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Heinen, Otters smoke Cards [UPDATED]
Published 11:11am Monday, September 17, 2012 Updated 11:11am Monday, September 17, 2012Fergus Falls running back Walker Heinen had a highlight real evening as he rushed for more than 300 yards and recorded four touchdowns in the Otters 48-35 victory over the Alexandria Cardinals Friday.
Alexandria jumped on the score board first with two touchdowns by Jake Bear to put the Otters into a 14-0 hole from the get go.
Fergus would battle back as Heinen split the Cardinal defense for a 20 yard touchdown run.
The Otters would knot the game back up the following possession as quarterback Brady Hansen hooked up with Reece Johnson for a 45 yard touchdown.
“I was pleased that our team didn’t fold after being 14 points down early,” Otter coach Richard Risbrudt. “Our guys know that bad things sometimes happen. We didn’t lose our poise.”
Fergus would take their first lead as Hansen laced the ball to his number one target Johnson for a 27 yard score. The following extra point failed leaving the door open for Alexandria as John Vogeler rambled for a 37 yard touchdown run to put the Cardinals up 21-20 at the break.
As the third quarter started, Heinen took over. Heinen would score on the second play of the half as he found the crease and scored on a 66 yard run.
Ben Schindler would recover an onside kick for the Otters and Heinen would sprint for his third touchdown of the game, this time from nine yard outs.
The Cardinals would not go down easy as Mitch Peck capped a nine play drive with a 13 yard touchdown run.
Heinen and the Otters would again respond as the running back took the ball 77 yards to pay dirt on the following possession.
Abbot Aho would put the game out of reach for the Cardinals as he juked his way for a 53 yard score.
The Cardinals would add a late score as Peck crossed the goaline on a six yard run.
“Walker Heinen played a game tonight that he will remember for the rest of his life. Any running back that runs for 300-plus yards, 4 TD’s and an extra point is having excellent line blocking up front and is exploding through the line making defensive players miss,” added Risbrudt.
Heinen finished the evening with 303 yards on 23 carries and four touchdowns. The Cardinals’ Bear and Peck each rushed for over 100 yards and two touchdowns in the loss.
Johnson only had two catches for the Otters but they were both found him in the endzone for 72 yards on the day.
The Otters will take a 3-0 record on the road next Friday as they travel to take on the undefeated Moorhead Spuds in a 7 p.m. game.
Fergus Falls 48, Alexandria 35
1 2 3 4 F
ALEX 14 7 7 7 — 35
FF 14 6 28 0 — 48
1st Quarter
(ALEX) Jake Bear 49 yd run (Chandler Davis kick)
(ALEX) Bear 1 yd run (Davis kick)
(FF) Walker Heinen 20 yd run (Jesse Ketonen kick)
(FF) Reece Johnson 45 yd pass from Brady Hansen (Ketonen kick)
2nd Quarter
(FF) Johnson 27 yd pass from Hansen (kick failed)
(ALEX) John Vogeler 37 yd run (Davis kick)
3rd Quarter
(FF) Heinen 66 yd run (Hansen run)
(FF) Heinen 9 yd run (kick failed)
(ALEX) Mitch Peck 13 yd run (Davis kick)
(FF) Heinen 77 yd run (kick failed)
(FF) Abbot Aho 53 yd run (Heinen run)
4th Quarter
(ALEX) Peck 6 yd run (Davis kick)
ALEX FF
Rushing Yards 344 424
Passing Yards 83 41
Comp.-Att.-Int. 5-10-0 3-8-1
First Downs 17 12
Rushing Leaders: (FF) Heinen 23-303 yds, 4 TDs, Aho 8-81 yds, TD; (ALEX) Bear 22-138 yds, 2 TDs, Peck 16-111 yds, 2 TDs.
Receiving Leaders: (FF) Johnson 2-72 yds, 2 TDs; (ALEX) Bear 2-26 yds.
Passing Leaders: (FF) Hansen 3-8-83 yds, 2 TDs; (ALEX) Vogeler 5-10-41 yds.
