Bearcats beat Northern Freeze for homecoming, remain undefeated
By Nick Johnson, assistant coach
The KCC Bearcats continued their football season with a homecoming matchup against the Northern Freeze in Hallock on Friday, Oct. 3. The Bearcats entered the game undefeated 6-0 and looking to protect their home field. The Freeze came to Hallock with a record of 3-2, and looking to make a statement against the top team in the section.
The Freeze got the ball to open the game, but were quickly forced to punt by the Bearcat defense. The KCC offense took over, and put together an 11-play, 85-yard scoring drive capped off by a 28-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Eli Peterson to receiver Kellen Johnson. The Bearcats led 7-0, but the Freeze got their offense moving. They chewed up clock with methodical runs, before the Bearcat defense stiffened and forced a turnover on downs. However, penalties stalled out the ensuing Bearcat drive and the Freeze would force a turnover on downs of their own. The half ended with a 7-0 KCC lead.
The Bearcat offense struck quickly to open the second half scoring on just two plays, with Ashton Knutson scoring on a 40-yard touchdown run and extending the Bearcat lead to 13-0. However, the Freeze responded with a big play on special teams to stop the Bearcat momentum. Sawyer Torgerson took a kickoff return 74 yards for a touchdown cutting the lead to 13-7. From there, the Bearcats took over the game, starting with Eli Muir finding the endzone on a 25-yard touchdown catch, growing the KCC lead to 21-7. After forcing another turnover on downs by the Freeze, the Bearcats added to their lead with another scoring drive. This time Eli Peterson connected with Ashton Knutson on a 9-yard touchdown pass, bringing the score to the final 28-7.
With the victory over the Freeze, the Bearcats advance to 7-0 on the season. The win also helps the Bearcats clinch a home playoff game and a top seed in the Section 8, 9-man playoffs.
Only one game remains in the regular season, with the Bearcats going on the road to Warren for a matchup with the Warren-Alvarado-Oslo Ponies.
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter:
Peterson 28 yard touchdown pass to Johnson (Brewer kick Good)
KCC 7 – NF 0
2nd Quarter:
KCC 7 – NF 0
3rd Quarter:
Knutson 40 yard touchdown run (Brewer kick No Good)
Torgerson 74 yard kickoff return touchdown (Bray kick Good)
Peterson 25 yard touchdown pass to Muir (Peterson pass to Johnson Good)
KCC 21 – NF 7
4th Quarter:
Peterson 9 yard touchdown pass to Knutson (Brewer kick Good)
Final:
KCC 28 – NF 7
KCC Offensive Leaders
Passing:
Eli Peterson – 3/7, 62 yds, 3 tds
Rushing:
Eli Muir – 16 att, 153 yds
Ashton Knutson – 16 att, 113 yds, 1 td
Eli Peterson – 6 att, 25 yds
Receiving:
Kellen Johnson – 1 rec, 28 yds, 1 td
Eli Muir – 1 rec, 25 yds, 1 td
Ashton Knutson – 1 rec, 9 yds, 1 td
KCC Defensive Leaders
Track Folland – 2 tkls, 9 ast, 1 tfl
Brody Scalese – 3 tkls, 8 ast
Keaton Brewer – 1 tkl, 5 ast, 0.5 tfl
James Cerkowniak – 1 tkls, 2 ast
Brock Scalese – 5 tkls, 2 ast, 1 pd
Kellen Johnson – 2 tkls, 2 ast
Kamden Gullickson – 2 tkls, 1 ast
Tucker Anderson – 2 ast
Eli Muir – 1 tkl, 1 fmr
Willie Nelson – 6 ast, 0.5 tfl
Sam Webster – 1 tkl, 1 ast, 1 tfl
KCC NO. 7 ELI PETERSON looks to pass the ball. He had 62 passing yards during the homecoming game against the Freeze.
(Photo by Sideline Lindsey)
KCC NO. 5 ASHTON KNUTSON runs the ball during the homecoming game against the Freeze. Knutson had 113 rushing yards.
(Photo by Sideline Lindsey)
KCC NO. 35 JAMES CERKOWNIAK and NO. 23 BRODY SCALESE take down a Freeze player during the homecoming game on Friday, Oct. 3. (Photo by Sideline Lindsey)
