Quarterback Jake Poehler passed for three scores and ran for two more scores as the visiting Pine River-Backus Tigers pounded Cass Lake-Bena 41-0 in a Northwest East Subdistrict football game Friday, Sept. 13. It was the first varsity football win in two years for the Tigers, who competed last season at the junior varsity level due to a shortage of high school players.
“It was very nice to get a varsity win,” said PR-B head coach Tom Demars. “Our players, and especially our seniors, should be congratulated that they have stuck this out through some tough times.”
Poehler opened the scoring with a one-yard burst and followed that up with a 36-yard run. He finished off the first quarter with a 17-yard strike to Keenan Dahl to give the Tigers a 21-0 lead.
Rian Struss and Trevor Redding were on the receiving end of Poehler’s touchdown passes in the second quarter as the Tigers took a 34-0 halftime lead.
“Jake had a really nice game throwing the ball,” Demars said of Poehler’s performance. “I don't remember the last time we had one player involved in five touchdowns. The receivers were able to get open, the line and blockers gave us time to throw and Jake threw some nice catchable passes. One of his touchdown runs was a scramble to get away from the pass rush where he had to improvise and make a great play.”
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Connor Tulenchik closed out the scoring in the third quarter with a 62-yard dash. Poehler finished with 170 yards passing on eight of 15 completions while Tulenchik led the rushing attack with 13 carries for 119 yards.
The Tigers finished with 403 yards while allowing just 100 yards.
“Our defense didn't let Cass Lake get anything going all night and we were able to get a few turnovers to help out the offense,” Demars said.
The Tigers, 1-2 overall, are scheduled to play at Fosston at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20.
“Our goal is to improve every week, regardless of the score,” Demars said, “but it’s nice to get the win. We'll need to get better again this week as I expect a competitive game up in Fosston.”
Pine River-Backus 21 13 7 0 -- 41
Cass Lake-Bena 0 0 0 0 -- 0
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First quarter
PRB-Jake Poehler 1 run (Keenan Dahl kick)
PRB-Poehler 36 run (conversion failed)
PRB-Dahl 17 pass from Poehler (Trevor Redding run)
Second quarter
PRB-Rian Struss 40 pass from Poehler (kick failed)
PRB-Redding 64 pass from Poehler (Dahl kick)
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Third quarter
PRB-Connor Tulenchik 62 run (Dahl kick)
Team statistics
Rushes-yards: PRB 36-233, CLB 36-98
Pass comp-att-int-yds: PRB 8-15-0-170, CLB 1-5-1-2
Total offense: PRB 403, CLB 100
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Individual leaders
Rushing: PRB-Connor Tulenchik 13-119, Jake Poehler 7-79, Keenan Dahl 7-17, Finnegan O’Dell 6-13, Irvin Tulenchik 1-4, Caleb Ruhl 2-1
Passing: PRB-Poehler 8-15-0-170
Receiving: PRB-Trevor Redding 2-82, Rian Struss 3-60, Dahl 2-25, Ruhl 1-3
