After a stellar junior season in which Yellow Medicine East quarterback Luke Berg earned a spot on the Tribune's All-Area team, he went into his senior year with high expectations for himself and the team.
But the agile 5-11, 170-pound three-year letterwinner got off to a rough start and wasn't even among the top 10 quarterbacks in the area in passing efficiency.
"I think I was trying to do too much," the personable Berg said. "I got off to a slow start and was pressing. I just wasn't 'feeling it' right away."
But Berg has been improving ever since midseason. After throwing nine interceptions over the first five games, Berg has thrown only four over the last six games, including none in the last three games.
In the first five games of the season, Berg has a passer-efficiency-rating of 55.6. In the team's three post-season games, the fleet-footed quarterback has completed 10-of-29 passes for 490 yards and seven touchdowns with no interceptions, a 148.3 rating.
ADVERTISEMENT
Overall, he has passed for over 1,500 yards and shot up to third in the area in the rating system (88.1).
"Luke maybe was throwing the ball in places he shouldn't have been throwing it earlier in the year," said Yellow Medicine East coach Dave Brokke. "He also wasn't setting himself before he threw. He's playing very well now."
Berg was intercepted five times in YME's 27-14 loss to Pipestone in the third game of the season, beginning a string of nine interceptions in three games.
But he perservered through hard work and determination. His turn-around season has coincided with the Sting's. After a 2-2 start, YME has won seven straight games and qualified for the Class AA state tournament, hosting Hawley at 7 p.m. Friday in Granite Falls.
"(Berg) has had the respect of his teammates all year," said Brokke. "They knew he would get it going. He's too good of an athlete not to."
Berg doesn't hurt opponents only with his arm. His legs and his mind also play a vital role in his success.
"I felt I was really letting my team down early in the season," said Berg, also a standout cornerback. "Now, we're playing so much better. A lot of that has to be credited to the offensive line. They've been awesome. And the receivers and I weren't clicking earlier and now we're playing together much better."
Berg has rushed for over 400 yards this season and has scored three touchdowns.
ADVERTISEMENT
"If it's third-and-long, Luke will roll out and if no one is open, he'll take off. He knows what he's doing back there."
The YME running attack is led by senior Jerrod Lobdell, who has run for 1,024 yards and 17 touchdowns. Ryan Fromm has 28 receptions for 591 yards and eight touchdowns and Clay Sharkey 22 catches for 271 yards and six scores.
Early in the year, it looked like YME might not be a threat in the post-season because of Berg's slow start. Now, the Sting likely wouldn't be this far without him.
