In what is a heated rivalry each year, Morris Area/Chokio-Albert and Minnewaska wasted no time meeting each other on the gridiron this year, as they opened up at Minnewaska High School Aug. 31. The Tigers beat up on the Lakers in the first quarter and cruised themselves to a stress-free 40-20 victory. Next, the Tigers battled Thief River Falls Prowlers at home Sept. 8 and after falling behind 7-0, they took over to win 40-21 and improve to 2-0
MACA 40
Minnewaska 20
The Tigers came off the bus scoring touchdowns against Waska. They scored the first 27 points of the game and the scoring plays included: a 29-yard interception return from Owen Anderson, a three and a four-yard run from Owen Anderson for two TDS and a 47 yard pass from Jackson Hallman to Drew Huebner.
Did get on the board in the closing moments of the first quarter to make the score 27-8.
Both teams had their offenses sputtering in the second quarter, and it remained a 19-point game at the halftime break.
MACA was able to add even more distance between them and the laters when Waldbeser scored on a run from 15 yards out to make it 34-8.
The Lakers played better in the final quarter, scoring two touchdowns in the final frame. MACA did add one more score between the two Waska touchdowns with Waldbeser running in his second of the day from 19 yards.
The Tigers finished the game with well over 400 yards of total offense and were deadly on the ground. As a team, they had 44 carries for 283 yards, led by Mitchell Moser who had eight carries for 114 yards. Anderson had 57 yards and two touchdowns on two attempts. Waldbeser carried the ball eight times for 53 yards and two scores. Drew Huebner chipped in with 44 yards in seven tries.
Through the air, MACA outgained Waska 146-76. Huebner took the snaps under-center for the Tigers and finished the game 9 for 15 for 146 yards, a TD and a pick. Andrew Marty caught the most passes and finished with four receptions for 38 yards. Riley Asmus caught three balls for 32 yards. Jackson Hallman only had one catch in the game, but it went for 47 yards and a TD. Mitchell Moser had just one catch, but it went for 29 yards.
MACA had little trouble moving the ball up and down the field, but it was a task for Minnewaska to get anything done to be a threat to score at the offensive level. The Tigers finished twice as many first downs as the Lakers with 22. The team also grabbed a pair of interceptions off Waska with one from Hallman and Owen Anderson, who returned the pick 29 yards for a touchdown.
The Tiger defense had a good game against the Lakers. Thay allowed just over 100 total yards to the Lakers. MACA stifled them to just 76 yards passing and 33 yards on the ground. The defense also was stingy on third and fourth down with the Lakers converting third down two out of 11 times and fourth down one out of seven times.
MACA 40
Thief River Falls 21
Unlike their opener, it took awhile for the Tigers to get settled into the game against the Prowlers. MACA went scoreless in the first inning and Thief River Falls scored a touchdown to take a 7-0 advantage after one quarter.
The Tigers went off for 20 points in the second quarter thanks to a 55-yard pass from Drew Huebner to Derek Waldbeser, a 29-yard rush from Owen Anderson and a five-yard run from Huebner to make the halftime score 20-7.
In the third, both teams traded TDs with the Tiger touchdown coming from Waldbeser on a two yard run to make it 26-14.
The Tigers put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter with a one-yard TD run from Huebner and another touchdown from Anderson from six yards out. The Prowlers added one more touchdown before the end of the game to make the final score 40-21.
On the ground, Anderson led the Tigers with 13 carries for 79 yards and two TDs. Huebner had eight carries for 22 yards and two touchdowns.
Through the air, Huebner went 9 for 13 for 210 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Waldbeser was Huebner’s main target, catching four passes for 135 yards and a score.
