Sep 28, 2019

Battle for the West

It can be argued that rivalry games are the top tradition in sports on all levels. From the pro games all the way to prep level; regions, states & communities get lines drawn based on the teams that they stump for. In the Fargo area, North versus South has the most history. With respect though, the Green versus Blue have knocked them from the perch of top sports rivalry in the area. It will be interesting to see how the dynamic shifts when West Fargo gets the third school, but for now, it's about Sheyenne versus West Fargo.

The dog fight of a match-up was a stalemate well into the second with the only big play being an interception by Alex Urlaub in the endzone on what appeared to be a great catch Dustin Mertz for West Fargo. Yeah, that's the picture of it to the right. The only conclusion I can come to is that Urlaub just made a better effort for the ball. The moment that it generated wasn't enough to get the eggs off the board though.

A couple possessions later it was Mr. Utility coming through for the Mustangs as Tyler Terhark hauled in the first score of the night with less than 30 to play in the half.

After the intermission, Sheyenne turned it on to show why they're the second-ranked team in the state. Barika Kpeenu showed once again that he is up to the task of being the team's top running back as he darted for a 46-yard score three minutes into play.

On the first play by West Fargo on the next possession it was Lance Oster that got into the action as a pick-off artist. With it came the full force of the momentum on the grounds.

Starting Quarterback Grant Warkenthien kept it right on going with a run that nearly ended with points on their first play. But then the occasional downside of rivalries reared it's head as the players got too physical and a pair were ejected. That briefly stifled the Mustang's mojo and they weren't able to capitalize on the field position amid the first quarterback change, as Kellen Entz came into the game.

Feeling the pressure of the game, West Fargo tried to ignite themselves with a fake punt attempt that could that worked except the thrower put a little too much on the toss. The defense was able to stop Sheyenne and then Joel McIntosh helped out with a 25-yard run to keep their chance of victory alive, for a little while longer. Terhark made sure it only briefly remained a possibility as he got the third interception of the game.

Then he came in to handle the snaps as a wildcat quarterback, as if playing both ways and being the punter weren't enough! He didn't stay behind the center for the rest of the game but it still goes to show that he earned the nickname.

After forcing a punt to start the fourth quarter, West Fargo got another long run by McIntosh and finished the drive off with a keeper by Dustin Mertz to make it 14-6 with under four minutes remaining.

After playing it conservatively to run the clock down, Kpeenu made one last charge to shut the door. From beyond mid-field he took the ball to the visitor's sideline and dashed all the way to the blue turf to end the scoring and official claim the victory.