Oakes, ND (NewsDakota.com) – The Oakes Tornadoes picked up their first win of the season and also the first win in Region play against the Hillsboro-CV Burros on Friday. They would get the win inspite of the cold and several injuries occuring to big name players during the game.
The game started with Hillsboro getting the ball and starting to run it right at the Tornadoes defense. They would get lucky early as well as they’d run a read option with quarterback Tyson Leshuk holding onto the ball and running it to the house from 53 yards out to give themselves the early 7-0 lead just 1:27 into the game. The Tornadoes would not bat an eye at that however as they’d march down the field with Beau Thorpe slinging it well in the early goings and using Matthias Dahlstrom to pick up 5-7 yards a time. They’d get down to the redzone when Thorpe would find Reese Nitshke from 14 yards out for the touchdown to tie it at 7-7 with 6:33 left. However on the play Nitshke would end up hurt and be out for the rest of the game. The 7-7 score would hold till the end of the 1st.
The Burros would score next as they’d take advantage of several Oakes penalties including a 4th down passer interference after a goal line 4th down stop to give themselves a 2nd opportunity. They would make Oakes pay as Sawyer Owens would run it in from 3 yards out to make it 14-7 with 10:23 left in the half. Oakes would then begin to march down the field on the ensuing drive making it deep into Burro territory before a bad hand off to Jackson Sorum resulted in a fumble. Chase Haffley from Hillsboro would end up falling on the ball to end the Tornado drive but that wouldn’t be the end of the troubles for Oakes on the play as Sorum would end up hurt as well and have to be helped off the field ending his night. Oakes would make a 3-up-3-down stop and get the ball back and be marching down the field again with Thorpe still throwing well including a play to Nathan Schmitz in the flats for a 10-12 yard gain, however an awkward tackle on Schmitz on that play would result in him getting injured and having his night ended. Oakes again would keep marching however and Thorpe would connect with Joseph Dobitz from 23 yards away to get Oakes back to within one as the extra point would be missed making it 14-13. A quick defensive stop on the next drive again gave Oakes the ball and they’d get deep into enemy territory when Thorpe would roll to his left and throw across his body to hit David Bakke in stride for a 32 yard touchdown reception making it 19-14 going into the half.
Oakes would strike first in the 3rd as they’d start marching down field again when Andrew Rosendahl, the freshman running back, would spring for a 58 yard rushing touchdown to make it 26-14 with 11:01 left on the quarter. The Burros would put together a little drive of their own as they’d quickly march down the field with Leshuk finding Bryce Miller for a 24 yard td to make it 26-21 with 8:19 left. Both teams would then exchange drives a couple times with Thorpe being picked off once by Griffin Mitzel as well but nothing would come of it.
Oakes would find themselves starting a drive right as the 4th quarter began and they would take all the time they wanted as they would slowly and methodically march down the field eating up 7 and a half minutes of game time before being stopped inside the 10. Zade Heier however would miss the field goal keeping the score 26-21. The Burros would try to put a drive together but the Tornado defense would not break and stop them on a 4th and 1 situation. Oakes would then begin to slowly march again and eat up the Hillsboro timeouts and finish off the game winning it 26-21.
The Bank North Player of the Game was Beau Thorpe.
Next up for the Tornadoes is May-Port-CG in Mayville next Friday the 12th. Coverage begins at 6:00 on Friday with the Full 9 Yards with Ricky and BJ followed by pregame at 6:30 and kickoff at 7:00 all on KDDR The Tornado.