Kimball Area wins Football University Team of the Week
Kimball Area, on the strength of its first win in almost five years, won the Week 6 fan voting for the Football University Team of the Week.
The Cubs convincingly defeated Upsala-Swanville Area 31-16 to stop the program’s 42-game losing streak. Zack Garding rushed for 129 yards and a touchdown to lead the Kimball attack.
“We don’t worry about what may have happened or did not happen last year or any other time -- it’s about us right here and right now.” said Kimball first-year coach John Benson via email. “It was great to get a win to show everyone how far we’ve come.”
Kimball never trailed in the game, racing to a 12-0 lead after the first quarter behind the duo of Tucker Schultz and Thomas Pearson. Schultz and Pearson threw and caught a touchdown pass to each other in the opening 12 minutes.
“There’s nothing that I did,” Benson said. “No magic playbook or scheme or anything that made the difference. We just executed our assignments better than the other team last week.”
Peyton Schiefelbein recorded 13 tackles and a fourth-quarter interception return for touchdown for the Cubs defense. Benson said that unit’s ability to slow down the Patriots running game was a key to the success.
“We just rode that wave of energy and stayed with our game plan,” Benson said. “There was definitely something special about last Friday night.
Benson also said his team’s sustained effort played an important part in earning his first coaching victory since taking over last spring – a victory that was especially special for the Cubs' 16 seniors.
“They had every reason in the world to just quit,” Benson said, “but they love each other and they love competing. That’s a great combination.
Kimball earned 46 percent of the tallies to edge Rogers, which finished second. The Royals win over defending-Class AAAAA champion Elk River earned them 38 percent of the FBU Week 6 vote.
