Posted: 9/14/04
By Cynthia Scott
Late in the fourth quarter of Friday nightís home opener against Milaca, Coach Joel Swanson paced the sideline muttering.
ìOK boys, what are we made of? What are we made of?î the second year coach asked no one in particular.
There is no doubt that Swanson was satisfied with the answer, even though it was two overtimes in the making.
Tony Beaver recovered a Milaca fumble in the second play of the Wolvesí second overtime drive to ice a thrilling 31-28 victory that saw six lead changes and four ties.
Senior Adam Gades ran wild, carrying 32 times for 254 yards and one touchdown. Gades also booted three field goals and two extra points.
Defensively the Vikings were led by Tony Beaver, who had 16 tackles in addition to his crucial fumble recovery. Mike Carlson, Matt E. Carlson and Vince Zaffke each recorded eight tackles, with Matt E. Carlson, Cody Gallmeier (6 tackles) and Justin Novak (4 tackles) each making a quarterback sack.
ìIt was another great, hard fought win. There were a lot of emotional highs and lows for both teams,î Swanson said. ìIím proud of the way the guys hung in there throughout.î
Milaca took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter with a 45 yard touchdown run and extra point conversion.
The Vikings came back to score twice in the second quarter the first on an 89-yard drive that culminated with a Gades touchdown run and a 2 point conversion by Eddie Meier. A 34 yard Gades field goal with 8 seconds remaining gave the Vikings a lead of 11-7 at the half.
Turnovers plagued the Vikings in the third quarter. Early on the Wolves picked off a Tony Beaver pass intended for Tony Watters. The Wolves were unable to capitalize, however, and the Vikings got the ball back on downs. They mounted a drive that began steadily but ended disastrously with an Eddie Meier fumble on the 21-yard line that Milaca recovered and ran back 85 yards for a touchdown. With the extra point, Milaca took a 14-11 lead into the fourth quarter.
North Branch tied the game early in the fourth quarter on a Gades field goal, and victory seemed secure after a Beaver touchdown and Gades extra point put the Vikings up 21-14 with 4:39 left in the game.
Then things got dicey.
A 15-yard penalty against the Vikings for unsportsmanlike conduct gave the Wolves a 1st and 10 on the Vikingsí 40. But one play later Milaca was assessed 10 yards for holding, sending them back to the 43. Two plays later Cody Gallmeier sacked the Wolves quarterback for a 3 yard loss, bringing up 4th down and 13 with 1:16 left to playóa seemingly insurmountable deficit.
But Milaca executed a perfect 37 yard touchdown throw, and regulation ended in a 21-21 tie following Milacaís successful extra point attempt.
Milaca took a 28-21 lead in the first overtime after scoring on a run and extra point. North Branch tied the score on their possession when Tony Beaver slipped around the right end for a 4 yard touchdown and Gades kicked the extra point.
In the second overtime the Vikings scored first on a Gades field goal, making the score 31-28. That is where the score stayed for good after Milacaís fumble and Beaverís recovery two plays later ended the game.
The Vikings are 2-0 headed into the Sept. 17 game against Foley. That game, originally scheduled to be played in Foley, has been moved to St. Cloud State University. Game time is 7 p.m.
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