The Crookston Pirate Football team battled, but the senior-dominated Nevis Tigers were too much for the young Pirates as the Tigers cruised to a 38-0 victory in the season-opener at KROX Radio Stadium in Crookston.
1st Quarter –
Nevis started the game with the ball and was sacked for a 10 yard loss. After a penalty, the Tigers were sacked for a second time, losing 8 yards, and were forced to punt on fourth-and-long.
Crookston had the ball at the Nevis 37-yard line, and the first play was a three-yard carry. Two plays later, Crookston threw an interception, and Nevis had the ball again.
Nevis’ first two plays were incomplete passes before a three-yard gain, followed by a Lincoln Ogundeji 17-yard run for a first down. Two plays later, Wyatt Ford scored on a four-yaryard run, and after a successful two-point conversion, they led 8-0 with 4:26 left.
Crookston fumbled two plays later, and Nevis had the ball back. The Tigers’ first play was an 18-yard run before they fumbled on the second play, and Crookston recovered the ball. The Pirates ran three plays and were forced to punt. The snap went over the punter’s head into the endzone for a safety, and Nevis led 10-0 with 28 seconds left in the quarter.
2nd Quarter –
Crookston had the ball early in the second quarter and ran three plays, but only got two yards. They punted the ball 24 yards, and Nevis started the ensuing drive at the Pirate 40-yard line. Nevis couldn’t get anything going on the drive and Crookston’s Nolan Johnson had a sack and the Tigers turned the ball over on downs.
Crookston threw an interception three plays later, and Nevis had the ball back.
The Tigers had two carries for 9 yards before a holding penalty and an incomplete pass. The Tigers completed a 26 yard pass and two plays later, Wyatt Ford scampered 22 yards and the drive was capped by Lincoln Ogundeji scoring on a four yard run for a 16-0 lead.
Crookston had another three-and-out before a 15-yard punt. Nevis had the ball at the Crookston 29-yard line, and the first play was an incomplete pass before a Weston Bessler 29-yard touchdown run. The extra point kick failed and the Tigers led 22-0 with 2:18 left in the half. The officials decided to end the first half there as lightning surrounded the field, forcing a 30 minute halftime.
Crookston had a loss of five yards in the first half.
3rd Quarter –
After the 30-minute halftime break, Crookston started the half with the ball, and the offensive struggles continued as they had a three-and-out and punted.
Nevis ran three plays for four yards and went for it on fourth and six when Crookston’s Nolan Johnson sacked the Tiger quarterback to force a turnover on downs. Crookston had another three-and-out, and on the punt, Nevis fumbled the ball, and the Pirates recovered the ball.
The Pirates had their best drive of the game with four yards on the first two carries before a 24 yard pass from Asher Wieland to Beau Smith for a first down. Two plays later, Wieland found Smith for a 22 yard pass for another first down. The Pirates threw an interception on the next play.
Nevis had the ball at the 50 yard line and Ogundeji completed a 28 yard pass to Robert Lindow for a first down. After a nine-yard run, Ogundeji found Lindow again , this time a 21-yard pass for a touchdown, and after a two-point conversion, the Tigers led 30-0.
Neither team’s offense did much the rest of the quarter.
4th Quarter –
Nevis had the ball early in the fourth quarter and had another drive capped by Ogundeji with a 30-yard run for a touchdown, and after a two-point conversion for a 38-0 lead with 9:11 remaining, and running time began. The rest of the game went quick and Nevis won the game 38-0.
Crookston drops to 0-1 on the year and will take on the Mahnomen/Waubun Thunderbirds on Friday, September 11 at 6:00 p.m. Nevis improves to 1-0.
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Nevis | 10 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 38 |
| Crookston | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
SCORING-
1st Quarter –
4:26 – Nevis – Wyatt Ford 4 yard run (Lincoln Ogundeji run)
0:28 – Nevis – Safety
2nd Quarter –
4:03 – Nevis – Lincoln Ogundeji 4 yard run (run failed)
2:18 – Nevis – Weston Bessler 29 yard run (kick failed)
3rd Quarter –
7:14 – Nevis – Lincoln Ogundeji 21 yard pass to Robert Lindow (Ogundeji run)
4th Quarter –
9:11 – Nevis – Lincoln Ogundeji 30 yard run (Peyton Benson run)
| TEAM STATS | Crookston | Nevis |
| Rushing Yards | 16 | 209 |
| Passing Yards | 51 | 77 |
| Total Yards | 67 | 286 |
| Fumbles-Lost | 1-1 | 2-2 |
| First Downs | 2 | 12 |
| Penalties-Yards | 4-30 | 4-35 |
| Punts | 5-110 yards | 1-33 yards |
INDIVIDUAL STATS
| Crookston | Nevis |
| Rushing | Rushing |
| Asher Wieland – 8 for 0 yards | Lincoln Ogundeji – 10 for 72 yards |
| Jaron Knutson – 7 for 17 yards | Wyatt Ford – 10 for 55 yards |
| Beau Smith – 3 for -1 yard | Tyler York – 4 for 25 yards |
| Thomas Lindow – 2 for 4 yards | |
| Weston Bessler – 1 for 29 yards | |
| Peyton Benson – 1 for 12 yards | |
| Bodhi Thibault – 1 for 8 yards | |
| Passing | Passing |
| Asher Wieland – 4 for 13, 51 yards | Lincoln Ogundeji – 4 for 9, 77 yards |
| Receiving | Receiving |
| Beau Smith – 3 for 47 yards | Robert Lindow – 2 for 49 yards |
| Kolton Bahrenfuss – 1 for 4 yards | Tyler York – 2 for 28 yards |
