The Brainerd High School football team took down Becker 35-21 last Saturday during Brainerd’s Homecoming.

 

The game featured two of Minnesota's most successful high school football coaches - Ron Stolski for Brainerd and Dwight Lundeen for Becker. Both coaches have combined for 93 years of coaching experience with their current teams and 740 career wins.

 

The Bulldogs got off on a good note Saturday with Justin Reichle scoring the first TD on a 13-yard run just six minutes into the game. A 15-yard Brainerd penalty helped Becker march 76 yards in 10 plays.

 

The two-point conversion was missed, so Becker held a brief lead of 6-0.

 

Brainerd responded with a eight-yard TD run  from Joe Klang  and successfully converted their extra point to go up 7-6. Brainerd converted two fourth downs on the drive, on a six-yard Klang run and Pat Gervenak's 16-yard, one-handed, diving catch.

 

Things improved for Becker as Nick Goth put them ahead on a four-yard run and he also converted the two-point try to put the ‘Dawgs up by seven. Fobbe opened the series with a 48-yard pass to Kevin Vilayphanh.

 

However, the game turned ugly for Becker from there on out as Brainerd tallied four consecutive touchdowns to none for Becker.

 

The Bulldogs closed the deficit to the final score with 2:53 remaining on a 26-yard strike from quarterback Josh Fobbe to wide receiver Vilayphanh. Too little, too late.

 

With the score deadlocked at 14 in the second quarter, QB Sam Miller hit Davis for a 12-yard gain to the Becker 21 on fourth and four. On the second-to-last play of the half, Miller and Gervenak hooked up for a 21-yard score. The third of five Zach Henke extra-point kicks made it 21-14 Brainerd, which was the score at the half.

 

RB Davon Stuckey capped the Warriors' first possession of the second half with a 14-yard scoring burst and Brainerd led by 14. On the sixth play of the final quarter, Stuckey rammed into the end zone from a yard out for a 35-14 Warrior edge.

 

Brainerd's defense restricted the Bulldogs to 14 points and 212 yards through three quarters. Linebacker Jacob Drietz recovered a fumble for the third time this season. Defensive lineman Morgan Gibson intercepted a pass on the game's second-to-last play.

 

Fobbe finished the game, going 14-of-24 for 170 yards and one TD.

 

Becker ran 66 plays to Brainerd’s 71 and amassed 332 yards to Brainerd’s 366. The Bulldogs had 16 first downs to Brainerd’s 21 and each team lost one fumble.

 

Becker also had one interception to Brainerd’s zero.

 

Goth was Becker’s top ground gainer with 80 yards on 13 carries and one TD. Reichle had 55 yards on nine carries and Kevin Andres 12 yards on six carries.

 

Vilayphanh had the one TD on six catches for 103 yards.

 

Brayden Weber led the defense with nine tackles including two assists, one sack and three tackles for loss.

Becker fell to 2-4 while Brainerd improved to 3-3.

 

 

Brandon Gustafson, senior captain and offensive tackle, was named Player of the Week for his outstanding game against Brainerd.  Brandon had a number of "pancake blocks" in the game.  Line coach Troy Robinson said, "When we need a big play from our offense we run the ball behind Brandon".