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Armed and dangerous

By MN Football Hub staff, 09/16/11, 10:55AM CDT

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Blooming Prairie's Zellmer throws six touchdown passes, nears state record

Blooming Prairie senior quarterback Luc Zellmer led an aerial assault against Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity throwing for five touchdowns on Friday, Sept. 16, in the undefaeated  and No. 9-ranked (Class 1A) Blossoms' 49-28 vctory.

On the receiving end of the majority of those balls was a set of hands in which Zellmer has complete trust. They belong to senior wide receiver Gabe Kartes.

"Me and Luc (Zellmer) have been throwing together since we were kids," said Kartes. "He's always been that quarterback and I've always been his main wide receiver."

The tandem has put in the extra effort to be very dangerous to opposing defenses. During the offseason, they spent summer days running routes and improving their timing in preparation for their senior campaign. All the hard work and independent workouts have seemed to pay off. Kartes had more than 200 yards receiving and caught four of Zellmer's five touchdown passes against previously unbeaten Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity.

The Blossoms' offensive scheme caters to the pass, which is fine with their senior quarterback.

"Its wide open and we have a lot of people in motion" said Zellmer.  "I try to spread the ball around, all of our receivers can do big things."

Zellmer was handed the keys to the Blooming Prairie offense as a sophomore, he maintains a 4.0 grade point average and coach Chad Gimbel's trust in him is so strong that he handed him the keys to something else: his car. Zellmer has recently been driving Gimbel's car around the streets of Blooming Prairie.

The senior quarterback is closing in on the state record for most career touchdown passes (he needs 11 to tie Chris Meidt of Minneota for the career record at 101), but will have to hand over the reigns of the offense at the end of the season. He has some advice for his successor.

"Lead with confidence, always try to go forward," Zellmer said.

-- Eric Thorson, MN Football Hub staff

Statistics, Summary

Game Recap

Senior quarterback Luc Zellmer passed for 282 yards and six touchdowns, and senior receiver Gabe Kartes caught 10 passes for 207 yards and four touchdowns as undefeated and No. 9-ranked (Class 1A) Blooming Prairie beat Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity 49-28 on Friday, Sept. 16, at Blooming Prairie High School.

Kartes’ scoring catches came on plays of 45, 4, 26 and 45 yards.

On one third-quarter scoring drive for the Awesome Blossoms, Kartes accounted for all the yards as Blooming Prairie (3-0) traveled 80 yards on three plays.

Michael Thomas returned a kickoff 70 yards to account for the only touchdown in which Zellmer wasn’t involved.

Zellmer, a starter since he was a sophomore, entered the season 24 touchdown passes away from the state career record.  Chris Meidt of Minneota threw 101 touchdown passes from 1984-87.

Senior running back Sam Scoblic had 18 carries for 123 yards for Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity (2-1).

The Bulldogs led 14-7 in the second quarter and were within 28-20 in the third when Thomas’ touchdown run propelled Blooming Prairie to the victory.

The Blossoms have reached the Section 1A title game each of the last four seasons.

-- Loren Nelson, MN Football Hub staff
 

1. Luc Zellmer, Blooming Prairie
A strong-armed senior who possesses pinpoint accuracy, Zellmer threw for 282 yards and a stunning six touchdown passes. Zellmer has 12 touchdown passes this season, giving him 90 for his career and leaving him 11 from the state career record held by Chris Meidt of Minneota.

2. Gabe Kartes, Blooming Prairie
A great quarterback is only as good as his receivers, and Zellmer has a speedy, sure-handed target in Kartes, who caught four touchdown passes among his 10 receptions for 207 yards.

3. Sam Scoblic, Lester Prairie
Scoblic rumbed for 123 yard and a touchdown and set up another score with a breakaway run in the second quarter as he was the Bulldogs’ most consistent offensive threat.

-- Loren Nelson, MN Football Hub staff

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