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'All Day' Anyanwu

By MN Football Hub staff, 09/09/11, 11:45PM CDT

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Hopkins falls just short as Blaine senior quarterback notches four rushing touchdowns


Blaine senior quarterback Duke Anyanwu (No. 3) cuts upfield past Hopkins' defense during his 215-yard, four touchdown rushing performance in the matchup against the Royals on Friday, Sept. 9. Photo by Carson Kipfer

With the ball on the two-yard line in overtime, there would be no doubt who Blaine would call upon to close out the thrilling Friday, Sept. 9, matchup against Hopkins.

Enter Blaine quarterback Duke Anyanwu whose Herculean-effort resulted in the senior captain’s fourth rushing touchdown of the game to give the Bengals a 28-20 victory.

“I just knew I had to get that touchdown,” Anyanwu said. “I had to get it. It didn't matter what it would take, I needed my team to win. Our defense came through with those huge four stops in a row and I just had to do whatever to score there.

“I just had to do it.”

Anyanwu's game-winning touchdown unleashed the Bengals’ sideline that rushed the field to celebrate with its newest hero.

“That's a game kids will never forget,” Blaine coach Shannon Gerrety said.  “We're proud of our kids, it was a good high school football game and there ain't a fan leaving here without getting their money's worth tonight.”

Of all the Bengals in the endzone reveling in the victory, Anyanwu -- who finished with 215 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns -- was at the center of it all.


Blaine senior quarterback Duke Anyanwu (No. 3) makes a final push to the endzone for his third rushing touchdown of the game late in the fourth quarter. Photo by Carson Kipfer

“He's a workhorse,” Gerrety said. “He's a tough kid, a big strong kid. He earned his money tonight. We all made some mistakes but he made his money tonight. He'll be sore tomorrow.”

Despite the exciting ending, Blaine fans had to wait for the action as the Bengals trailed Hopkins 7-6 at halftime.

“(The game) started off super sloppy but we came to play in the second half,” Anyanwu said. “We're a second half team. Our coaches work us hard in practice down to our (offensive) line and (defensive) line. I knew we were just ready for it because our (offensive) line stepped up when it counted.”

Anyanwu wasn’t the only one to notice the Bengals’ slow start.

“I don't know if we were that ready to play (at first) tonight,” Gerrety said. “We let them back in it, but they let us back in it -- it was one of those games. It was a fun game and we'll take it. We need to look at video, we need to look at ourselves as coaches and our players and fix that.”

As if there was any question as to which of the Bengals would step up to embrace such a leadership role, Anyanwu made his commitment to improving his team very clear.

“It's huge being a captain on this team,” Anyanwu said. “So many of us are leaders as seniors. To be elected as a captain by my fellow teammates, I respect them a lot. I'm never going to let them down, I promise you that. On the field, off the field -- I'm going to be a leader. It's what I love to do.

“I just do whatever it takes to win. I don't know who I play like, I just want to win. That's all that matters to me.”

-- Michael Murakami, MN Football Hub staff

Confident but not content


Hopkins' senior running back Romar Daniel (No. 22) leaps into the endzone during the fourth quarter of the game against Blaine on Friday, Sept. 9. Photo by Carson Kipfer

Following the traditional postgame handshake, Hopkins coach John DenHartog gathered his team for a postgame meeting.

Even though the scoreboard wasn’t in the Royals’ favor, DenHartog and his team walked out of the huddle with heads held high.

“First and foremost I'm extremely proud of our kids and the effort that they made,” DenHartog said. “We asked them to give a great effort out there, play as a team and to support each other and I think we did that.”

Despite the optimism, don’t think Hopkins was pleased with the game’s result.

“It's disappointing,” DenHartog said. “We made a few mistakes especially early in the game offensively where we turned the ball over in the red zone and didn't do a good job of getting the ball in the endzone. We're going to have to go back and improve on that but we're a good football team. I think our kids have good character and we're going to keep getting better.”

With the effort shown against sixth-ranked Blaine, the Royals are excited to see what the remainder of the 2011 season will bring.

“I think the kids stepped it up a level,” DenHartog said. “Blaine is a top-ten team and I believe we're up there too. I think our kids recognized that type of energy and effort that we need to have. We have a good, tough schedule and we're going to play some good teams.

“Hopefully we can keep improving and play at that high level.”

-- Michael Murakami, MN Football Hub Staff

Not to be forgotten


Hopkins' senior receiver Andre McDonald (No. 12) speeds past Blaine's Haris Khan (No. 20) to cap off a 68-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter. Photo by Carson Kipfer

With Blaine driving down the field late in the fourth quarter, Hopkins’ standout receiver Andre McDonald paced the sidelines anxiously waiting his turn to get into the game and make a difference.

He didn’t have to wait long.

With under a minute remaining in the fourth quarter and his team down by seven, McDonald turned a short reception into a 68-yard touchdown to tie the game.

“Andre is really a difference maker,” Blaine coach Shannon Gerrety said. “We spent a lot of time trying to stop him. Even on that pass we had a defense designed just to stop him and we still didn't.

“He's definitely a step above the rest.”

Even Bengals’ quarterback Duke Anyanwu -- who had just scored his third rushing touchdown of the game on the previous drive -- had to smile as he watched McDonald race across the goal line.

“(He’s) a ball player for sure,” Anyanwu said. “He's not an All-American for no reason.”

Hopkins’ coach John DenHartog knew he could rely on his superstar receiver to provide some fireworks.

“It wasn’t surprising,” DenHartog said. “If we can get him the ball, he's liable to break it no matter where he's at. We try to get him the ball as much as possible and the defense knows we're trying to get him the ball, too. He's a tremendous athlete and he's also a good kid, a hard worker and a good leader for our team.

“We're fortunate to have him and we're going to continue to see if we can get him the ball.”

With his 6-foot-3, 218 pound frame and knack for snatching the ball in tough situations, McDonald is sure to cause nightmares for the defenses of opposing teams.

-- Michael Murakami, MN Football Hub Staff

Statistics, Summary

Photo Gallery

1. Duke Anyanwu, Blaine
Anyanwu was unstoppable against the Royals in Hopkins. When the Bengals needed a big play, the ball went to Duke. The defense knew he would be carrying the ball, but it didn't matter. The dual-sport Blaine star accounted for all four touchdowns in the contest. He will eventually have to decide whether to play basketball or football at the next level after his senior year.

2. Andre McDonald, Hopkins
McDonald was the second best player on the field in this match-up. When the ball was thrown his way there was a good chance that No. 12 was coming down with it. If it weren't for the dominant performance by Anyanwu, McDonald would have been the hero. His 62-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter forced the game into overtime. He was the target on fourth down in overtime but couldn't make the play.

3. Andy Wicklund, Hopkins
The quarterback took advantage of his opportunities under center passing for nearly 300 yards and two touchdowns. He put the Royals on top in the second quarter with a 20-yard touchdown pass over the middle to ShaDonte' McMorris. Wicklund was able to get more than just McDonald and McMorris involved in the offense. He converted some big first downs that kept the Royals in the game.

-- Eric Thorson, MN Football Hub Staff

Game Recap

Blaine senior quarterback Duke Anyanwu was a force to be reckoned with rushing for four touchdowns against Hopkins on Friday, Sept. 9, at Hopkins High School.

The Class 5A, No. 6 ranked Bengals pulled out a tight 26-20 overtime win over the Royals. 

Anyanwu accounted for the majority of the Bengals offense, carrying the ball nearly 40 times for 215 yards while also throwing for 105 yards.
 
Hopkins senior running back Daniel Romar gave the Royals the lead with five minutes to play in the game. Blaine answered with a drive capped by an Anyanwu touchdown run giving them a 20-13 lead with a little over one minute to play.
 
The Royals stayed in the game with a wide receiver screen to Andre McDonald who juked defenders and broke tackles on his way to a 62 yard touchdown, sending the game into overtime.
 
After a failed offensive drive by Hopkins, Anyanwu rushed for another touchdown and a Bengals win on a quarterback keeper.
 
-- Eric Thorson, MN Football Hub Staff

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