Trailing 14-12 in the fourth quarter, Pequot Lakes drove into Detroit Lakes territory twice to be stopped on fourth down each time.
With under a minute to play, Patriots’ quarterback Bode Magnuson was sacked turning the ball over on downs and when the Lakers ran for a first down on third and one it sealed a 14-12 Midwest Red Subdistrict victory Wednesday, Nov. 11, for Detroit Lakes.
“We wanted to get back to what we were doing,” Lakers head coach Josh Omang said. “What we’ve done for years is be physical. I’m proud of these guys, that was a good win for us.”
Despite the loss, Pequot Lakes still outgained the Lakers 284-242 with a balanced passing and rushing attack.
“A lot of grit by our guys,” Pequot Lakes head coach Bill Magnuson said. “There is no secret at what they were going to do. They were going to try and bully you in the run game. Our kids stood in there all game long to hold them to 14 points and with four minutes to go to get the ball at your own 40-yard line and have a chance to win. I am proud of our guys.”
ADVERTISEMENT
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Detroit Lakes looked like it was headed into the end zone to make it a two-score game, but fumbled at the Pequot Lakes 5-yardline.
The Patriots defense kept the Lakers scoreless in the second half, but couldn’t get that game-winning drive into the end zone to secure a win in the final regular season game.
“What’s so cool about our defense right now is there is so much communication,” Bill Magnuson said. “They are starting to figure out this game. We make calls and they can change those calls and do the things that we want them to do. That’s why they played so well in the second half — the adjustments they are making mentally."
After a scoreless first quarter, the Lakers scored first on a 9-yard reserve run by Caeden Yliniemi giving Detroit Lakes a 7-0 advantage.
“That’s a good tone setter,” Omang said. “They were just pinching down real hard. We thought we could get them and we did, and executed it.”
Pequot Lakes responded with a touchdown drive of its own. Carter Sjoblad, who led the Patriots in rushing with 78 yards, found the end zone from five yards out. The extra point missed however, so the Lakers still led 7-6.
“He just ran hard and trusted his blocks,” Bill Magnuson said of Sjoblad. “Very physical runner which we needed tonight and he did that.”
To end the half, Lakers’ running back Ethan Carrier scored an 11-yard touchdown to give Detroit Lakes a 14-6 lead into halftime.
ADVERTISEMENT
Carrier finished the game with 63 yards, while Christian Solberg led the Lakers in rushing with 89 yards.
Detroit Lakes relied heavily on the run, only throwing eight times to 48 rushing attempts. The Lakers secured a 192-119 yards advantage on the ground.
“We got a couple three, four backs we use and trust,” Omang said. “I was proud of how we ran the ball. We were mixing it up good and that’s been a thing we have wanted to do and focus on.”
Toward the end of the third quarter, Sjoblad scored his second touchdown of the game from 21 yards out to get the Patriots only down two. Pequot’s two-point attempt failed, so they still trailed 14-12.
The Lakers defense stepped up when it mattered in the fourth quarter.
“Our D has been tough all year,” Omang said. “They just keep battling and fighting. They have carried us a lot. I feel good about those kids. Magnuson is a dangerous player to try and contain him all the time and they did a heck of a job of doing that.”
Bode Magnuson finished the game 15-30 passing for 165 yards and an interception on the first play from scrimmage for Pequot Lakes. He also finished with five yards rushing on 11 carries.
Erik Larsen led the Patriots in receiving with five catches for 58 yards. He also rushed for 36 yards.
ADVERTISEMENT
Bill Magnuson said the loss probably does not have too much effect on their seeding for the Section 8-3A playoffs starting Tuesday, Nov. 17. They will find out officially what seed they will be Friday, Nov. 13.
“We are probably going to be the No. 2 seed,” he said. “Now take this and learn from it and go to the playoffs. We just played a Class 4A school 14-12, that’s something you can take to the playoffs. We can play with anybody.”
Detroit Lakes 0 14 0 0 — 14
Pequot Lakes 0 6 6 0 — 12
Second quarter
DL-Caeden Yliniemi 9 run (Evan Thomas kick) 7:15
PL-Carter Sjoblad 5 run (kick failed) 4:49
DL-Ethan Carrier 11 run (Thomas kick) 1:06
Third quarter
PL-Sjoblad 21 run (run failed) 1:11
ADVERTISEMENT
Team statistics
Rushes-yards: PL 30-119, DL 48-192
Pass comp-att-int-yds: PL 15-30-1-165, DL 3-8-0-50
Total offense: PL 60-284, DL 56-242
Individual leaders
Rushing: PL-Carter Sjoblad 13-78, Erik Larsen 6-36, Bode Magnuson 11-5; DL-Christian Solberg 27-89, Ethan Carrier 9-63, Joseph Heinlein 4-23, Jake Green 5-12, Caeden Ylineimi 1-9
Passing: PL-Bode Magnuson 15-30-165; DL-Matthew Tobkin 3-8-50
Receiving: PL-Erik Larsen 5-58, Alex Morgan 3-50, Ryan Harmala 4-33, Hunter Nybakken 2-24; DL-Jake Green 1-37, 2-13 Ty Jones 2-13
Detroit Lakes 14, Pequot Lakes 12
Key: Two key defensive stops secured a Lakers win on the road in Pequot Lakes.
Overall: PL 4-2, DL 5-1.
Next: Pequot Lakes plays in the Section 8-3A quarterfinals Tuesday, Nov. 17.
ADVERTISEMENT
CONRAD ENGSTROM may be reached at 218-855-5861 or conrad.engstrom@brainerddispatch.com. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/the_rad34.
