Crookston falls to the Mahnomen-Waubun Thunderbirds at home

The Mahnomen-Waubun Thunderbirds defensive line proved too much for the Crookston Pirates to handle, only allowing 78 yards of rushing offense. The Thunderbirds found the endzone five times in the first quarter, and didn’t allow a single touchdown to defeat the Pirates 49-2 in a game played at KROX Radio Stadium in Crookston.

1st Quarter –
The Mahonomen-Waubun Thunderbirds couldn’t have had a better start to the game as Gavin McArthur took the opening kickoff and cut inside before crossing midfield. He broke two tackles and cut back outside to the near sideline for an 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
Crookston received the ball at their own 39-yard line to start their drive. The Pirates had two four-yard runs from Zaata Marcos. Facing a short 3rd down, the Pirates couldn’t get the first down and were forced to punt. Juan Ramirez belted a 50-yard punt rolling down to the Mahnomen-Waubun 10-yard line.
The Thunderbirds’ second possession got off to a great start, with a 16-yard run by Brody Lohtka for a first down. After a few Pirate defensive stops, the Thunderbirds threw a screen play to Gavin McArthur, who surged forward for a hard-fought 20 yards, only to have it called back because of a block-in-the-back call. The Thunderbirds would not be denied, and on the very next play called a trick play that fooled everyone on the field, pitching the ball out to Zach Zima, who ran for 57 yards untouched and a touchdown.
After a short 3-and-out by the Pirates, the Thunderbirds took over at midfield. It only took Mahnomen-Waubun 13 seconds and one play to score again, with Brody Lohtka turning outside and breaking tackles for a 50-yard rushing touchdown. The Pirates had trouble with substituting players and suffered a delay of the game penalty. After a couple more broken plays, Juan Ramirez booted another great punt, this time rolling for 52 yards. The Thunderbirds set up on the 18-yard line, before a penalty pushed them back to the nine. It wouldn’t matter, as Blake McMullen floated a perfect pass into blown coverage to find Tanner Stech. Stech cut inside before breaking a tackle and taking the Pirates the distance, running all the way for a touchdown and a 91-yard passing play.
The Thunderbirds did not slow their offensive roll at all after a fumble by the Pirates left them on the 33-yard line in Crookston territory. A pitch back to Tanner Stech found paydirt, as he cut inside through the Pirates’ secondary for a 47-yard touchdown with just 19 seconds left on the clock. The ensuing kickoff was drilled off the up-man for Crookston, and the Thunderbirds recovered on the 50-yard line to end the first quarter.

2nd Quarter –
Defensively, both teams were stalwart in the second quarter. Neither team could get anything going offensively, with both teams punting in their first possessions of the quarter. In their second possession, Crookston had their best look offensively. The pirates started on the Thunderbirds’ 40-yard line, and quickly drove down the field in just over two minutes thanks to Tate Hamre. Hamre dropped back to pass, evaded a tackle and found Arriaga over the middle for 30 yards to earn Crookston their first trip to the redzone. After a few short runs, the Pirates found themselves on the one-yard line and facing fourth down. The Thunderbirds successfully held off the Pirates, standing up Tate Hamre on the one-yard line to force a turnover on downs.
The Pirates would not leave the redzone scoreless, however, as on the very first play, the Thunderbirds fumbled the snap, and quickly fell on it to prevent the touchdown, but the Crookston defense forced the safety and the only score of the half. With over three minutes remaining, Crookston received the free kick thanks to the safety, and put together another good look offensively. Tate Hamre had one of the best runs of the game, surging forward for 11 yards, bouncing defenders off the dirt and dragging another for a first down. The drive stalled after, with time running out in the half, ending with a score of 34-2.

3rd Quarter –
Crookston received the ball to start the second half, but could not get into a rhythm. The Pirates were forced to punt, but the kick was shanked out of play for negative one yards and great starting position for the Thunderbirds. Mahnomen-Waubun only needed one minute and two plays to score. Cade Walz surged forward for a hard-fought eight yards, followed by Drayton Tibbetts rushing 15 yards on an outside pitch. He dove for the pylon and found it, scoring his first touchdown of the game.
The Pirates started their next drive with an offensive performance from Jaron Knutson, rushing for a first down and 10 yards. However, the Pirates failed to gain any traction, and after suffering back-to-back false start penalties, faced fourth and long. Tate Hamre could not get through a big Thunderbird defensive line, and the Pirates turned the ball over on downs. Manny Johnson got to work quickly for the Thunderbirds, ripping through the Pirates’ line for a quick six yards. On the next play, Johnson was given the ball again, but this time it was knocked free by Casey Weiland. Crookston recovered the ball, and were set up in prime territory for a score.
Crookston kept the ball on the ground, getting 24 yards and a couple first downs. However, the big defensive front line for the Thunderbirds quickly struck back, punching the ball free and forcing a fumble, which Mahonmen-Waubun fell on and recovered. With just over one minute remaining in the quarter, the Thunderbirds acted quickly. They strung together two quick runs and inched the ball closer to the goalline just as time ran out on the quarter. With less than 3 seconds remaining, the Thunderbirds ran an outside run, which was blown up by Jose Arriaga in the last second of the quarter.

4th Quarter –
After a short break, the Thunderbirds came back energized. Cade Walz took the ball on the first play and dragged defenders 13 yards for a first down, before ripping off another seven yards on the next play. After a short gain by Manny Johnson, the ball was handed to Keenan Goodwin. He surged forward for an easy three yards and another touchdown. Goodwin immediately got up and kicked the ball through the uprights for the extra point, making the score 49-2. Crookston fumbled on the next drive, recovered by the Thunderbirds who kneeled out the running clock to end the game in a Thunderbirds victory.

The Crookston Pirates fall to 0-2 on the season, and will travel to Climax to play Polk County West next week. The Mahnomen-Waubun Thunderbirds improve to 2-0 and will host the Red Lake Warriors at home.

Listen to Head Coach Jim McBride’s comments below–

SCORING-
1st Quarter –
11:42 – MW – Gavin McArthur 80 yard kickoff return (Tanner Stech kick)
7:02 – MW – Tanner Stech 57 yard run (Tanner Stech kick)
5:09 – MW – Brody Lohtka 50 yard run (Tanner Stech kick)
1:51 – MW – Blake McMullen 91 yard passing to Tanner Stech (Tanner Stech kick)
0:19 – MW – Tanner Stech 47 run (kick failed)

2nd Quarter –
3:32 – Crookston – Safety

3rd Quarter –
8:56 – MW – Drayton Tibbetts 15-yard run (Manny Johnson run)

4th Quarter –
10:02 – MWB – Keenan Goodwin 3 yard run (Keenan Goodwin kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATS

Tate Hamre

Ean Deleon

Pirate gang tackle

Travis Blackbird

Tate Hamre

Tate Hamre

Paul Thornhill

Jose Arriaga

Tate Hamre

Ean Deleon

Pirate gang tackle

Travis Blackbird

Tate Hamre

Tate Hamre

Paul Thornhill

Jose Arriaga

1/1