Pequot Lakes at Dassel-Cokato

Preview

The dream 2024 season for the Pequot Lakes Patriots came to a halt at US Bank Stadium as the Patriots fell in the AAA Semifinals to Dassel-Cokato 29-26.

Pequot Lakes, looking for their first ever trip to the Prep Bowl Championships, scored on their opening drive as Michael Oseland found a wide open Harrison Kennen for a 13 yard score to take a 6-0 lead after the first quarter.

Dassel-Cokato took advantage of a short field in the second quarter and converted the PAT kick to go up 7-6. Pequot Lakes responded, scoring on their last two first half possessions as Bryar Nordby scored on a 12-yard run and Oseland tossed a beauty to the sideline snagged by Ethan Arellano from 14 yards out. The Patriots took a 20-6 lead into halftime.

The Chargers received the 2nd half kick, but fumbled it away and Pequot Lakes took advantage of the opportunity, extending the lead to 26-7 as Oseland threw his third td pass of the game, this time to Nordby from 11 yards. Unfortunately for the Patriots, that ended the offensive success.

Dassel-Cokato, who erased a 20-7 2nd half deficit in their quarterfinal win, scored the final 22 points of the game with a high-paced, no-huddle bruising power run game that wore the Patriots defense down. The game winning score came with 47 seconds left. The last effort for Pequot Lakes fell short, ending the season for the Patriots.

Michael Oseland was 17/24 passing for 219 yards, 3 tds and one interception. Bryar Nordby had 17 rushes for 91 yards and a score along with 5 catches for 52 yards and a score. Aaron Clark hauled in 7 receptions for 81 yards. The Patriots lost John Paul Elsenpeter after the first quarter with a concussion. He ran for 23 yards, eclipsing 1,000 yards on the season.

D-C (11-1) ran for 317 yards, and will play Stewartville for the state title next Saturday.

Pequot Lakes finishes at 11-1 and will graduate 24 seniors from the team.