Holmberg, Miller provide firepower for big football win
Dalton Holmberg scored a rushing touchdown and Matt Miller caught a touchdown pass from Mason Rychner late in the game to give the Staples-Motley football team a 14-7 win over Osakis on Sept. 16.
“I’m proud of our effort,” said Coach Travis VanOverbeke. “We played well defensively, and offensively we didn’t punt the ball, which is a nice feather in the cap.”
Holmberg and Miller kept the offense moving and the Cardinal defense also came up with big plays, holding Osakis to just one of five fourth down conversions.
The game’s first big play was on the opening kickoff. Holmberg raced down the field to cover Josh Lombard’s bloop kick and fell on the ball before any Osakis player could get to it.
The teams traded punts back and forth for the first quarter. Osakis scored in the second quarter on a nice catch in the end zone. But the Cardinals came right back with a big drive. Holmberg scored on a 10 yard run and added the two point conversion on a pitch play.
That gave the Cardinals an 8-7 lead, which was the score at halftime.
Both team defenses stood out in the third quarter and well into the fourth. Staples-Motley ran into trouble with turnovers, but the defense held each time.
“We had some opportunities slip through our hands, but our team did a nice job bailing each other out in certain scenarios,” said VanOverbeke. “The turnovers are an area of concern and will be a priority.”
After stopping an Osakis drive, the Cardinals put a final scoring drive together that ended with Rychner’s seven yard pass to Miller.
Once again the Staples-Motley defense held, with defensive backs stopping Osakis from passing down the field.
“This team is moving in the right direction and has some great potential when we hit on all cylinders,” said VanOverbeke. “It was a nice “W” against Osakis, but the directive is to start the week focused for UNC.”
Team results
Staples-Motley 0 8 0 6 - 14
Osakis 0 7 0 0 - 7
Rushing: SM 166, O 136
Dalton Holmberg 25-136, Eric Lisson 9-30, Hunter Berggren 4-10, Mason Rychner 4-(-10),
Passing: SM 104, O 69
Rychner 10-17, 104 yards, 1 TD, 3 int.
Receiving: Miller 7-95, Isaiah Ross-Bahn 1-2, Berggren 1-0
Tackles: Alex Erpelding 13, Braden Tyrell 11, Jacob Bendson 6, Holmberg 4, Isaac Swensrud 4, Josh Lombard 3, Miller 3, Kyle Serich 3, Derek Kennedy 3, Trey Skeesick 3, Hunter Carlson 2, Luke Schmieg 1, Scout Strickland 1
