---

STMA 25

North Branch 21

Try and imagine one of the most difficult scenarios a team can go through in the span of two weeks. Then, compare that to what North Branch has faced. In terms of wins and losses, the Vikings dilemma might take the cake.

Flash back to October 1 versus Princeton. Leading 17-13 late on the road, the Tigers mounted a drive, coming back to win 21-17. Princeton’s game-winning score came on a fourth and nine situation.

If that wasn’t hard enough to swallow, last Friday, the Vikings looked like they back on track, mounting a 21-12 lead heading into the fourth quarter against St. Michael-Albertville.

Unfortunately, the Knights pulled a Princeton, scoring with six minutes left to pull within two, then scoring again with 37 seconds left on a three yard run, giving them the 25-21 win. Two sure wins that quickly turned into two scratch-your-head losses, back-to-back no less, so you can forgive Joel Swanson if he seems a little frustrated.

“It kind of knocks you down,” said Swanson, North Branch head football coach. “It’s frustrating how we lost. Two pretty good opponents, it was our opportunity to win, and both times their kids made the plays in crunch time. It’s kind of the reverse of what happened last year, we won all of those close games last season. I guess you just have to give those teams credit.”

St. Michael, coming off a 63-point performance against Chisago Lakes two weeks before, a game that Swanson and his staff studied extensively, was held quiet in the first. As a matter of fact, both teams failed to reach the end zone in the first 12 minutes of the game. The only score came on a Knight 35-yard field goal, giving them a 3-0 lead after one.

St. Michael built on that lead right away in the second. After getting great field position, the Knights marched 30 yards on seven plays, finishing the drive off with a three yard touchdown run with 8:55 left in the half, increasing their lead to 9-0.

With their backs up against the wall, all of a sudden, the North Branch offense decided to take the game over. After going to the air, the Vikings opened up their running game. Adam Gades scored the Vikings first touchdown of the game on a five yard scamper, then late in the first, Marc Vanden Heuvel gave North Branch their first lead with another touchdown run. The senior weaved his way through bodies for a nine-yard score, moving the score to 14-9 in favor of North Branch.

“We just followed through with our game plan. We had mistakes on both sides of the ball in the first quarter. Our second and third quarters were much better. They might have been two of the best quarters we’ve played all year,” replied Swanson. “They (STMA) were automatically going with some blitzes on pass plays, so coach Baumann started to call some run plays to counter those blitzes. We were running the ball well, giving our backs an opportunity to get something going.”

They definately did get something going. Despite a late field goal by St. Michael to finish the half, the Vikings felt good at halftime, leading 14-12.

Then in the third, that lead grew to 21-12. After a third quarter filled with field position battles and defense, the Vikings got back into the end zone with just two seconds left in the quarter. With one touchdown already in the game, Vanden Heuvel scored his second from one yard away, moving the North Branch lead to nine. To make things even better, on th ensuing kick-off, the Vikings pinned the Knights at their one yard line. Ninety-nine yards to go, down by nine with 12 minutes left. The Vikings were feeling good.

Slowly but surely, that sense of security began to fade. That’s because, despite starting the drive deep in their own territory, the Knights began to move. Facing fourth and two, as well as several third and eights and third and nines, St. Michael picked away at the North Branch defense, getting just enough to move the chains. The 16 play, 99 yard drive finally ended with a 15 yard touchdown pass, pulling the Knights within two, 21-19, with six minutes left.

North Branch had chances to answer, however, two fumbles late in the fourth eventually gave the Knights all the momentum they needed to steal the win.

On the heels of a North Branch fumble, their second of the game, St. Michael took over at the Viking 40 yard line with time winding down. Like their previous drive, the Knights moved the ball with precision, taking the clock down to 37 seconds before a three yard touchdown run gave St. Michael their first lead since the second quarter. It also gave them a 25-21 win.

“Going into the fourth, the momentum was all on our side. They came through with a fourth and two, a couple third and eights. It’s just all about who makes the plays and they did,” remarked Swanson. “I don’t think you can put your finger on just one thing. It’s tough because we played well enough to win, we should’ve won, but that doesn’t always cut it.”

With the loss, North Branch fell to 3-3 on the season with Chisago Lakes up next. Of their three losses, against Princeton, Foley, and St. Michael, the Vikings have lost by a total of 28 points. Tough to take, especially considering that 20 of those points came from one loss (Foley defeated North Branch 26-6). Swanson and the Vikings are hoping that the other shoe is about to drop- it has to.

“Our game this Friday is a big game emotion wise as far as believing in the guy next to you. Right now, kids are frustrated and they are starting to do their own thing, maybe trying to do too much,” commented Swanson. “That’s probably my biggest fear right now. Were facing a lot of adversity and we have to deal with it.”

Friday night’s game starts at 7:00 p.m. in Lindstrom. After Chisago Lakes, North Branch just has Big Lake left of their schedule before sections.

STMA 25

North Branch 21

1 2 3 4 F

STMA 3 9 0 13 25

North Branch 0 14 7 0 21

Scoring:

First Quarter-

STMA- 35 yrd. FG 0-3

Second Quarter-

STMA- 3 yrd. TD run

(Kick failed) 0-9

NB- Gades 5 yrd. TD run

(Kick good) 7-9

NB- Vanden Heuvel 9 yrd. TD run

(Kick good) 14-9

STMA- 43 yrd. FG 14-12

Third Quarter-

NB- Vanden Heuvel 1 yrd. TD run

(Kick good) 21-12

Fourth Quarter-

STMA- 15 yrd. TD rec.

(Kick good) 21-19

STMA- 3 yrd. TD run

(2 pt. conversion failed) 21-25

North Branch statistics:

Passing-

Warren- 13-22, 185 yrds., 2 TD

Rushing-

Gades- 7 rush, 27 yrds.

VandenHeuvel- 7 rush, 13 yrds.

Hutchings- 3 rush, 11 yrds.

Beaver- 1 rush, 2 yrds.

Warren- 7 rush, -2 yrds.

Receiving-

Watters- 5 rec., 110 yrds., 2 TD

VandenHeuvel- 4 rec, 47 yrds.

Beaver- 4 rec., 28 yrds.

Sacks-

Haley- 1

---