No. 2A Mahnomen-Waubun escapes Frazee in overtime

No. 2A Mahnomen-Waubun had its first tight contest of the season and was forced to erase a 14-point third quarter deficit to stay undefeated in overtime winning 22-20 over the Hornets at Carl S. Ingebrightson Field in Frazee Thursday, Nov. 5.

A scoreless fourth quarter played between the 25’s forced a short extra session with the teams tied at 14.

Frazee running back Christian Petron (2) fights for yardage while being tackled by the Thunderbirds' Dustin Rock (5) during Thursday's overtime game at Frazee. Robert Williams / Tribune

Frazee quarterback Broden Fleisher and receiver George Flynn went to work quickly putting Frazee up 20-14 on the first play from the 10-yard line. Lewis Helmers’ point-after kick was no good.

Thunderbird quarterback Pazdernik and the Thunderbird line pounded the ball for six yards on three attempts. Facing fourth-and-goal from the four, Houston Short took a pitch from Pazdernik around the left side, slipped a tackle, and scored to tie the game.

Pazdernik looked to pass for the win and found Cooper Houdek open in the middle of the Hornet end zone for the deuce and the victory.

The thrilling finish made up for some tough going early on for both clubs.

Each team got off to a slow start with the opening two Thunderbird drives ending in fumbles, while Frazee fumbled the ball away on its first play from scrimmage and followed with a three-and-out.

The Hornets got on the board after turning Mahnomen-Waubun over on downs at midfield early in the second quarter.

Frazee moved 54 yards on two plays, the big one a 41-yard touchdown pass from Fleisher to Jack Hall for a 6-0 lead with eight minutes remaining in the half.

Jack Hall (22) celebrated in the end zone after scoring the Hornets opening touchdown with teammates Brandon Nguyen (9), Brock Barlund (15) and Byron Kropuenske (52). Robert Williams / Tribune

The Thunderbirds ate up the last half of that stretch with a four-minute drive to the Frazee 10-yard line, but the half ended on two incomplete passes.

The Hornets took the second half kick and marched down the field. Fleisher struck again, finding Flynn on a 21-yard touchdown pass. Fleisher’s conversion pass was good to Hall and the Hornets led 14-0.

While Frazee was striking through the air, the Thunderbirds were beating up the middle of the field content with short gains. Mahnomen-Waubun finally broke through a stout Hornet defense on four Pazdernik runs and two from Dennis Ashley, eating up 66 yards. Ashley scored from 39 yards out at the three-minute mark to cut the lead to 14-6.

Time for a little trickery.

Mahnomen-Waubun successfully pulled off an onside kick recovering at the Frazee 40 and Pazdernik did the heavy lifting rushing four times for 21 yards and a 15-yard facemask penalty had the T-Birds inside the five.

Pazdernik scored from the four on first-and-goal and converted for two points to tie the game 14-all.

Brock Barlund (15) and Dennis Ashley (11) square off on a completed pass in the flat during Thursday night's game between Mahnomen-Waubun and Frazee. Robert Williams / Tribune

Ashley and Pazdernik combined on 52 carries for 262 yards. Pazdernik led all rushers with 143 yards on 36 attempts. The duo outgained Frazee. The Hornets were held to 171 yards of offense, 97 through the air. Mahnomen-Waubun gained 344 total yards all on the ground.

Frazee dropped to 2-3 and is scheduled to play at Pelican Rapids (2-1) Wednesday. Nov. 11 at 6 p.m.

Mahnomen-Waubun (4-0) plays Thursday, Nov. 12 at Lake Park-Audubon (0-3) at 4 p.m., in a game that was originally scheduled for Monday afternoon.

Mahnomen-Waubun 22, Frazee 20

M-W 0 0 14 0 8 - 22

FRA 0 6 8 0 6 - 20

REGULATION

FRA - Jack Hall 41 pass from Broden Fleisher (kick failed)

FRA - George Flynn 21 pass from Broden Fleisher (Hall from Fleisher)

M-W - Dennis Ashley 39 run (pass failed)

M-W - Tanner Pazdernik 4 run (Pazdernik run)

OVERTIME

FRA - George Flynn 10 pass from Broden Fleisher (kick failed)