Pelican Rapids vs. Barnesville

Recap

Barnesville 44, Pelican Rapids 14

Gannon Bolgrean scored two second half touchdowns to lead #1 ranked Barnesville to a 44-14 victory over Pelican Rapids in the Section 8AA championship game Friday at the Fargodome.

The Trojans totaled 519 yards in total offense as the defending State AA champions improved to 11-0 on the season.

Bolgrean rushed 11 times for 152 yards and two touchdowns, while Ethan Larson gained 63 yards on 13 runs and scored two TDs.  Barnesville quarterback Zach Bredman completed four of seven passes for 95 yards and rushed five times for 84 yards.

The game was 14-all at halftime, as Pelican Rapids quarterback Timmy Guler ran for two touchdowns and a two point conversion.  Barnesville countered with a five yard TD run by Larson and a 26 yard scoring play by Asher O’Brien, plus a pass to Bolgrean for a two point conversion.

Barnesville took the lead on Bolgrean’s nine yard run and a two point run by Cameron Halverson.  On Pelican Rapids’ next drive, the Vikings had the ball on the Barnesville two yard line on third and goal. But Guler had to leave the field after the officials stopped play because Guler was slow to get up.  Backup quarterback Maclain Hovland came in for the third down play….and fumbled.  Barnesville recovered at its own three yard line.

From there, the Trojans drove to a clinching touchdown early in the fourth quarter—Bolgrean scoring on a 69 yard run to make it 28-14.  Larson and David Spillum added touchdowns for the Trojans to finish the 44-14 victory.

Guler completed 13 of 21 passes for 234 yards with one interception.  Treyvon Benson caught four passes for 88 yards.  Guler also led the Vikings in rushing with 22 yards on 14 carries.  Pelican Rapids ends the season 9-2, with both losses at the hands of Barnesville.

The Trojans now face Osakis in the State AA quarterfinals Thursday night in Alexandria.