FERGUS FALLS -- The Willmar Cardinals returned last night from Fergus Falls basking in the glow of a 34-0 win over the Otters for an unblemished 5-0 record.
Willmar will host undefeated St. Cloud Tech at 7 p.m. on Friday for the uncontested lead in the Central Lakes Conference.
Friday's shutout at Fergus Falls' Homecoming was the first by a Cardinal football team since 1995. In the fifth game that year, the 1-3 Cardinals blanked 4-0 Alexandria 7-0 in overtime at Citizen's Field in rain and mud.
At Otters Field, quarterback Michael Dunham caught a 75-yard pass from wide receiver Jordan Smith on a razzle-dazzle double-reverse for a 6-0 lead on the first scrimmage play.
Dunham, who completed 9 of 10 pass tries, followed with a five-yard pass to tight end Ryan DeGree for a 14-0 bulge with 7:43 left in the quarter.
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It was 28-0 by halftime after Dunham snuck one yard -- following a long punt return by Smith and a grinding run to the doorstep by Isaiah Streed. A bit later, Streed bucked three yards for the fourth touchdown of the half. That score followed a 21-yard run by Dunham.
Willmar last started 5-0 in 2000. They took a 7-0 record to St. Cloud Tech for the conference finale that year, but the Tigers roared that night and took a 21-7 win. Willmar halved the CLC title with Brainerd, both at 6-1.
The Willmar defense held Fergus to 171 total yards. Linebacker Rene Vallejo recovered an Otters' fumble in the first half and outside linebacker Logan Birkland picked off a Derek Hansen pass and returned it 15 yards in the first half.
Inside linebacker Ben Lippert was in on 18 tackles to lead the Cardinal defense.
Willmar churned up 342 total yards. To start the game, Dunham handed off to wide receiver Sussenguth coming in motion. As he was being tackled, he pitched to Smith, who set up and heaved a pass too Dunham, who got a freeing block from DeGree.
Smith, who was 4-of-5 on extra points, got off a 54-yard punt and nailed four kickoffs into the Fergus Falls end zone, one through the uprights.
Streed rushed for 73 yards as the ground game picked up 192 yards.
Willmar 34, Fergus Falls 0
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Willmar 14 14 6 0-- 34
Fergus Falls 0 0 0 0 -- 0
Wil - Michael Dunham 75 pass from Jordan Smith (Smith kick)
Wil - Ryan DeGree 6 pass from Dunham (Smith kick)
Wil - Dunham 1 run (Smith kick)
Wil - Isaiah Streed 3 run (Smith kick)
Wil - Streed 1 run (kick fail)
Willmar
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Team statistics
First downs: 15 ... Rushing: 42-192 ... Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 12-145 ... Fumbles lost: 0 ... Penalties: 2-15
Individual statistics
Rushing: Isaiah Streed 13-73, Joel Schendel 1-4, Stevin Carlson 8-22, Michael Dunham 6-22, Alec Saunders 4-46, Branden Jahnke 5-17, Logan Birkland 1-(-2), Tim Chermak 2-3, Nathan Andresen 1-3 ... Passing: Dunham 9-10-70-0, Jordan Smith 1-1-75-0 ... Receiving: Dunham 1-75, Casey Sussenguth 1-14, Smith 3-14, Streed 1-2, Carlson 1-1,Ryan DeGree 3-39 ... Punting: Smith 1-54.0 ... Interceptions: Birkland ... Fumble recoveries: Rene Vallejo ... Tackles (solo-assist): Dunham 1-0, Schendel 1-0, Smith 1-3, Saunders 0-4, Birkland 2-6, Adam Lindblad 1-1, Josh Mead 0-3, Andresen 2-0, Vallejo 1-3, Nick DeVries 1-1, Ben Lippert 6-12, Chris Duscher 0-3, Justin Carlson 2-2, Noel Anderson 1-0, DeGree 0-2 ... QB sacks: DeVries 1, Carlson 1
Fergus Falls
Team statistics
First downs: 11 ... Rushing: 31-95 ... Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 11-14-103-1 ... Fumbles lost: 1 ... Penalties: 2-12
Individual statistics
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Rushing: Matt Mitthaugen 10-47, Derek Hansen 7-9, Josh Hofmann 8-45, ... Passing: Hansen 11-13-103-1 ... Receiving: Nick Fogard 2-23, Matthaugen 2-7, Kyle Shalkoski 1-11, Cody Peck 5-61 ... Punting: Hansen 4-33.0 ... Interceptions: none ... Fumble recoveries: none
