Roller boots Spuds past Fergus Falls

Published 12:00am Thursday, October 17, 2002
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Armed with a great name for a gambler but little playing time, the big junior stepped up and did the job Friday night, giving the Moorhead Spuds a 30-27 victory over Fergus Falls in double overtime. Roller, who used to kick the ball around as an eighth-grader, was loosening up before the game with some kicks. Steve Connelly was impressed enough to bring Roller in to win the game. &uot;I just had confidence that he could put it through,&uot; said Connelly. &uot;You want to give a kid a chance to be successful.&uot; Roller, who kicked the ball through the arches despite a wicked crosswind was as surprised as anyone when the Spuds called and timeout on fourth and goal from the two. &uot;They just called a timeout and said ‘we have faith in you,’&uot; said Roller. The improbable 17-yard field goal spoiled a great fourth quarter comeback by the Otters. After Ben Thoreson scored on a four-yard plunge with 6:38 remaining to give Moorhead a 21-7 lead, the Otters had only a strong wind to keep them afloat. Tyler Gagner came out throwing and 10 plays later Kirby Carr scored on a four-yard run with 3:39 to go. The Spuds were forced to punt and the Otters started on their own 35 with 44 seconds left. Gagner has engineered some quick strike drives this season and he did again, scrambling to buy time and finding Luke Schalekamp for 27 yards and Justin Rick for 13 more. An 18-yard pass to Brandon Clouse gave the Otters field position on Moorhead’s 12. Gagner took matters into his own hands on second and 10 and found running room up the middle. The 230-pound senior crashed through several Moorhead blockers at the goal line to score. Chris Petersen’s game-tying kick came with 14 seconds remaining. &uot;I though Tyler really came of age in the second half,&uot; said Otter head coach Phil Link. The Spuds scored on their first play of overtime as red-hot quarterback Lucas Wolford found Joe Johnson on a corner route. The Spuds failed to convert on a two-point pass attempt leaving them with a 27-21 lead. The Otters struck back when Luke Schalekamp gaining eight on a reverse that set up a two-yard plunge by Gagner. Petersen had a chance to win the game but his kick sailed to the right and leaving the game in a 27-27 deadlock. &uot;I’d say this team showed a ton of guts tonight,&uot; said Gagner, who was eight of 19 for 133 yards. &uot;They got up 21-7 and we could have quit.&uot; The Spuds, who entered the game with a 3-3 record against some of Minnesota’s toughest metro and outstate teams, took the opening drive 76 yards in 17 plays with Wolford hitting Johnson on a 10-yard rollout on fourth down. A 37-yard run by Cory Johnson set up Moorhead’s second touchdown. Wolford, who hit on 12 of 17 passes for 154 yards, hit Thoreson on a 12-yard screen pass with 4:27 on the clock. The Otters came up with their first touchdown on a quick-moving drive highlighted by a Gagner to Schalekamp 23-yard gainer. Mat Rugg went seven yards for the touchdown with 1:20 remaining. &uot;It was a great high school football game, it’s just too bad someone had to lose,&uot; said Link. Thoreson gained 55 yards on 21 carries. Joe Johnson caught seven passes for 93 yards. Rugg rushed for 62 yards on 15 carries as the Spuds held Carr to 30 yards on nine carries. A first half interception in the end zone by Moorhead’s Tyler Hagen was the only turnover. The Otters are now 5-2 going into their regular season finale Wednesday at home with Little Falls. Mhd 6 80063&045; 30 FF 0 701460&045; 27 Mhd: Joe Johnson 10 yd pass from Lucas Wolford (PAT failed), Ben Thoreson 12 yd pass from Wolford (PAT Casey Gibson run), Johnson 10 yd pass from Wolford (PAT failed), Willie Roller 17 yd field goal FF: Mat Rugg 7 yd run (PAT Chris Petersen kick), Kirby Carr 4 yd run (PAT Petersen kick), Gagner 12 yd run (PAT Petersen kick), Gagner 2 yd run (PAT failed) MhdFF First Downs1315 Yards Rushing152143 Yards Passing154133 Total Yards306276 Passes12-17 8-19 Intercepted By10 Fumbles Lost00 Penalties7-70 6-42

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