Park wins the ‘Battle for the Bridge’

It was rivalry time on a cold night in Hastings as the Battle for the Bridge; the Highway 61 Rivalry game kicked off between the Raiders and the Park Wolfpack.

In what would start as a battle for field position, Hastings would get the upper hand early. After Hastings forced Park into a three and out, Hastings took over at midfield. After picking up a first down, Hastings faced a fourth and three at the Park 30-yard line. Hastings quarterback Axel Arnold was able to find Stephen Riefenberger for five yards and a first down. The Raiders faced a fourth down on the very next series, but the Park defense would hold this time.

The entire first quarter, the battle for field position continued. It was a battle the Raiders won. However, backed up in their end, Park got their inside running game with Blake Johnson going. He ground out a pair of first downs to get the team some breathing room. Hastings committed a costly penalty on a third and 5. The Raiders made the stop but were called for defensive holding to keep the Wolfpack drive moving. Johnson picked up a second 3rd and five on the ground, and on yet another third down, Micah Runion Micah Runion 5'10" | 170 lbs | DB Park of Cottage Grove | 2022 State MN broke a tackle in the backfield and picked up another first down. After grinding their way down the field, Austin Hakanson Austin Hakanson LB Park of Cottage Grove | 2021 State MN broke free up the middle for a 27-yard touchdown run, capping off an 88-yard drive, giving Park a 7-0 lead.

On a bitterly cold night, Hastings got its passing game going right before the end of the first half. Payton Burow picked up fifteen yards on a sweep, but then Arnold went to work. He hit Joey Millner two plays in a row – once for 11 yards and then for 20 yards. After taking a sack, Hastings was facing a 4th and nine at the Wolfpack 29. Arnold found Riefenberger on the sidelines for the first down. A few plays later, Arnold threw a ball into the end zone for Riefenberger, and Riefenberger used his height and nice hands to pull down the ball – tying the game at seven.

Hastings was in good shape off the second-half kickoff as Milner returned the kick into Park territory. After a twenty-yard run by the Raiders’ Brenden Freiermuth, the Park defense made three big plays to give the ball back to their offense. Hakanson made a tackle for loss. Then Jesse Kennedy sacked Arnold. Finally, on third and long, Dom Valladares put immediate pressure on Arnold – forcing an incompletion.

After the punt, the Wolfpack were backed up on their six-yard line. Although they didn’t score, with every yard a struggle, they were able to move the ball out near midfield to flip field position again.

On the ensuing possession, each team committed a critical penalty. Park would have had Hastings punting from inside the twenty-yard line, but they committed a personal foul to give the Raiders new life. Hastings would return the favor when a holding penalty negated a thirty-yard run.

After Hastings’ Lucas Knoll blew up a Park reverse and tackled the Wolfpack runner in the backfield, Hastings forced yet another Park punt. With the ball near mid-field, Hastings could not take advantage. Park’s Valladares made his second big play of the game with an inside pass rush and a sack. The next play, Nyck Frandrup brought a Hastings’ ball carrier down in the backfield to set up a punt. The Wolfpack would get a break with a punt that only traveled about 15-yards, giving them back the all-important field position advantage. Unlike Hastings, Park was able to take advantage. Park quarterback Evan Bearth Evan Bearth 6'4" | 190 lbs | QB Park of Cottage Grove | 2022 State MN hit Brady Perryman down the middle of the field for 46 yards to set up a first and goal for the Wolfpack. Park would cash in a few plays later to take a 13-7 lead.

With nearly half the 4th quarter expired, Hastings needed to make something happen on offense. They gambled on a 4th and two near mid-field, but Hakanson immediately burst into the backfield, dropping the Raiders’ runner behind the line of scrimmage.

With victory all but assured, Park pounded out two first downs on the ground – mainly with the running of Runion. Runion would pick up yet another first down on a screen pass to eventually set up Derrik Brown for a 17-yard touchdown run to complete the scoring and give Park a 19-7 victory over their long-time rivals.

Park evened its record at 1-1 and will travel to Apple Valley next week. Hastings falls to 1-1 and will travel to South St. Paul for week three.