MILLER’S LATE TD GIVES W-A-O PONIES SECTION 8 9-MAN TITLE

Senior linebacker Gunnar Jorgenson secured an interception in the endzone on the final play of the game as the Warren-Alvarado-Oslo Ponies won their first Section 8 9-man championship 14-12 over North Central in the Fargo Dome.

FIRST QUARTER-
Both offenses had no trouble moving the football in the opening quarter, with each side scoring touchdowns to open the game. North Central assembled an impressive opening drive marching 65-yards down the field with running back Ben Jourdan scampering in from 2-yards out, giving the Stars a 6-0 lead with 7:47 to play in the first quarter after the two-point conversion failed. Warren-Alvarado-Oslo responded with a touchdown drive of their own. The Ponies methodically moved the ball down the field during a drive that started at the WAO 27-yard line. Senior running back Brandon Miller was a workhorse carrying the ball seven times for 65 yards on the opening drive before quarterback Gavin Gullickson carried the ball for 3-yards inside the far pylon for a touchdown. Blaise Potucek carried the two-point conversion over the goal line giving Warren-Alvarado-Oslo an 8-6 lead with 1:38 remaining in the first quarter.

SECOND QUARTER –
Both offenses struggled to move the football in the second quarter. Warren-Alvarado started a drive at their 37-yard line with 4:51 to play in the first half, but an interception in the redzone by North Central’s Jack Gilbert ended the Ponies hopes of adding to their 8-6 lead before halftime.

THIRD QUARTER-
After both offenses traded three-and-outs to start the second half, Warren-Alvarado-Oslo appeared poised to add to their lead. The Ponies drove the ball down to the Stars 13-yard line, but a fumble recovered by North Central gave the Stars the football and a chance to regain the lead. The Stars marched the ball down the field down to the Ponies’ 5-yard line, where North Central faced 4th down-and-3, but a delay of game penalty forced the Stars’ back to the 10-yard line. On 4th-and-8, quarterback Jack Gilbert rolled to his left and floated the ball to the end zone. The pass went through the hands of a Ponies linebacker and fell into the arms of tight end Anthony Cipriano in the end zone for a touchdown giving North Central a 12-8 lead after the failed two-point conversion with 0:20 to play in the third quarter. On the ensuing kick-off, the Stars executed an onside kick that hit a Warren-Alvarado-Oslo blocker and was recovered by North Central.

FOURTH QUARTER-
The Stars started with the football and a two-point lead to open the final quarter. North Central’s drive stalled, and their punter Cam McRoberts failed to get a punt off as he was tackled at the 50-yard line where Warren-Alvarado-Oslo took over trailing by two points with 10:24 to play. The Ponies turned back to their strong rushing attack. Brandon Miller carried Warren-Alvarado-Oslo’s offense down the field and punched in an 8-yard rushing touchdown with 0:59 remaining giving the Ponies a 14-12 lead with under one minute to play. North Central started the subsequent drive at their own 30-yard line with just 0:53 remaining. A 15-yard late-hit penalty gave the Stars a free 15-yards to start their drive moving the ball to their own 45-yard line. Jack Gilbert rolled to his right and threw the ball back across the field to a wide-open Ben Jourdan who ran down the far sideline into Warren-Alvarado-Oslo territory down to the WAO 28-yard line. On the next play, Gilbert threw the ball into heavy coverage where it was intercepted by Connor Narlock, but he lost the football on his return, giving North Central one last chance. A completion along the sideline moved North Central to the WAO 7-yard line, but on the final play of the game, Gunnar Jorgenson made the game-winning interception in the end zone as Warren-Alvarado-Oslo hung on for the 14-12 win.

Warren-Alvarado-Oslo improves to 8-3. The Ponies will take on Section 6 champion Win-E-Mac on Friday, November 8 at Moorhead High School in the first round of the State Tournament. KROX will carry the game beginning at 6:30 P.M. with the Riverview Health Pregame Show. North Central finishes their season as Section runner-up with a record of 10-1.

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1st Quarter
7:47 – NC – Ben Jourdan 2 yard run  (run failed)
1:38 – W-A-O –  Gavin Gullickson 3 yard run (Blaise Potucek run)

2nd Quarter
No Scoring

3rd Quarter
0:20 – NC – Anthony Cipriano 10 yard pass from Jack Gilbert  (run failed)

4th Quarter
0:59 – W-A-O -Brandon Miller 8 yard run  (run failed)

INDIVIDUAL STATS