It was a majestic finish to a monumental season for the Becker Bulldogs football team who captured the Class AAAA title (last Friday) at TCF Bank Stadium. The Bulldogs whipped the South St. Paul Packers, 35-14 to gain their second straight title and third overall. Thursday, the team, coaches, fans and family gathered at the high school to celebrate the success of this year’s 2015 team that went undefeated in 13 games. They scored 568 points and gave up just 115.

 

This year was Becker’s 15th state tournament  appearance.

 

Quarterback Andrew Stanger played in all the games and during the regular season he was 68-for-113 (60.2%) for 1,264 yards, 18 TDs and three interceptions. In section play, he was 18-for 34 (52.9%) for 241 yards with two TDs and one interception. During the state playoffs, he was 34-for-55 (61.8%) for 620 yards and had seven TDs and one INT.

 

He finished 120-for-202 (60%) for 2,125 yards and 27 touchdowns and five interceptions.

 

“This feels amazing,” said Stanger at the banquet. “We set our goals and had high expectations and we did it.”

 

Stanger said the team went into the Prep Bowl game confident, but not overconfident.

 

“We knew we could move the ball and with our defense, we were felling pretty good about our chances.”

 

Stanger said he’ll always remember the title game but says the Orono game was one he’ll always treasure.

 

“They were a great team and for us to stay composed at the end and pull it out, was just fantastic,” he said.

 

Becker won the game over Orono Oct. 24, 22-21, for the Section 6AAAA title.

 

Quarterbacks Coach Chris Meidt was instrumental in teaching, preparing, guiding not only Stanger, but Michael Veldman last year. Meidt said Andrew was fun to coach after he got to coach his dad, Corey, over 21 years ago.

 

“I think I did a better job with Andrew,” Meidt said at the banquet. “He came away with a championship.”

 

Meidt says Andrew was very coachable and did everything he was asked of to get better each week.

 

“He’s a gifted leader and incredibly athletic.”

 

Running Back Gabe Dertinger led the team with 1,251 yards on 137 carries for 13 TDs and one fumble. Alex Meidt gained 224 yards on 28 carries and had two TDs and zero fumbles. Milan Kent had 580 yards on 77 carries for 11 TDs and zero fumbles.

 

Beau Pauly had 357 yards on 67 carries for eight TDs and three fumbles. He also was a defensive standout, recording 51 tackles, four sacks, one fumble recovery (TD) and three interceptions.

 

“Beau was our on-field coach,” said Defensive Coordinator Hokan Bengtson. “He is a student of the game. It was my pleasure to coach him.”

 

Pauly, who said he took more pride in his defensive play than on offense, learned a lot from the current coaching staff.

 

“They taught me how to carry myself, how to be a better person now and in the future. They mentored me so I can grow to become a good husband and father down the road.”

 

Pauly, who has yet to commit to a college for next year, is keeping his options open for after graduation.

 

“We’ll see what happens over the next few weeks and months after I soak all this up,” he said. “It’s gonna be tough to leave the program.”

 

Pauly sees a bright future for the football program despite the fact the team will lose numerous key players from the last two championship teams.

 

“Our juniors and sophomores got a lot of playing time on the big stage due to some of our games being runaways,” he said. “So I think with that experience, with the coaching staff established here, the future looks bright.”

 

For receivers, Alex Meidt led the wideouts with 736 yards on 41 catches for 13 touchdowns and 196 yards after the catch. Jake Fobbe had 427 yards receiving on 21 receptions for eight TDs and 138 YAC. Clayton Gallus had 370 yards on 27 catches for five TDs and had 104 YAC. Tyler Thorson had one TD on 10 catches for 206 yards and Kent had 317 yards on 16 catches and two TDs.

 

On defense, Jaylin Hildebrandt had 60 tackles, seven sacks and one fumble recovery. Pauly had 51 tackles, four sacks, one fumble recovery (TD) and three interceptions. Dillon Radunz had 27 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Frankie Baker had 27 tackles, three sacks and one fumble recovery. Austin Rasmussen had 27 tackles and three interceptions (TD). Milan Kent had 33 tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble and one interception.

 

Lucas Dertinger made 54-of-62 extra points as kicker. he also averaged nearly 35 yards a punt as the team’s punter.

 

Kick and punt returner Meidt had one touchdown and averaged 20 yards on punts and 15 yards on kickoffs. Dertinger had 0 TDs and averaged 22 yards on kickoffs.

 

Casey Vesledahl, who has committed to South Dakota State for football and his education, was another key cog in the Becker success as he anchored a powerful offensive line that protected the QB and gouged big holes for the RBS — while on defense, he and Radunz put up a wall that was nearly impenetrable.

 

“Casey was a very consistent player and the best run blocker I ever coached,” said Offensive Coordinator Mike Lundeen. “He was easy to coach and I’m really proud of him and look forward to his promising future.”

 

Casey said his best memory of this year will be the Orono game, where his team rallied from seven pints down to score with just under a minute left. The Bulldogs went for two and the win and pulled it out.

 

“That was so awesome to run over there and grab that trophy,” Casey said. “We were all just jumping around and so excited.”

 

Vesledahl said the only time things weren’t going so good for the Bulldogs was in the first meeting with Zimmerman.

 

“There was a lot of yelling in the huddle,” he said. “Things weren’t going good and guys were frustrated.”

 

Becker won that game 29-22 on 9/11.

 

Casey — who has played many years for Coach Dwight Lundeen and been in  several state playoff games — said this year’s team was more confident going into the Prep Bowl game than last year.

 

“Last year, we didn’t know what to expect from a city team like DeLaSalle,” he said. “We read all the papers and stories where DeLaSalle was expecting to win that game over us by an easy margin. This year, we knew we could handle South St. Paul and when we scored early and moved the ball, our confidence grew.”

 

At Thursday’s banquet, Coach Lundeen addressed the crowd and thanked them for their support and for their participation.

 

“This was another great journey and I really appreciate these kids for bringing home this championship,” Lundeen said. “And I thank our many volunteers, parents and supporters who were there week in and week out throughout the season.”

 

Dwight and his coaches handed out numerous awards for the players and a couple for non-players.

 

Fan of the year went to Jen Edling and the distinguished service award to Kristi Fobbe for their contributions to the team in 2015.

 

Center Jake Liestman was tasked with explaining what Becker football meant to him and he gave an empowered speech, thanking his coaches, fans and teammates.

 

“We set our goals pretty high this year and we accomplished it,” he said. “Dwight taught us to keep fighting, trust, be loyal and have hope all the while working as a team. All our coaches teach us more than football. They teach us life lessons.”

 

The most dedicated awards went to Jacob Edling and Brenden Barsody. The defensive player (Monster Man) award went to Pauly. Linemen of the year went to Vesledahl and Radunz. Team MVP was Stanger.

 

Academic awards were also presented which went to players having a GPA of 3.1 or higher. Nearly forty players from the team climbed the stage to receive their certificates and Tyler Thorson was highlighted for having a GPA of 4.0.

 

Meidt and Thorson were named 2015 Individual Academic All-State by the Minnesota Football Coaches Association.

 

Game balls were passed out to players who made an impact during particular games throughout the season. The winners were: Jake Fobbe, Grant Steffens, Cody Gruenhagen, Milan Kent, Pauly, Meidt, Colton Demant, Gabe Dertinger, Jaylin Hildebrandt, Austin Rasmussen, Tyler Lindquist, Liestman, Jack Conzemius, Lucas Dertinger, Adam Bauman, Radunz, Thorson, Clayton Gallus, Stanger, Vesledahl and Frankie Baker.

 

Kent took home the Prep Bowl MVP honor and was given the actual game ball from the championship game.

 

“He progressed by leaps and bounds,” said Bengtson of Kent. I watched a lot of film and unfortunately, my wife Dawn saw a lot of it too. I remember one time I showed a clip of Milan and she said, ‘I could tell Milan on the field even if he wasn’t wearing a jersey’.”

 

“So I asked her what she meant,” Said Hokan. “and she said he was ferocious. That’s true. Milan was ferocious on the field.”

 

All district 2nd team players were: Rasmussen, Gruenhagen, Hildebrandt, Brandon Cichy, Tyler Schmitz, Steffens, Liestman, Gallus, Conzemius, Baker and Lucas Dertinger.

 

“Gruenhagen is probably the funniest guy on the team,” said Coach Brady Cobb. “He kept things light and was always positive.”

 

All district 1st team players were: Meidt, Fobbe, Stanger, Gabe Dertinger, Kent, Pauly, Vesledahl, Radunz and Thorson.

 

Pauly was recognized as linebacker of the year, Gabe Dertinger as running back of the year, Meidt as wide receiver of the year, Vesledahl as offensive lineman of the year, Kent as defensive lineman of the year and Radunz all-around.

 

“What an honor to be around a guy like Dillon,” said Coach Brent Scheideman. “I enjoyed being his coach and being around him and I know he’ll be a great person, husband and dad in the future.”

 

Stanger was named team MVP by the players and 2016 captains will be Hildebrandt, Cichy, Baker and Conzemius.