Sep 24, 2022

The Main Ave. Game

Fargo's original rivalry was renewed Friday night as South played host with a mind to notch North's first loss of the year. With water hanging in the sky but not yet adding to the atmosphere at field level they got the ball to start but a 3 & out was all they could generate.

The Spartan offense managed a quicker start as Peder Haugo kept them churning, with a pair of completions to Carter Zeller & keepers by Ethan Welk sprinkled-in to put them up 7 - 0. They didn't have to wait long to add to it as the ensuing kickoff was fumbled, recovered just beyond the 25. Haugo got North to the 10 and then a few plays later Jeremiah Sem hauled in a pass to put them up 14 - 0.

South has it's own standout running back and Damarion Semanko made the most of his first steps onto the field as he carried much of the way from the 23 to the 12. A false start put them in 3 & 15 and they weren't able to overcome it so it fell to the recent North Dakota commit, Landon Docken, to put some points on the board. With the deficit trimmed it was time for the defense to do their job. Emanuel Spiyee was inches from not only getting a stop but taking the ball away as Welk tried for Sem downfield. Just past the quarter turn North had to punt the possession away.

As the rain came into play ball-security became the name of the game, if it ever isn't. The Bruin's next chance started at the mid-field line but a tackle-for-loss by Haugo stymied them into a turnover-on-downs a few plays later.

John Williams started the possession with a 27-yard run but two plays later the ball was in Tyler Christianson's arms as he rumbled the other direction. It wasn't quite a scoop & score but the fumble recovery was the spark they needed to get their first touchdown, by Abu Trawally.

With 5:38 on the clock North could still run their preferred offense, with both Haugo & Williams toting to the 23. A pair of penalties pushed them back to the 39 and forced a punt in the final minute. Pinned deep, South handed off to run out the clock & set up the decisive second half.

As the rain continued to fall North continued to go with it's bread & butter, aided by another fumble. This time the turnover came on a punt after getting stopped on the three initial plays. When South forced them into a fourth down Ethan Welk connected with Thomas Lemen down to the four yard line. The Bruin defense bowed-up to hold the goal-line for four straight plays.

They weren't able to get much space between themselves & a safety but the win helped spur them on when North got the ball back via a punt.

The Spartans ran out the clock on the third quarter as John Williams & Welk kept them moving. To start the fourth they were once again held out of the end zone and had a field goal attempt go just wide.

That kept the door open for the #4 team in the state to take the lead on #2 and Damarion Semanko was more than happy to go through it. Semanko was spelled by Abu Trawally and Emanuel Spiyee got a big catch to flip the field but it 22 that scored the go-ahead.

With just under seven minutes remaining North engineered a responding drive, getting to the 18 before a fumble spotted the ball back to the 29. And so the game came down to one play on 4th & 21. The rain had subsided so all their options were available to get the first down. Welk dropped back to pass, had Carter Zeller going up the far side line & into the end zone with single coverage. He saw the opportunity and let the ball fly toward the accomplished hooper.

Time seemed to slow down as the ball cut through the air toward it's target.

Zeller leaped to haul it in

but off his fingertips & incomplete it went.

South's celebration could commence.