BEMIDJI 鈥� The Bemidji High 歪歪漫画 football team entered the locker room at halftime leading Cretin-Derham Hall 7-6 in a game that seemed destined for a close finish.
Then the offense exploded.
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The Lumberjacks rattled off 27 straight points in the final two quarters to take complete control of the game, beating the Raiders 34-13 to improve to 2-0.
鈥淚t flipped in the second half 鈥� everything flipped in the second half,鈥� senior running back Owen Frazer said. 鈥淚t was a super fun experience, super fun game.鈥�
Senior running back Ephram Boucher was the lone Jack to find the endzone through the first 30 minutes, punching in a 3-yard touchdown rush at the goal line for the go-ahead score in the second quarter.
In the second-half offensive fireworks show, though, it was Frazer鈥檚 turn to get into the endzone.
鈥淚 came into the game knowing the ball was going to be in my hands 鈥� I didn鈥檛 know it was going to be like that,鈥� Frazer said.
The senior scored Bemidji鈥檚 last three touchdowns, flexing his speed and maneuverability between the tackles.
Boucher also continued to contribute to the rushing attack in those latter two quarters, consistently rumbling ahead for positive yardage
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鈥淚t鈥檚 super nice, I can go out and get some yards, Evan can go out and get some yards,鈥� Frazer said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of hard to stop both of us, we both have two different types of running styles. Eprham likes to run through somebody, but I don鈥檛 weigh 180 pounds. I like to run around people.鈥�
The offensive line was a major factor in that one-two punch from the running backs, settling down and getting plenty of push on Cretin-Derham Hall鈥檚 defensive line.
鈥淭hey blocked very, very well today,鈥� Frazer 鈥淎fter that first half, all the nerves were gone. We just came to play and we were ready.鈥�
The Lumberjacks didn鈥檛 just score on the ground, though. Sandwiched between Boucher鈥檚 opening touchdown and Frazer鈥檚 three was a stellar reception from Alec Newby.
BHS came out in the second half continuing to establish the run, marching down the field into Raiders鈥� territory.
Forcing the defense to respect the ground game, the Lumberjacks decided it was time to strike through the air.
On first down, quarterback Kobe Brown launched a deep ball to senior Alec Newby, who collected the pass and waltzed into the endzone for a 43-yard touchdown to give his team a 14-6 lead.
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As a two-way player, Newby also made a few excellent plays on the other side of the ball.
鈥淎l played like the three-year starter stud we expected him to be,鈥� Bemidji head coach Bryan Stoffel said.
Though the offense stole the show in the second half, the defense deserved credit for forcing the radical swing in momentum.
In the drive following Newby鈥檚 touchdown reception, Cretin-Derham Hall quarterback Izaak Johnson threw a pick to Gunner Ganske on the very first play of the series, handing the Jacks prime field position deep in Raiders鈥� territory.
Bemidji cashed in just a few series later, courtesy of an 11-yard touchdown rush from Frazer.
The defense also made a huge red-zone stand in the closing minutes of the second quarter to hang onto the 7-6 lead.
Cretin-Derham Hall had possession with minutes left until the halftime whistle, and the visitors made quick work of the two-minute drill.
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Notching chunk play after chunk play, the Raiders quickly found themselves at BHS鈥檚 13-yard line.
However, the Lumberjacks鈥� 鈥渂end, don鈥檛 break鈥� mentality shone through, forcing three straight incompletions. Cretin-Derham Hall had to settle for the field goal attempt, but the kicker missed wide left.
The unit forced four turnovers on downs through the night, consistently locking up on the Raiders鈥� fourth-down conversion attempts.
鈥淚 loved cheering on the defense,鈥� Frazer said.
Cretin-Derham鈥檚 only points in the second half came in the waning minutes of the fourth, while it was already quite clear that Bemidji had the win wrapped up.
Next week, the Lumberjacks will hit the road for a 7 p.m. game against Section 8-5A foe Moorhead.
Bemidji 34, Cretin-Derham Hall 13
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CDH 6 0 0 7
BHS 0 7 14 13
First quarter 鈥� CDH TD, Monteff Dixon 11-yard catch from Johnson (2-pt. conversion no good), 6-0 CDH.
Second quarter 鈥� BHS TD, Boucher 3-yard run (Briggs PAT), 7-6 BHS.
Third quarter 鈥� BHS TD, Cale Newby 43-yard catch from Brown (Briggs PAT), 14-6 BHS; BHS TD, Frazer 11-yard run (Briggs PAT), 21-6 BHS.
Fourth quarter 鈥� BHS TD, Frazer 5-yard run (blocked PAT), 27-6 BHS; BHS TD, Frazer 18-yard run (Briggs PAT), 34-6 BHS; CDH TD, Thompson 2-yard run (Chimedesa PAT), 34-13 BHS.
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