Dassel-Cokato erases 19-point deficit to move to the Prep Bowl

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Dassel Cokato Chargers' season was slipping away. They trailed Pequot Lakes 26-15 in the second half, and the Patriots were in the red zone. When Pequot Lakes' quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1582803' first='Mike' last='Oseland']</strong>'s pass flew into the end zone, it seemed like the Patriots were about to take a three-score lead and all but punch their ticket to the Prep Bowl. When defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1248623' first='Chase' last='Luthens'] leaped into the air and cradled the ball into his body for a touchback, the entire game changed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pequot Lakes' offense came out firing to start the game. They gave the ball to <strong>John Elsenpeter</strong> three straight plays – resulting in two first downs. <strong>Bryar Nordby</strong> picked up another first down on an end-a-round. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1582803' first='Mike' last='Oseland'] threw all the way across the field from the far hash to the sidelines for fifteen yards and a first down. Oseland got his offense in the end zone when he found <strong>Harrison Kennen</strong> on a crossing route for a fifteen-yard touchdown pass.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Down 6-0, Dassel-Cokato's hurry-up, option offense went to work. The Chargers faced an early fourth and short near mid-field. Kobee Thielen found enough space between the tackles to move the chains. The Chargers faced another fourth and long, but this time, the Patriots defense made a play. Nordby came over from his defensive back spot to bat the ball down on a throw down the seam.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A sack and penalties pinned the Patriots back. After a short punt, Dassel-Cokato took over inside the Patriots' forty-yard line. They took advantage of the field position. Quarterback Cole Vaith used his feet to pick up a couple of first downs. Then, the option offense got the Chargers inside the five-yard line. The Patriots almost got off the field, but Thielen dove into the end zone on fourth and goal from the one. The extra point gave the Chargers a 7-6 lead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a five-yard penalty, Pequot Lakes was backed up and faced a third-and-long. Oseland threw a deep crossing route to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1582831' first='Aaron' last='Clark']</strong>. Clark hauled the ball in to pick up twenty yards on third-and-long. Oseland kept the momentum going with a pass down the seam to <strong>Landen Brill</strong>. The 45-yard gain got them into the red zone. Nordby finished the drive with a thirteen-yard touchdown run to retake the lead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After converting on two fourth downs, the Chargers would turn the ball over. Pequot Lakes' <strong>Kamrin Hulke</strong> forced the fumble, and Nordby recovered the fumble near mid-field. Pequot Lakes would capitalize right before the end of the half. Hulke was hit at the line of scrimmage but spun off the tackle to pick up a first down. Elsenpeter had to leave the game early with an injury, making all the Patriots' skill position players step up. A few plays later, Nordby caught a deep out on the sidelines from Oseland for a first down. A perfect throw just inside the goal line by Oseland to <strong>Ethan Arellano</strong> bumped the Patriots' lead to 20-7 at the half.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like the start of the game, the Patriots couldn't have asked for a better start to the second half. <strong>Jackson Olsen</strong> put a hit on the Chargers' return man – forcing a fumble. The Patriots recovered the fumble at the 30-yard line. Oseland threw to the far sidelines again to pick up a first down – this time to Clark. Oseland would make a much shorter but still effective throw to Nordby across the middle for an eleven-yard touchdown. Early in the third quarter, Pequot Lakes was up 26-7 and looked to be in complete control of the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Staring the end of their season in the face, the Chargers' offense – which had not scored since early in the game – came to life. They moved the ball to the 30-yard line but faced a fourth and short. The Chargers not only picked up the first down, but [player_tooltip player_id='234886' first='Caleb' last='Smock'] broke into the clear and just got inside the orange pilon to complete a 30-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion cut the Patriots' lead to 26-15.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A great kickoff return, Nordby's all-around play, and more pinpoint passing from Oseland had Pequot Lakes looking to get the game back to a three-score game. Dassel Cokato's defense had other ideas. In what I would consider the turning point of the game, Luthens made a leaping interception in the end zone. Instead of being down three scores, the pick kept the game within reach for the Chargers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dassel Cokato quarterback Veith found a rhythm with his reads and improved blocking from his front five as the third quarter came to a close. He found the corner again – this time for twenty yards - to move into the red zone early in the fourth quarter. Vaith and Pequot Lakes Hulke had to leave the game when Hulke tackled Vaith. They would both return, but Dassel Cokato had to turn to their backup quarterback – [player_tooltip player_id='234887' first='Jackson' last='Yanke']. Yanke would hand the ball off only, but he got the offense to a fourth and one at the two-yard line. Smock got just enough to get a first down, and Smock made it a one-score game with a one-yard touchdown run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Chargers' secondary did a great job on the Patriots' next drive. First, [player_tooltip player_id='1120515' first='Anthony' last='Briseno'] nearly intercepted a pass, and then, the entire secondary had great coverage, giving <strong>Tristan Brockoff</strong> time to break free for a quarterback sack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dassel's punt return team set the Chargers up with excellent field position as Thielen returned the punt for twenty yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Chargers moved to the thirty-five-yard line, but Pequot Lakes' <strong>Bryson Berg</strong> stuffed an inside run on fourth and short, putting the Patriots in a great position to run out the clock.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nordby broke loose for a 15-yard run to mid-field, and then Oseland found Clark for another first down. Facing another third down, Pequot Lakes rolled the dice and threw the ball. The pass fell incomplete and stopped the clock.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dassel Cokato would have under two minutes to get the go-ahead touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wide receiver Ryder Barrick made a leaping catch on the sidelines to pick up a first down and stop the clock. Veith got around the corner for a first down just short of midfield. Then the Chargers' 300-pound fullback [player_tooltip player_id='1537794' first='Lars' last='Salmen'] – who picked up a lot of tough between the tackles yards and cleared the way with his lead blocking broke through the line and picked up ten yards and a first down. On the next play, Yanke got open down the sidelines, and Vaith put the ball where only his guy could catch it. Yanke made a fingertip catch, setting his offense up inside the ten-yard line with 51 seconds to play. Thielen would complete the comeback with a five-yard touchdown run with 40 seconds to play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Chargers defense ensured there would be no further drama and closed out the 29-26 come-from-behind victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->