Red Lake County Rebel Football powers past Park Christian 47-18 in Section 8A semi-finals

The Red Lake County Rebel Football team’s Gunnar Halvorsen carried the ball 19 times for 258 yards and four touchdowns to lead his team to a 47-18 victory over the Park Christian Falcons in the Section 8A Football semi-finals at played at L.E. Drechsel Field in Red Lake Falls.

1st Quarter –
Park Christian had the ball to start the game, and the Red Lake County Rebel defense came ready to go as they forced the Falcons into a three-and-out and a punt. The punt was partially blocked and only went 11 yards, and Red Lake County started its first drive at the Park Christian 29-yard line. The Rebels had five carries by Boe Nelson and Gunnar Halvorson for 15 yards, down to the 14-yard line. Halvorson got the next handoff and bounced it to the sideline for a 14-yard touchdown run. Ben Gullingsrud carried the ball into the endzone for the two-point conversion, and the Rebels led 8-0 with 7:12 left in the opening quarter.
Park Christian’s second offensive series wasn’t much better thanks to the stellar Rebel defense. Park Christian was sacked on the first play of the drive, and after a 10-yard completion and an incomplete pass, they punted for 31 yards. The Rebels’ return was 21 yards up to the Park Christian 30-yard line. Red Lake County’s first play of the drive was a Halvorson 21-yard run to set up another first down. Two plays later, Ben Gullingsrud scored from three yards out, and after the two-point conversion, the Rebels led 16-0 with 4:05 left in the quarter.
The third Park Christian offense series was a charm for the Falcons as they started the drive at their own 27 yard line. After a two yard run, the Flacons had passing plays of 11 and 16 yards. After an incomplete pass, they had passes for eight, 9, and 11 yards. Two plays later, Logan Giese scored on a four yard run to get within a 16-6 deficit with 61 seconds left in the quarter.

2nd Quarter –
Red Lake County had the ball to start the second quarter with a drive that started at their 39 yard line. After two plays, Gunnar Halverson ran for 15 yards and a first down. Halvorsen followed with a 14 yard carry. The next two plays were a gain of nine yards before a run for no gain. On a fourth down and one play, Red Lake County was stopped on a run with no gain for a turnover on downs.
Park Christian started the next drive on their 19 yard line and put an impressive drive together. The first play was a 16-yard pass to Logan Giese. After a three yard run, a late hit penalty was called giving the Falcons a first down. Three plays later, they had another first down and then passed for another. A few plays later, the Park Christian quarterback was hit as he tried to throw the ball on a fourth down and seven play and Keegan Schmitz ran down the quarterback from behind for a big sack to give the Rebels the ball back.
Red Lake County got the ball back over halfway through the quarter and started the drive at their 30-yard line. They got a first down on three plasy and after a 15-yard penalty, Halvorson ran for 16 yards for another first down. Three plays later, they got another first down, but the drive sputtered after a 15-yard penalty against the Rebels and they turned the ball over on downs. Park Christian took a knee and let the quarter end and Red Lake County had a 16-6 lead.

3rd Quarter –
Red Lake County started the second half with the ball and Gunnar Halvorson took the handoff and sprinted 62 yards for a touchdown and 19 seconds into the second half, the Rebels led 22-6. Park Christian’s first second half drive started with three yard run before three incomplete passes and a turnover on downs.
Red Lake County started the ensuing drive at the Park Christian 46 yard line. They ran five minutes off the clock and eight plays before they turned the ball over on downs.
Park Christian had a nice drive going when they had a first down on a 28-yard pass completion to Gaven Giese. Three plays later they recorded another first down. Four plays later, Park Christian dropped back to pass and as the quarterback tried to throw the ball, he was hit and the ball floated down the field and Thoren Thronsen intercepted the pass to give the Rebels the ball back with less than two minutes to go in the quarter.

4th Quarter –
Red Lake County opened the fourth quarter in a big way as they ran two plays for 13 yards and a first down. Boe Nelson carried the ball for 11 yards and another first down. Two plays later and Halvorsen ran for 10 more yards. Three plays later, Halvorson capped the 53-yard drive with an eight yard touchdown run. After the two-point conversion failed, Red Lake County led 28-6.
The rest of the fourth quarter was a wild one. Park Christian started the next drive at their 30-yard line. After a five yard penaltymoved them back five yards they had an incomplete pass and a Rebel pass interference penalty for a first down. Three plays later, it was another pass interference penalty for another first down. Three plays later Park Christian’s Jayden Hanson flung a pass down field and Nathan Peterson caught the ball for a a 35-yard touchdown to bring the Falcons within a 28-12 deficit with 6:38 left in the game.
Red Lake County jumped on the onside kick and had the ball oat their own 45-yard line. The first play of the drive was a handoff the Halvorsen who found a big hole created by his offensive line and bounced it out to the sideline and sprinted for a 55-yard touchdown for a 34-12 lead.
On the Rebel kickoff, the ball was fumbled and Red Lake County jumped on the ball. On the next play, the Rebels Ben Gullingsrud ran 25-yards for another touchdown, the third in 26 seconds, for a 41-12 lead after a Keegan Schmitz extra point kick.
Park Christian had a three-and-out and decided to punt the ball and Red Lake County started the drive at their own 30-yard line. The Rebels went to the bench the rest of the game and handed the ball off to Nate Powers who gained one yard on the first carry, but followed it up with a 69 yard touchdown run to give the Rebels a 47-12 lead with 4:29 remaining.
Park Christian added a long run for a touchdown before the Red Lake County ran out the clock to win the game 47-18.

Red Lake County improves to 9-1 on the year and will play Mahnomen-Waubun in the Section 8A Championship at Fargodome at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, October 30. You can hear the game on KROX Radio or watch the game on KROX TV.
Park Christian ends the season with a 7-3 record.

Click below to listen to Coach Brian Remick and Gunnar Halvorson’s comments-

SCORING-
1st Quarter –
7:12 – RLC – Gunnar Halverson 14 yard run (Ben Gullingsrud run)
4:05 – RLC – Ben Gullingsrud 3 yard run (Connor Duden pass to Ben Gullingsrud)
1:01 – Park Christian – Logan Giese 4 yard run (pass failed)

2nd Quarter –
No scoring

3rd Quarter –
11:41 – RLC – Gunnar Halvorson 62 yard run (run failed)

4th Quarter –
9:07 – RLC – Gunnar Halvorson 8 yard run (pass failed)
6:38 – Park Christian – Jayden Hanson 35-yard pass to Nathan Peterson (run failed)
6:25 – RLC – Gunnar Halvorson 55 yard run (pass failed)
6:12 – RLC – Ben Gullingsrud 25 yard run (Keegan Schmitz kick)
4:29 – RLC – Nate Powers 59 yard run (run failed – took a knee)
3:10 – Park Christian – David Pettys 69 yard run (run failed)

INDIVIDUAL STATS

Gunnar Halvorsen

Boe Nelson

Thoren Thronson

Gunnar Halvorsen

Connor Duden

Ben Gullingsrud

Nate Powers

Ethan Johnson

Kegan Schmitz

Kegan Schmitz and Riley Broden

Boe Nelson

Gunnar Halvorsen

Boe Nelson

Thoren Thronson

Gunnar Halvorsen

Connor Duden

Ben Gullingsrud

Nate Powers

Ethan Johnson

Kegan Schmitz

Kegan Schmitz and Riley Broden

Boe Nelson

1/1