The Crookston Pirate Football team battled but lost 60-8 to the #1 ranked Barnesville Trojans in the first round of the Section 8AA football playoffs in Barnesville Tuesday night.
1st Quarter–
Crookston started the game with the ball, but the stout Trojan defense quickly forced a three and out. Barnesville’s special teams nearly muffed a punt, but Barnesville was able to jump on it before the Pirates could get to it. The Trojan offense struck quick, as quarterback Gannon Bolgrean took a keeper 40 yards down the sideline and into the endzone for Barnesville’s first score about 3 minutes into the game. the 2-point run from Major Ness extended the lead to 8. Crookston’s offense was unable to get going on their second drive, but the Pirate defense responded by forcing a three and out of their own. A sack from Tate Hamre helped set the Crookston defense in a 3rd and long, and Barnesville was forced to punt following a short run. Crookston would be forced to a third straight three and out, and Barnesville was able to score on their next possession. Bolgrean took another quarterback keeper 2- yards to the house to make it a two score game late in the first quarter.
2nd Quarter –
Crookston had the ball to start the second quarter, but their long drive stalled out after two incompletions resulted in a turnover on downs. Crookston’s drive milked almost half of the quarter away, and Barnesville did not have possession until the 6:06 mark in the quarter. The Trojans went quick again, as they marched down the field in three plays to score. A 42 yard run from Adam Branden set up a 2 yard touchdown run from Major Ness, and the two point reception from Isaiah Zajac made it 24-0 for Barnesville. The Trojans then recovered their surprise onside kick, which set up another Ness touchdown from 34 yards away just two plays later. The 2-point try was no good, leaving the score at 30-0. Crookston got the ball once again, and picked up a couple of first downs. Quarterback Teagan Lubinski scrambled for 10 and a first, and Parker Kelly hauled in a 13 yard catch for another on the next play. The Pirate drive ended on an 3rd down incompletion and a punt. Barnesville’s next drive was short, as Tate Hamre jumped a handoff and ripped the ball away from the Trojans just four plays into their drive. Crookston would take over with about 16 seconds left in the half in their own territory, but an incompletion and a sack sent Crookston into halftime empty.
3rd Quarter –
Crookston started the half with an onside kick, but Barnesville was all over it. The Trojans scored on the first play from scrimmage courtesy of a Major Ness 52 yard touchdown run just 32 seconds into the quarter. Crookston’s ensuing drive saw the Pirates move the ball, but they were turned away on downs by Barnesville once again. The Trojans took over deep in their own territory with just over 6 minutes left in the third, and used another one-play drive to increase the lead. Major Ness carried one in from 79 yards away to extend the lead to 46-0. The Pirates offense went four and out on their next drive,which led to Barnesville taking over with about 4 minutes to go in the quarter. Barnesville’s reserves began to work into the backfield, and Connor Klemin added another touchdown with 19 seconds left in the quarter. The failed 2-point try put the score at 52-0 for Barnesville.
4th Quarter –
Crookston’s offense began to move the ball, and a 10 yard pass from Lubinski to Hamre helped continue a sustained drive. A few plays later, Barnesville sacked Lubinski on 4th down to end the Pirate possession. Barnesville’s reserves added one more touchdown on a 27 yard run from Jacob Strand, who played quarterback for most of the final half. Brandon Dunham’s 2-point conversion catch extended Barnesville’s lead to 60-0 with 4:38 to go. Crookston would put up a late score of their own on a 32 yard run from Teagan Lubinski, and Zach Ali took a handoff into the endzone for another 2 points. Crookston cut the lead to 60-8, which would remain the final score as Barnesville was able to kneel out the clock on their final possession.
Click below to hear postgame comments from Pirate Head Coach Nate Lubarski:
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Crookston | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| Barnesville | 16 | 14 | 22 | 8 | 60 |
SCORING-
1st Quarter –
8:54 – BHS – Gannon Bolgren 40 yard run (Major Ness run)
1:01 – BHS – Gannon Bolgren 20 yard run (Gannon Bolgrean pass to Zajac)
2nd Quarter –
5:23 – BHS -Jacob Strand 2 yard run (pass failed)
4:41 – BHS – Major Ness 34 yard run (Major Ness run)
3rd Quarter –
11:26 BHS – Major Ness 52 yard run (Pass to Conner Klemin)
5:50 – BHS – Major Ness 79 yard run (Conner Klemin run)
0:19 – BHS – Conner Klemin 1 yard run (pass failed)
4th Quarter –
4:38 – BHS – Jacob Strand 27 yard run (Dunham reception)
2:10 – CHS – Tegan Lubinski 32 yard run (Zach Ali run)
| TEAM STATS | CROOKSTON | Barnesville |
| Rushing Yards | 172 | -492 |
| Passing Yards | 24 | -15 |
| Total Yards | 196 | 477 |
| Fumbles-Lost | 0-0 | 1-1 |
| First Downs | 12 | 18 |
| Penalties-Yards | 5-55 | 4-30 |
| Punts | 5-87 | 1-30 |
INDIVIDUAL STATS
| CROOKSTON | Barnesville |
| Rushing | Rushing |
| Rylan Lubarski – 13-85 | Jacob Strand – 8-130yds |
| Tate Hamre – 12-26 | Major Ness – 7-191yds |
| Teagan Lubinski – 10-81 | Gannon Bolgrean – 5-88yds |
| Connor Klemin – 2-8yds | |
| Passing | Passing |
| Teagan Lubinski – 5/8 24 yds | Gannon Bolgrean – 0/0 |
| Receiving | Receiving |
| Rylan Lubarski – 3-1 | |
| Parker Kelly – 1-13 | |
| Tate Hamre – 1-10 |
