Nov 16, 2008 - 04:05:23 CST
GRAND FORKS - Yes, Virginia. Defense does win championships.The Bismarck Demons are living proof.
Second-ranked Bismarck kept an explosive Fargo South offense under control most of the way in a 28-19 win over the No. 1 and two-time defending state champion Bruins in the Class AAA state title game Saturday at the Alerus Center.
The Demons (11-1) did some bending “ allowing 308 total yards “ but forced four turnovers and didn't allow an offensive touchdown until 8:46 mark of the fourth quarter. Bismarck defenders also turned two South turnovers into touchdowns.
"I tell you, that was an incredible defensive effort by our kids. I couldn't have asked for better," Bismarck coach Mark Gibson said. "Our defensive coordinator (Dale Colby) did a great job getting our kids ready for this one. They followed the game plan and got the job done."
Much of Bismarck's attention was focused on South's big-play running back Brandon Jemison, who came in with 1,138 yards and 21 TDs. The 195-pound senior managed to get 114 yards, but needed 25 carries to do it. Eleven of his carries went for two yards or less.
"We couldn't let (Jemison) get loose for a big play. We had to keep him contained," Bismarck's Carson Winkels said. "We stuck to our assignments and did a good job filling the gaps. We take so much pride in our defense. We needed a great effort to beat these guys, and we got it done."
Jemison gave credit to the Bismarck defense.
"They have good athletes," he said. "They're well-coached and they fly to the ball. They made us work hard for everything."
Bismarck celebrated its first state title since 2001, and its first win over South since the 2003 playoffs. The Demons also became the first North Dakota team to defeat South since Grand Forks Central did it in the 2005 state title game.
"South's been so good for so long and they were good again this year," Winkels said. "But we believed since day one that we could be state champions. It's a great feeling bringing the title back home to Bismarck."
South scored first in this one, thanks to its defense. On the game's seventh play from scrimmage, the Bruins' Adam Boe intercepted an overthrown Esley Thorton pass and took it back 46 yards for a TD. The extra point was blocked, and South led 6-0 3:11 in.
But the rest of the half belonged to the Demons. After punting on its first two possessions, the Bismarck offense got rolling, marching 80 yards in 14 plays and scoring on Winkels' 2-yard run with 8:04 left in the second quarter. Calvin Krueger's extra point made it 7-6.
It became 14-6 just 1:35 later “ courtesy of defensive back Austin Gunderson. The 165-pound senior picked off a Brock Larson pass on the dead run at the midfield and darted 50 yards down the left sideline to the end zone. Krueger's second PAT followed.
The half ended with the Demons holding an eight-point lead. Defensive back Jake Miller said keeping the South offense out of the end zone for an entire half was a huge confidence booster.
"Not many teams have been able to do that over the years," he said. "Things were going the way we had hoped. We just had one more half to go."
The two teams traded missed field goals in the third quarter, but South closed the gap with 8:46 left in the contest when Jemison capped a 58-yard TD drive with a 3-yard run. Bismarck remained on top as Larson overthrew Sam Callahan in the back of the end zone on the two-point try.
The Bruins got the ball back on their own 22 with 4:56 left, but were forced to punt after three plays. Then disaster struck. Punter Derek Holt bobbled the snap near his own 5, and Bismarck's Dustin Steckler made the recovery on the 3. Thorton scored from the 1 two plays later, Krueger booted the extra point to give the Demons a 21-12 lead with 3:19 left.
The Bruins answered quickly. One play after the kickoff, Holt redeemed himself by hauling in a 79-yard scoring pass from Larson. Kyle Roesler's PAT made it 21-19 with 3:04 left.
South then forced a Bismarck three-and-out and got the ball on its own 10 following a beautiful 44-yard punt by Zach Jacobson. Two plays later, Miller put it away for the Demons. On second-and-15, Larson connected with Matt Wawers on a hook pattern at the 10. With defenders closing in, Wawers turned and tried to toss the ball to Jemison in the flat, but Miller picked off the toss at the 9 and took it into the end zone with 1:33 left.
Miller said he knew the hook-and-lateral play was coming.
"The coaches talked about that all week," said Miller, who also led the Bismarck offense with 102 yards on 25 carries. "They ran it against us last year and got big yards out of it. They needed a big play and when I saw their receiver running a hook and Jemison trailing in the flat, I knew that's what they were running."
Thorton put on the finishing touches with an interception with 38 seconds left.
"The kids made play after play out there," Gibson said. "I can't tell you how proud I am of them."
It was a big night for Williston football as well.
Brent Qvale was named Class AAA senior athlete of the year, and Todd Matthews earned coach of the year honors.
South 6 0 0 13 - 19
Bismarck 0 14 0 14 - 28
First Quarter
FS “ Adam Boe 46 interception return (kick failed), 8:49
Second Quarter
B “ Carson Winkels 2 run (Calvin Krueger kick), 8:04
B “ Austin Gunderson 50 interception return (Krueger kick), 6:29
Third Quarter
No scoring
Fourth Quarter
FS “ Brandon Jemison 3 run (pass failed), 8:46
B “ Esley Thorton 1 run (Krueger kick), 3:19
FS “ Derek Holt 79 pass from Brock Larson (Kyle Roesler kick), 3:04
B “ Jake Miller 9 fumble return (Krueger kick) , 1:33 Team statistics
S B
First downs 16 11
Rushes-yards 41-186 43-145
Passing yards 122 47
Comp-Att-Int 7-17-2 5-7-1
Fumbles-lost 3-2 0-0
Penalties-yards 6-30 4-40
Individual statistics
Rushing: S “ Brandon Jemison 25-114, Lucas Seltvedt 11-69, Cody Jochim 1-15, Matt Achter 2-9, Brock Larson 1-minus 1, Derek Holt 1-minus 20. B “ Jake Miller 25-102, Esley Thorton 12-31, Carson Winkels 6-12.
Passing: S “ Larson 7-17-2, 122 yards. B “ Thorton 5-7-1, 47 yards.
Receiving: S “ Matt Wawers 3-13, Holt 2-90, Jemison 1-12, Sam Callahan 1-7. B “ Calvin Krueger 4-34, Miller 1-13.
Interceptions: S “ Adam Boe. B “ Austin Gunderson, Thorton.
Records: South 9-2, Bismarck 11-1.
bp wrote on Nov 16, 2008 11:40 PM:
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