2 weeks Ago By Alex VandenHouten
BLOOMING PRAIRIE — Since a Week 2 loss to Blooming Prairie, the Fillmore Central football team has kept a subtle reminder of that contest. Written on the whiteboard in the locker room was the simple message: Remember how you felt Week 2. Everyday after practice they would look at that board with those six words becoming ingrained in their brains.
ADVERTISEMENT On Saturday, they came out like a team that had a chip on its shoulder, surging ahead to a 22-point lead entering the fourth quarter. But Blooming Prairie, like a prized heavyweight boxer, didn't hear a bell. Despite trailing by 19 with 7 minutes left, the gritty Awesome Blossoms scored 19 unanswered to tie the game with just over 2:00 remaining.
But the Falcons had one more play in them. Sophomore quarterback Bridon Bahl connected with Josh Haugerud for a 55-yard score with 1:42 left for what proved to be the game-winning touchdown as the Falcons' defense halted Blooming Prairie inside the red zone on the ensuing drive for a 46-39 victory on Saturday at Blooming Prairie High School. The two-time defending section champion Falcons will now play in their fourth consecutive Section 1, Class 1A championship when they take on top-seeded Goodhue on Friday, Nov.
1 at a site to still be determined. It looked like the No. 3 seeded Falcons (9-1) were going to have a cake walk originally.
Behind three passing touchdowns from Bahl and two rushing touchdowns from Kane Larson, the Falcons took a commanding 36-14 lead midway through the third quarter. They would lead 39-20 with just over seven minutes left after a 22-yard field goal. ADVERTISEMENT That's when things got wonky.
No. 2 Blooming Prairie quickly moved down the field, before Bradley Boyd recorded a 13-yard touchdown grab to trim the deficit to 39-26. The following Fillmore Central drive saw the Falcons kill just under 15 seconds, going 3-and-out to give the ball back to Blooming Prairie.
Again, the Awesome Blossoms wasted little time as quarterback Brady Kittelson ran for a 23-yard TD with 4:30 left to make it a six-point game. Kittelson showed grit all game long and especially in the fourth quarter after suffering what looked like an ankle injury. The senior would end up finishing 20 of 32 for 266 yards through the air with a passing touchdown, while rushing for 157 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries.
That included the opening play of the game that saw him take it 62-yards to the house. He also had a 1-yard receiving touchdown in the first half. Still, at this point, Fillmore Central had another opportunity to ice the game, but once again had a hard time killing the clock.
Instead, a third-and-long pass was intercepted by BP's Alex Lea, who took it inside the FC 25. Lukas Loverink punched it in from 3-yards out, but the ensuing extra point was blocked to make it a 39-39 game with 2:32 left — too much time for Fillmore Central. The Falcons would end up needing just a minute as Bahl found Haugerud down the sideline on a fly route for a 55-yard touchdown.
Those two also connected for a 45-yard score on the same play earlier in the game. ADVERTISEMENT Bahl finished 18 of 23 for 311 yards and four touchdowns. His favorite target was senior Greg Kennedy who had five receptions of over 20 yards en route to 165 yards on six receptions.
His 30-yard touchdown catch got the Falcons on the board in the first quarter. Larson led the rushing attack with 155 yards on 34 carries. The FC defense would hold even with Loverink helping muscle the Awesome Blossoms to the red zone.
The 6-foot-4, 240-pound tight end had eight catches for 128 yards. A fourth-and-8 heave into the end zone fell incomplete to give Fillmore Central the thrilling victory and the chance for the three-peat. Fillmore Central 46, Blooming Prairie 39 FC 15-14-7-10 — 46 BP 6-8-6-19 — 39 Scoring First quarter Blooming Prairie — Brady Kittelson 62 run (PAT missed) ADVERTISEMENT Fillmore Central — Greg Kennedy 30 pass from Bridon Bahl (Atlee Hershberger kick) 10:55 Fillmore Central — Josh Haugerud 45 pass from Bahl (Kane Larson run) 6:13 Second quarter Fillmore Central — Kane Larson 2 run (Hershberger kick) 9:44 Blooming Prairie — Cole Wangen 4 run (Cannon Wacek run) 7:04 Fillmore Central — Larson 1 run (Hershberger kick) 2:47 Third quarter ADVERTISEMENT Fillmore Central — Anthony Kiehne 4 pass from Bahl (Hershberger kick) 6:36 Blooming Prairie — Kittelson 1 pass from Loverink (run failed) 1:14 Fourth quarter Fillmore Central — Hershberger 22 field goal 7:34 Blooming Prairie — Bradley Boyd 13 pass from Kittelson (run failed) 6:45 Blooming Prairie — Kittelson 23 run (Cooper Cooke kick) 4:30 Blooming Prairie — Loverink 3 run (PAT missed) 2:32 ADVERTISEMENT Fillmore Central — Haugerud 55 pass from Bahl (Hersberger kick) 1:42.
