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Nine-Man: Undefeated Mountain Lake topples Mountain Iron-Buhl

By JIM PAULSEN, Star Tribune, 11/16/18, 11:45AM CST

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Abe Stoesz passed for 134 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 84 yards and another score in the Wolverines' 42-8 victory.


Mountain Lake's Drake Harder (80) dove in for a touchdown in the first quarter against Mountain Iron-Buhl. Photo: RENEE JONES SCHNEIDER ¥ renee.jones@startribune.com

Is it possible that a team playing Nine-Man football can overwhelm an opponent with numbers? That was likely the case in Mountain Lake’s 42-8 romp over Mountain Iron-Buhl in the Nine-Man semifinals.

Mountain Lake (12-0) prides itself on its physical nature, an identity it showed on its first possession Friday. The Wolverines battered the smaller Rangers, driving 75 yards on 11 plays, all runs. The drive ended with a one-yard touchdown run by quarterback Abe Stoesz and early 8-0 lead.

“Our game plan was to get a lead,” Mountain Lake coach Tim Kirk said. “We’ve been behind, I think, just once all year.”

Playing for the first time in U.S. Bank Stadium, Stoesz said he and his teammates had some pregame butterflies, but that quick lead helped them settle down.

“You have a bit of nerves, but once the game starts, you stick your chest out and turn those nerves into pride,” he said.

First report

Mountain Lake scored on its first drive of the game and never looked back, crushing Mountain Iron-Buhl 42-8 in the Nine-Man semifinal on Friday at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Quarterback Abe Stoesz passed for 134 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 84 yards and another score for the Wolverines (12-0).

The victory sets up their first Prep Bowl appearance since 2002, when the school was a cooperative with Butterfield-Odin and played in Class 1A.

Mountain Iron-Buhl, which avoided a shutout with a touchdown with 10 seconds left in the game, ended its season 10-3.

Check back later for more on the game.

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