WILLMAR -- Stoney Burns returned a kickoff and a punt back for touchdowns in the second quarter and Cominique Corder threw three touchdown passes as Central Lakes top-ped Ridgewater 33-13 in an MCAC Southern Division football game on Saturday.
The Warriors finished the season 1-3 in the division and 2-7 overall, failing to qualify for the playoffs.
"Same story, different day," said Ridgewater coach Rob Baumgarn, referring to the mistakes and penalties that plagued the team throughout the season.
"We had two special teams 'oops'," Baumgarn continued. "(The kickoff return for a touchdown) right after our first drive of 16 plays that gave us a touchdown. The second 'oops' was the punt return that really took the wind out of our sails."
Ridgewater took the lead on the Southern Division champs when Elijah Lee caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Jackson Illies.
ADVERTISEMENT
Burns then returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown to tie the game 6-6. After forcing Ridgewater to punt, Central Lakes took the lead for good when Burn returned it 65 yards for a 13-6 advantage.
Ridgewater was moving in for the tying touchdown when Illies was picked off by Burns at the five. Central Lakes drove 95 yards for a score, capped by Corder's touchdown toss of 20 yards to Barrett Powell for a 19-6 halftime cushion. Corder actually fumbled the ball with five seconds left in the half. But the ball bounced back into his hands and he was able to throw the touchdown pass.
Ridgewater opened the second-half scoring when Illies found Anton Bedauex in the end zone for a five-yard touchdown to make it 19-13.
Corder then hit Tyler Erickson on a 50-yard scoring strike in the third quarter and then found Powell again for a 29-yard score.
"We kept fighting the whole game," said Baumgarn. "But we just didn't have enough in the tank. We felt we made strides this season, but we had every bounce go the wrong for us."
Illies completed 17-of-34 throws for 136 yards. Davonaty Stevens ran for 78 yards in 13 carries and Keante Johnson caught eight passes for 58 yards.
Defensively for the Warriors, Rob Diane and Nate Wensauer had a pair of sacks each, while Josh Boyda intercepted a pass and Brennen Hagert had a fumble recovery and seven tackles. Jonathan Cross also made seven tackles.
"It was a tough season because of the losses," Baumgarn concluded. "Next year, we are determined to make more strides and make our own plays."
ADVERTISEMENT
Central Lakes 33, Ridgewater 13
Cent. Lakes (4-0, 9-0) 6 13 7 7 -- 33
Ridgewater (1-3, 2-7) 6 0 7 0 -- 13
Ridge - Elijah Lee 5 pass from Jackson Illies (kick failed)
CL - Stoney Burn 80 kickoff return (kick failed)
CL - Burn 65 punt return (run failed)
CL - Barrett Powell 20 pass from Dominique Corder (kick good)
Ridge - Anton Bedauex 5 pass from Illies (Elijah Swen kick)
ADVERTISEMENT
CL - Tyler Erickson 50 pass from Corder )kick good)
CL - Powell 29 pass fropm Corder (kick good)
Central Lakes
Team statistics
First downs: 12 ... Rushing: 31-104 ... Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 12-20-212-1 ... Fumbles lost: 1 ... Penalties: 12-105
Individual statistics
Rushing: Michael Iverson 4-26, Montrel Hemsworth 2-2, Dominique Corder 8-15, Nick Grewe 17-61 ... Passing: Corder 12-20-212-1 ... Receiving: Grewe 1-23, Ryan Fay 1-6, Tyler Erickson 6-95, Barrett Powell 3-53, Ryan Tri 1-35 ... Punting: not available ... Interceptions: not available ... Fumble recoveries: not available ... Tackles (solo-assist): not available ... QB sacks: not avilable
Ridgewater
ADVERTISEMENT
Team statistics
First downs: 13 ... Rushing: 25-128 ... Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 18-35-141-1 ... Fumbles lost: 1 ... Penalties: 11-85
Individual statistics
Rushing: Davonaty Stevens 13-78, Zak Neubarth 3-6, Jackson Illies 4-(-2), Cameron Halverson 3-6, Daryl Thomas 1-11, Justin Howell 1-2 ... Passing: Illies 17-34-136-1, Stevens 1-1-5-0 ... Receiving: Anton Bedauez 1-5, Jake Bothun 4-28, Keante Johnson 8-58, Illies 1-5, Elijah Lee 4-50 ... Punting: Thomas 8-28.1 ... Interceptions: Josh Boyda 1 ... Fumble recoveries: Brennen Hagert 1 ... Tackles (solo-assist): Thomas 2-4, Elijah Swen 2-1, Jonathan Cross 5-2, Brandon Krona 2-2, Jonathan Carter 3-1, Jamie Fields 2-2, Marcus Morrissette 1-1, Anders Kullhem 2-1, Hagert 6-1, Kris Belfry 2-0, Boyda 3-1, Rob Diane 2-3, Malvin Kromah 1-1, Connor Doyle 1-0, Nate Wensauer 4-2 ... QB sacks: Diane 2, Wensauer 2
