Saturday, October 8, 2011

Raiders defeat Mn West

Sophomore wide receiver Averey Duncan of St. Paul (left) caught three touchdown passes from freshman quarterback Carson Wessinger of St. John, Virgin Islands as the Central Lakes College Raiders won their sixth football game of the season, 49-14, over Minnesota West Sat., Oct. 8 at Findorff Field in Brainerd. The 20th-ranked Raiders led 28-6 at halftime, with Jared Hoemberg's interception the last big play of the CLC-dominant period. The scoring began with 13:44 left in the first quarter as Dan Ngandali taking a pass interception 43 yards. Gabe Eppert booted the first of his five PATs for the lead CLC would never relinquish on a drizzly, slippery afternoon. Taz Seibert scooted two yards with 5:46 to go in the first for the next TD after passes to Taz and Averey paced the attack. At 3:19 the Blue Jays popped over from a yard to get their first TD, but the PAT kick was blocked and Matt Mogere took it 85 yards for two points and a 16-6 Raider lead. Averey's athleticism added two more TDs in the second quarter as he caught passes of 35 and 13 yards from Carson to give CLC a 28-6 edge. Averey finished with six catches for 122 yards. Along the way Jared had two interceptions and running back Aaron White had some good runs for gainers. Jordan Hayes employed great quickness and pass-catching finesse to extend the offensive threat. White's 23-yard sprint for a third quarter score was nullified by a personal foul on Duncan and holding on another CLC player. Carson did his Fran Tarkenten impersonation to scramble for big yardage, setting up a 10-yard scoring strike to Averey, and Gabe's kick made it 35-6. Jared showed a deceptive versatility as the third quarter ended, tossing a 30-yard fake punt pass to Ryan Tri. As the fourth quarter began, Logan Baker ran 4 yards and Eppert kicked for a 42-6 lead as reserves took the field. Sean Nokken, a freshman from Pillager, bolted for the longest score of the day, a 62-yard punt return with 11:07 left, and Gabe's kick made it 49-6. The visitors scored on a 4-yard run with 8:26 left and the PAT pass made it 49-14 against Raider reserves. The game was delayed with just over 5 minutes to go when Bluejay receiver Brett Doeder, who had several outstanding catches, went down with a leg injury that required a 15-minute wait for the ambulance. The last big play came at 4:30 when Taylor Hradsky blocked a Mn West field goal attempt. This was one of CLC's best defensive games, and one that provides a vison of good things ahead if CLC gets another shot at unbeaten Rochester. CLC plays at Vermilion Sat., Oct. 15 before the last home game Oct. 22 vs. Ridgewater. Then, it's playoff time.