Sec 6 9-player Fertile-Beltrami vs Blackduck

Recap

Blackduck, MN – The Drakes fly just a little bit higher than the Falcons to win the battle of the birds to advance to the Fargo Dome and there will be a new champion of Section 6 for the first time since 2019.

The game started off as a defensive battle with no points being scored through the first quarter, but the Drakes were just a yard away from scoring when the quarter ended. So on the first play of the second quarter, Blackduck’s Coltyn Puffe was able to punch it in to get the first score of the game and with the 2 point conversion on their first pass of the game they were up 8-0.

It again turned into a defensive battle. Late in the second quarter Fertile-Beltrami’s Connor Haaven made a diving interception to give the Falcons one more possession before the break. A couple plays later, Braxton Paul played a scramble drill in the backfield to keep the play alive and then threw a prayer down the field that was answered and caught at the 6 yard line by Adam Kobetsky for a 38 yard gain which over doubled the Falcons total yards at that point. But two plays later the Drakes defense stood tall and Joey Lory got the interception in the endzone to end the half with the 8-0 lead still intact.

After a turnover on downs by the Falcons and the a 3 and out by the Drakes, the Falcons finally got their offense rolling with a good mix of the run and the pass. They drove 72 yards and capped it off with a 3 yard touchdown run by Adam Kobetsky, 2 point try was no good so Blackduck still lead 8-6 with 40 seconds left in the 3rd.

The Drakes were able to wake up their offense immediately after answering with a quick scoring drive of their own capped by a 1 yard QB keeper from Evan Anderson. Again the 2 point try was successful which gave Blackduck the two possession lead 16-6.

Fertile-Beltrami wasn’t going to go away easily though. They responded with 65 yard drive which was capped with a 20 yard passing touchdown on 4th and 15 from Braxton Paul to Parker Hemmingsen. Again the two point try was unsuccessful so they trailed 12-16 with 4:23 to play.

Fertile-Beltrami was able to get the 3 and out they needed. They forced the punt, but unfortunately for the Falcons it was a beauty. Will Dierkhising got into it and it went over the head of Connor Haaven who was able to track it down at the 15, but a swarm of Drakes met him there and the Falcons had just over 2 minutes to get 85 yards.

Fertile-Beltrami picked up one first down, and then looked for the deep ball on second and 10, but Blackduck’s Coltyn Puffe was the one who came down with it and sealed the victory for the Drakes.

Blackduck will go to the Fargodome for the first time since 2022 to take on the Clearbrook-Gonvick bears to determine who goes to State on Thursday.

Stats:

Blackduck:

Passing:

William Dierkhising: 3/5 42 yards INT

Rushing:

Coltyn Puffe: 22 carries 132 yards TD

Evan Anderson: 10 carries 49 yards TD

Ethan Plutko: 7 carries 30 yards

William Dierkhising: 1 carry 2 yards

Receiving:

Joey Lory: 2 catches 24 yards

Evan Hansen: 1 catch 18 yards

Fertile-Beltrami:

Passing:

Braxton Paul: 11/24 171 TD 2 INT

Rushing:

Adam Kobetsky: 14 carries 33 yards

Easton Fredricks: 8 carries 26 yards

Russell Chisholm: 9 carries 16 yards

Braxton Paul: 5 carries 12 yards

Receiving:

Parker Hemmingsen: 4 catches 80 yards TD

Adam Kobetsky: 2 catches 45 yards

Gavin Broden: 2 catches 20 yards

Easton Fredricks: 1 catch 14 yards

Russell Chisholm: 2 catches 12 yards