Otter ride out Storm 21-7, advance to state tournament

By Don Cogger (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Saturday, November 1, 2008

It was quite a sight to see.

As the stands emptied at St. John’s University Stadium, and fans, friends and family collided midfield with the 10-0, Section 8 4A Champion Otter football team, coach Richard Risbrudt found his son Nick, an Otter receiver and defensive back whose interception in the end zone of a Sauk Rapids pass with under a minute left to play sealed the deal for the Otters.

After a handshake and a smile, the two hugged, then turned to hug teammates and fans and anyone else on the field looking to celebrate one simple fact.

The Otters are going to state.

Behind an impressive 21-7 win over a talented Sauk Rapids-Rice team Saturday, the Otters will face the winner of the Section 5 4A championship game between Becker and St. Michael-Albertville.

A win in that game, and the Otters will be headed for the Metrodome.

“This is something this team and this town have been deserving of for years,” an emotional Risbrudt said. “Today’s win, and what it signifies, is a gift to these kids and this community.”

The Otters scored on their opening drive, as quarterback Derek Hansen led his team on an 11 play drive that started on their own 27-yard line and took over four minutes off the clock.

Behind strong running by Matt Mithaugen and a key catch by Nick Risbrudt, Hansen scored on a keeper from five yards out to give the Otters a 7-0 lead.

The second quarter opened with Otter kicker Trevor Gervais just missing a 42-yard field goal. The Storm offense took over and began to move the ball, taking it down to the Otter 10-yard line. The Otter defense, a unit that has shown consistently they can play tough when their backs are against the wall, held Sauk Rapids to a an unsuccessful field goal attempt.

Fergus Falls was able to move the ball into Sauk Rapids territory before seeming to stall at the Storm 32-yard line. Going for it on fourth and 11 from the 32 and facing a heavy rush, Hansen rolled out of the pocket and threw deep just as he was hit, finding Mithaugen in the end zone for a score.

The Otters took a 14-0 lead into the half.

“That was a solid half for us, against a very strong defensive team,” coach Risbrudt said. “Credit our offensive line for letting us make things happen.”

The start of the second half provided the Otters with a bit of a gut-check moment, as Storm running back Cody Meyer took the opening kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown. The PAT conversion suddenly made it a one-score ball game at 14-7.

“That made us hold our breath a bit,” Risbrudt said, laughing. “But we knew these guys weren’t going to lay down for us, and in football, anything can happen.”

The Otters’ first drive of the second half stalled, giving the Storm a chance to capitalize on the momentum they gained from their score.

The Otter defense had other plans, as Colton Thorson and Kyle Shaikoskie each sacked the Storm quarterback on the ensuing drive. Hansen recovered a fumble, and the Otters were back in business.

Mithaugen then did what he does best, scampering for a 63-yard touchdown run behind his offensive line.

The two teams traded punts in the fourth quarter before the Storm began to move the ball again, driving to the Otter 12-yard line. with time running out on Sauk Rapids’ season, they elected to go for it on a fourth and one, rather than try a field goal.

And once again the Otter defense came up big, stopping the run and ending the threat.

After an Otter punt, the Storm saw their final opportunity to score slip away with Risbrudt’s interception with 48 seconds left.

And just like that, the Otters were Section 8 4A Champions. For Hansen, not to mention his teammates, it’s been a long time coming.

“I can’t tell you how proud I am of everyone on this team,” he said. “These guys played to their last breath, and laid it all on the line for the win. We set goals for this team at the beginning of the season, and so far, we’ve accomplished every one of them. An undefeated season. CLC Champions. And now this. These guys played their hearts out.”