Blocked PAT seals the deal for Detroit Lakes over EGF, boosts ...

DETROIT LAKES — The Detroit Lakes field goal-blocking unit lined up ready to be the difference makers following a Cole Schmeideberg 16-yard score in the opening two minutes of the fourth quarter.

Braden Overgaard kicked the ball toward the uprights but Detroit Lakes’ Ryan Francis came screaming down the left side of the line blocking any attempt to tie the game at 14. The Lakers held onto their 14-13 lead until the final whistle.

The Lakers’ season finale victory was a tough-fought battle but it was the special teams unit that shined in the spotlight. In a game where every point mattered, Detroit Lakes kept the Green Wave from gaining the advantage.

“Special teams, that's a big thing. You can get in a position or get out of a position really quick,” head coach Reed Hefta said. “We definitely want to shore up those things as we go into the playoffs.”

The game was a tale of two halves. EGF owned the first half running all over the Lakers. The Green Wave’s defense also kept Detroit Lakes from the endzone forcing a turnover on downs on the Lakers’ 13-play, 60-yard first drive that killed six and half minutes off the clock.

EGF’s response to the defensive stop was pounding its way on an 80-yard drive capped off by Schmiedeberg’s 9-yard run in the closing seconds of the first quarter marking the only score of the first half.

Both defenses held strong but Detroit Lakes faced a 7-0 deficit heading into the break. Whatever was preached to the Lakers in the locker room was engrained into the boys' heads as Detroit Lakes played with a different level of intensity.

The Lakers’ defense held EGF to an opening drive three and out and on the Green Wave’s second possession, pushed them back for negative gains and another punt after three plays. The EGF run game had stalled as the adjustments made in the locker were near perfect.

“It's just execution as a matter of being more physical where we needed to be and being able to get ourselves into position while reading our keys,” Hefta said about the difference defensively in the second half for the Lakers.

The defense made stops and the offense rewarded its counterpart unit with points. Starting quarterback Caden Strand was under center for his first full game since injuring his shoulder against Morris on Sept. 27.

His shoulder looked to be fully healed as he not only found success weaving through the line with his feet and athleticism but also back to full strength whipping the ball around the field with his arm.

Strand connected with Dawson VonRuden on a perfect back-of-the-endzone connection from 12-yard out to get the Lakers on the scoreboard trailing 14-7 with seven minutes left in the third quarter.

Two minutes later and facing a third and 10, Strand zipped a ball to Andrew Bartnes who turned on the jets finding the sideline and eventually the endzone for a 46-yard catch and run giving the Lakers a 14-7 lead. Bartnes was running with his 100-meter qualifying speed having battled a hamstring issue he had suffered against Fergus Fall s.

Hefta enjoyed watching two of the best playmakers on the team do what they do best.

“It definitely can show how explosive those kids can be at times,” Hefta said. “And we just want to be able to bottle it, be able to do it more as we continue through.”

The Lakers did their part in controlling their destiny for the Section 8AAAA playoffs. They will know where they land in the section following a coaches vote early Thursday morning. With Rocori upsetting Orono 22-20, Detroit Lakes is probably locked into the four seed with a Tuesday, Oct. 22 matchup with fifth-seeded Little Falls at Detroit Lakes.

No matter who or when the Lakers will play their next game, getting the final victory of the regular was the precursor to hopefully some postseason success.

“I think it's just building confidence and just trying to be able to find ways to get your explosive athletes with the ball in their hands when we need it,” Hefta said. “And that's just going to be one of the things that we're pushing and pushing and making sure we work on our execution and make the big plays when the situation presents itself.

DETROIT LAKES 14 EAST GRAND FORKS 13

DTL – 0 0 14 0 – 14

EGF – 7 0 0 6 – 13

FIRST QUARTER SCORING – EGF TD 0:34, Schmiedeberg 9-yard run (PAT GOOD) 7-0 EGF

SECOND QUARTER SCORING – NO SCORING

THIRD QUARTER SCORING – DL TD 7:04, VonRuden 12-yard catch from Strand (Buboltz PAT) 7-7; DL TD 5:03, Bartnes 46-yard catch from Strand (Buboltz PAT) 14-7 DL

FOURTH QUARTER SCORING – EGF TD 10:43, Schmiedeberg 16-yard run (PAT blocked) 14-13 DL