley 28, Hillcrest Lutheran Academy 13 Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City 27, Sauk Centre 24 (ACGC goes 6-2 in the regular season) Montevideo 27, Osakis 7 Brandon/Evansville 50, Hancock 28 Edgerton/Ellsworth 64, MACCRAY 41 Albany 38, New London-Spicer 36 Wadena-Deer Creek 31, Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 14
It goes without saying that the B-B-E Jaguars football team will have their hands full on Wednesday night when Upsala/Swanville Area comes to town for the Week Eight match up. The USA Patriots are stinging from two straight defeats after starting the season 5-0 with eyes set on a district title.
Kickoff at home (B-B-E high school) is at 7 p.m., so be sure to bring your family and neighbors to come cheer on the Jaguars!
Additional scouting information will be posted on Wednesday.
**Players to watch on USA's team:
1. Senior running back Simon Bryce - Bryce is a terrific running back and can catch the ball in clutch situations. He is a very similar playmaker as our Adam Jaeger. Bryce ran in the first two touchdowns of USA's 24-14 win over K-M-S in Week Three on his way to a total of 153 rushing yards on 31 carries.
2. Junior quarterback Jorgan Kiley - Kiley passed for 153 yards against Kimball in their 31-16 loss during Week Six. Kiley scored the game's final touchdown on a one-yard run in Week Three when USA beat K-M-S in Swanville. Against K-M-S, Kiley connected with his receivers four times on 10 attempts for a total of 40 passing yards.
3. Senior running back Dalton Louden - he had 11 carries for 74 yards against Kimball; against K-M-S, Louden had 54 yards on 15 carries.
4. Junior wide receiver Alex Theischafer - he had nine catches for 98 yards against Kimball.
USA has the potential to be a great defensive team. They held K-M-S's Dylan Rudningen to just 37 yards on six carries in their 24-14 win over the Fighting Saints in Week Three. USA rushed for 243 yards that night in Swanville, and they were also aided by two fumble recoveries and one interception (Louden).
5. Senior running back Lawrence Mettler - with USA down 18-8 heading into the fourth quarter, Mettler scored on a 22-yard touchdown, which was followed by a Kiley pass to Bryce for two points to make it 18-16.
The following question has been asked dozens of times in the last couple of weeks: how did Kimball beat USA? Well, for starters, Kimball Area has a new head coach, John Benson, and he is a dreamer and a believer. He has his guys truly fired up this season, and beating USA has been one of the benefits. The monkey of four years of winless seasons has been tossed to the curb. The Cubs scored twice in the first quarter to go up 12-0. Then ahead 12-8, Kimball truck again before halftime to lead 18-8 at the half. USA scored a 22-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter with a two-point conversion to make it 18-16, but the Cubs answered right back with a touchdown to go up 24-16. USA's Kiley then threw an interception on their next series, and it was returned for a touchdown with 2:27 left in the game to salt the historic win that snapped a 40+ game losing streak dating back to October 2012.
The B-B-E Jaguars volleyball team won in five over visiting Pierz tonight! The Jaguars were simply incredible in game five!! They trailed 0-2 out of the gates but then roared ahead to take a 7-2 lead. Soon it was 10-5 and then downhill from there. Final score: B-B-E 15, Pierz 8!
The match went back-and-forth four every one of the first four games. It was rather incredible! Both teams hit and blocked one another and made every point a challenge. B-B-E had the edge in composure near the end and won game one by a 25-19 score.
Games two and three were neck-and-neck the whole way. Pierz took game two 26-24, and game three went to the visitors by a 27-25 score. The Jaguars came out focused and fired up in game four, taking an early 5-1 lead on consecutive kills by Ally Gruber and Katherine Mastey. That lead was a distant memory once Pierz snuck ahead 11-10. The Jaguars found an extra push and took game four 25-19 to set up the rubber match.
The Jaguars are 15-13 heading into the sub-section playoffs. See more on that in this week's Bonanza Valley Voice.
AND GAME FIVE!
...and here's a six-minute video clip of Parents/Seniors Night honoring the very special people guiding the lives of our youth:
FAMILY IS EVERYTHING! Psalm 127:3-5: "Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.
Now comes the playoffs!! Details TBA! Time to let the adrenaline cool off a bit!
The B-B-E Jaguars volleyball team got a tune-up on the road tonight and came home with a 3-0 sweep over Browerville. Game scores were 25-9, 25-11, 25-14 that improves their overall record to 14-13 going into the regular season finale.
Browerville, a sub-section opponent, falls to 5-18 with the loss.
The playoff map has been etched out for the Section 5A volleyball tournament. The playoff opener will be Friday, October 27 at 7 p.m. for the top-seeded B-B-E Jaguars in the Sub-Section 5A-South quarterfinals. The second round for B-B-E would be on Tuesday, October 31 at 6 p.m. with a Halloween night semifinal match in Little Falls.
Next: parents and seniors night! the Jaguars host Pierz (14-11, 1-5) tomorrow night. See you all there!! Here's the details on what's going down: JV2 will begin in the back gym at 5:30. They will play 2 sets to 25 with Pierz's JV2. The C-squad will begin after those two sets and will play 3 sets; first two sets to 25 and the final set to 15. JV will begin at 5:45 as usual in the main gym.
On Wednesday, October 18 our local FCA Huddle will host a special Fifth Quarter Event after the home football game against Upsala/Swanville Area. All 9-12th grade youth are invited to the Brooten Lanes bowling alley from 9:30 to 11:00 p.m. The B-B-E FCA will pay for all bowling and for pizza for all. Come, play some foosball or pool, do some bowling, have some pizza and just hang out with friends.
I had a brief moment of excitement earlier when I found out that the B-B-E Jaguars football team has climbed to No. 1 in the Section 4A rankings through Week Seven. That is incredible! They are ranked No. 9 in Class 1A, three spots ahead of Mayer Lutheran. Both teams are 6-1 and in the running for the true No. 1 seed for the upcoming section playoffs.
Then-seventh grader Adam Jaeger shown in a dual meet with A-C-GC on December 21, 2012. PHOTO BY CHERYL KAMPSEN.
(VIDEO) Here's then-seventh grader Adam Jaeger winning the 106-pound title at the season-opening Jaguar Invite on November 30, 2012. I found this video while scouring my archives for footage with the late Coach Rich Vos. Now Jaeger is a senior leader on the football team. My, how time flies!
It was a very exciting way to kick off the finals that night. The loss of Coach Vos was still very raw and very real, weighing on everyone's hearts and minds. He passed away just six weeks and three days prior to that night.
Five years ago, almost to the hour (it was shortly before 9 a.m. that day), I was dumbfounded by the terrible news of Coach Rich Vos's bicycle-semi accident that took his life early that morning - Tuesday, October 16, 2012. I was sitting in the basement of the Sauk Centre Herald newspaper building preparing my stories for that week's issue. The newspaper would print in less than 24 hours. Suddenly, my editor, Bryan Zollman, appeared in my office at 8:46 a.m. He had a stunned look on his face. He was straight with me.
"Did you hear about an accident by Belgrade this morning?"
I said No, and he replied, "I just learned that Rich Vos was killed in a bicycle accident."
My heart and anything else inside me sank to the floor. My face went white, and I sat in stunned silence. It was the first death of a coach or student-athlete at B-B-E since March 2006, when one of our girls' golfers, Trista Monson, passed away after a courageous three-plus year battle with cancer.
Zollman paused, and then said he would step in and start gathering material for a story for the newspaper. He was friends with one of Coach Vos's assistant coaches, BJ Friedrichs, who I am guessing was Zollman's source for the news.
The fear of these tragedies keeps me up at night on many occasions throughout each school year. We are still sitting in the wake of losing 16-year old Austin Young last March. That haunts me to this day. After the Thursday night volleyball match of Homecoming this fall, I could not sleep. I think I slept about three hours that night. I kept thinking, "Will everyone get home tonight? Will everyone wake up where they should be in the morning? How will Friday go? Will we all get through Friday night?"
Coach Vos (left) and assistant coach Danny Borgerding at the Xcel Energy Center on March 2, 2012. They were matside watching Ross Rath compete in the Class 1A individual state tournament.
Jaguar Country has not been the same ever since that dark day in 2012. In the blink of an eye, our school was forever changed with the loss of a truly remarkable, caring, generous and loving gentle spirit that most students knew as "Mr. Vos". He was a warrior for our school and its students. Hundreds of B-B-E students over the years counted on him for advice, encouragement and support through what is never easy: high school. We were robbed by the accident. All schools need staff members like Coach Vos. Students depend on having such caring individuals in the classrooms and hallways. Of course, it was especially difficult for his widow, Beth Vos, herself a former student-athlete at B-B-E and the mother to their two young children.
I've spoken with Beth a few times this fall. We corresponded today, and I am happy to report her message, "Thank you! It's been a good day!" She now lives in the Metro Area, where she is continuing her career in education.
May her life and the lives of her children continue to be restored by God's loving grace.
Coach Vos always had is athlete's backs...he was always in their corner, 365 day a year!
The following night of the accident, our B-B-E Jaguars football team faced Eden Valley-Watkins on the home gridiron for their Week Eight match up to cap the regular season. After the game, which they won 26-6 to even up their record at 4-4, the players kneeled in a large circle just north of the east goal post, joined hands, and prayed the Lord's Prayer. (Video)
I was a puddle. I didn't even have the strength to recite the Lord's Prayer with them. I tried my best holding the videocamera steady without breaking down. A light mist came down over the entire second half. It was also very windy out of the north, pretty cold from what I remember...the wind noise blocks out most of the players' voices. Somehow on that night, our B-B-E Jaguars volleyball team and our football guys mustered the strength to compete in their respective sports to fulfill the regular season schedules. Earlier that night, the volleyball team swept visiting Eden Valley-Watkins.
Coach Vos was a player's coach. He fought in countless ways for his guys, during the season and out of the season. His efforts were instrumental in getting the wrestling room built in the south wing of the high school. He coached dozens of players to the state tournament during his head coaching years at B-B-E from 2001 through the 2011-12 season. The 2012-13 team was expected to deliver great things in the playoffs, and in some of his private conversations with others, he believed they would be the team to get B-B-E to the team state tournament.
Below, video from the 2012 state individual wrestling tournament:
Above, then-junior Patrick Rooney is shown in a successful wrestleback match. The win was called at the 2:46 mark on the video. After that, you can see coaches Vos and Friedrichs soak up the win.
I'm combing through more photos and video from that week in October 2012. This week's Bonanza Valley Voice will also include additional coverage of the five-year anniversary of losing Coach Vos.
