Osseo coach Derrin Lamker knew what he had in senior running back Bridge Tusler. Following a 37-21 victory over Centennial on Thursday, it’s safe to say that Lamker is a bit more comfortable with the rest of the Orioles.

Outside of Tusler, considered one of the metro’s best backs, there were nagging concerns about the inexperienced Orioles. But Lamker felt that, experience aside, this squad had a chance to be among his best. The players just had to show it when it counted.

They did that, taking a big lead and then withstanding a desperate Centennial rally.

Things could not have started better for Osseo. The Orioles went 71 yards for a touchdown on their opening drive with Tusler giving them a 7-0 lead on a weaving 49-yard scoring run.

Centennial tied the score 7-7 on the ensuing drive, but the Cougars let first-game jitters creep in after that.

Osseo scored the next 18 points, thanks to a pair of scoring drives that measured 12 yards (following a long kickoff return by Osseo’s Troy Kray) and 10 yards (after Centennial botched a punt snap).

Tusler, considered one of the metro’s top running backs, pierced the end zone on both with a 4-yard run and 4-yard reception on a pass from quarterback Garrison Gillard.
A 25-yard field goal by Aaron Bergh gave Osseo a 25-7 halftime lead.

Tusler added his fourth touchdown of the game on Osseo’s first possession of the second half, extending the lead to 31-7.

Centennial, itself carrying high hopes, regrouped following its poor first-half showing and cut into the Osseo lead on the legs of its own horse of a running back, Michael Diggins.
Diggins scored his second touchdown of the game on a 21-yard run. A successful two-point conversion pulled Centennial to within two touchdowns, 31-15.

The Cougars scored again on their next possession on a short run by Diggins, but the two-point conversion attempt and the following onside kick failed, keeping Osseo ahead by two scores, 31-21.

As senior superstars do, Tusler made his biggest contribution when it mattered most, gaining 39 yards on three carries on Osseo’s following drive, capping it with his game-clinching fifth touchdown of the game.