Each new week brings its wrinkles and surprises because this is after all sports. It breaks up the routineness of our day-to-day lives. It's something to look forward to at the end of each week. Maybe kind of a "sugar high."
Big Cat was an extra-big spectacle for football on Friday. To begin with, MACA had its climactic Homecoming game in the evening. And surprise, there was a fireworks show! Was this a first for the event? Let me shoehorn in the opinion here that maybe it was overkill.
We had some natural fireworks on Friday in the form of lightning in the distance. This proved more than a side distraction. It actually ended the game after three quarters of play. Football puts up with a lot in terms of weather/conditions but it does not put up with lightning.
We can assume that canceling the game after three quarters was not going to be a factor in the outcome. Homecoming 2023 was a downer for MACA football. The visiting team was Detroit Lakes. DL showed a superior caliber of play to defeat the orange and black 41-6.
DL coach Reed Hefta commented post-game that his team had to "battle" the halftime fireworks show. This isn't something you see very often. I had just arrived home by bike when I was surprised by the exploding fireworks. My mind raced to try to figure out what was going on. Then I linked it to the game. Again I had never observed this before with a football game. A precedent? We'll see.
Hefta added "I was very impressed with a great team victory from everybody on the coaching staff to everybody out on the field. I was excited to see the kids do a lot of great responding to adverse situations."
The score indicates there could not have been a whole lot of adverse stuff confronting the Lakers.
Anderson gets our score
The only MACA score happened in the first quarter. It was a running TD, Owen Anderson carrying the football. He covered 12 yards en route to six. The extra point try was blocked. End of offensive highlights for the Tigers. Kind of disappointing on Homecoming night.
But the Tigers were up against a high-powered DL squad. That juggernaut includes a University of Minnesota commit, name of Mason Carrier. The young man ended up rushing for over 200 yards. And remember, just in three quarters of play. And my, he scored four touchdowns. He's 6 feet-3 and weighs 225 pounds. He complements his impressive size with raw speed. The speed is on the level of a state track finalist in fact. We'll see how these tremendous strong suits get applied in NCAA Division I play.
The DL defense was imposing too: no first downs allowed in the second half. The Lakers were prepared for the pass-oriented Tigers' offense. They came at us right away with an individual named Cody Bartnes. Playing in the secondary, Bartnes broke up a pass on first down. He kept his engine running. He proceeded to make a tackle for loss, then he intercepted a pass! Then it was time for Carrier to take over. Breaking tackles, the future Gopher covered 39 yards while the Homecoming crowd just had to admire his talent.
It was more of same as the second quarter began unfolding: Carrier was off to the races on a 29-yard scoring run. The Lakers are now up 14-6. MACA suffered a 3-and-out. Then the Lakers turned on the offensive engines again for a 46-yard scoring drive, five plays. The refs signaled "touchdown" as Caden Strand got into the end zone. Now the Lakers own a 21-6 lead.
I wasn't present for the halftime presentation in connection to Homecoming. I'm sure it was spectacular. The second half kickoff went to the Lakers. They capitalized but it took them ten plays. Resolved, they overcame a third-and-25 for the scoring play. They were in third-and-25 due to holding penalties. The Lakers overcame their third down situation with a big play pass: Strand to Bartnes. Detroit Lakes is further in control now, up 28-6.
Carrier scored twice more.
Firsthand view
Yours truly stood in my usual spot to take in part of the Friday spectacle. This is up on the higher ground by the P.E Center south entrance. I remember when Big Cat first opened, the powers-that-be (Mary Holmberg maybe?) didn't want people standing there. I remember telling former campus security guy Chuck Grussing "it's a public sidewalk." He responded that there was no issue with this "for the college games." I suppose he could only speak for "the college."
I told Charlie maybe a "tarp" could be put up along the fence, if the authorities didn't want anyone watching "for free." He sort of shrugged that off. There are various places around the perimeter where you can get a pretty good look "for free."
I must say, the fan turnout was large and vigorous and made Big Cat look totally like the cat's pajamas. We might want to say "congratulations" to that. But we absolutely cannot ignore the continued inroads in discovering the very serious health risks posed by football. That is front and center in my mind. Sometimes the consequences can show up years after a kid plays. Remember that these are impressionable kids, subject to peer pressure. How can any of them overlook the "glory" that can come to a standout football player?
Glory is an illusion. The media will stop paying attention to you when you are done playing. Then you might face some stark realities. The "fans" will then start paying attention to the next "crop" of players. Anyone care to dispute this?
Put aside the football health issues and the scene at Big Cat was something to behold Friday, truly.
I didn't get there early enough to hear the MAHS pep band. Was it impressive? Del Sarlette says yes it was.
I was at Big Cat earlier in the day for the Hancock vs. Rothsay game. The Hancock fans had it mighty good, better than the MACA fans for several reasons. Yes several. Late afternoon brought a total break in the concerning weather of the day. And even the sun came out. The weather was perfect. The fan turnout was robust and everyone had a great time, celebrating an offense-filled Homecoming.
A daylight game is such a superior experience. I remarked to several people that the Hancock pep band was superb! They have a first-year director. She played electric bass as she conducted and this gave such a terrific "bottom" to the sound. Bass is a very important element. Kudos to her.
I also made the comment to a couple fans: Why can't MACA and Hancock share this place all fall? One team could play at 3, the other at 7. The lucky team would play at 3. Everyone can see better, be more comfortable amidst a higher temperature. Would seem to make sense. I told a friend before the season: Once the kids experience Big Cat Stadium, they won't want to return to Hancock. Prescient or what? "How are you gonna keep 'em down on the farm?"
Hancock thumped Rothsay in the 34-16 final. Does Dave Goltz still hang around Rothsay?
Hancock has had an interesting season. On September 15 the Owls erupted on offense to win 56-6 over Ortonville. The very next week, they were shut out in a 6-0 final. That was at the hands of Brandon-Evansville.
The Owls are now 3-2 overall, 2-1 in section and 2-2 in conference. The game against Brandon was the exception to the rule. The Owls have been lighting it up on offense.
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
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