Barnum starts strong, but Warriors end stronger

Barnum was looking for its second win of the season against a good Deer River team for its homecoming celebration Friday, and it looked like they might get it. After the first half, the Bombers held a two-score lead. Then the Warriors bounced back with three unanswered touchdowns in the second and shut down the Bomber offense to escape with a 36-28 win.

Barnum's Max Moors scored on a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, which was followed by a Reed Kornovich 2-point conversion. The Warriors reacted with a15-yard pass from Blake Fox to Rhett Mundt. The conversion run failed, leaving Barnum up 8-6.

Before the first quarter ended, Willie Richardson scored on a 7-yard touchdown run, and after a failed conversion run the Bombers led it 14-7.

In the second quarter, Deer River's Austin Rasley slipped in from the 7-yard line and Rasley also added the conversion run to knot the score at 14-14.

"Rasley is an extremely good runner, and they have some big physical guys up front," said Barnum head coach Robert Minkkinen.

The Bombers took control of the game late in the second quarter right before halftime when Hayden Charboneau hit Joe Peterson on a 5-yard touchdown pass and Richardson followed with a 2-point conversion run, making it 22-14. Barnum added salt to the wound by scoring on the defensive side of the ball when Richards intercepted the ball and raced back 35 yards for a score, making it 28-14 after the conversion run failed.

"We had a lot of good efforts on the defensive side of the ball with Caden Sheff recording 15 tackles, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery," said Minkkinen. "Max Moors had 12 tackles and a fumble recovery. Aiden Litfin finished with 11 tackles and Willie Richardson had three tackles, a tackle for loss, one interception which he returned 35 yards for a touchdown."

The second half was all Deer River and Rasley, who added three touchdowns on runs of 70 yards, 11 yards and an interception return for 60 yards and a score. Rasley also added a pair of 2-point conversion runs for the final of 38-26.

"We had a solid three-man attack running the ball," said Minkkinen. "All three of our running backs run the ball very hard, and we were physical blocking up front. This was our offensive line's best game as a group."

Reed Kornovich led the three-pronged Barnum attack with 13 carries and 126 rushing yards. Richardson finished with 23 carries, good for 103 yards and a touchdown. Max Moors added eight carries for 48 yards and a score. Joe Peterson recorded two catches for Barnum, good for 20 yards and a score.

"As a coaching staff, we have been extremely proud of our student athletes for how they have been willing to learn, work and compete on a daily basis," said Minnkinen. "Our upperclassmen have done a nice job of leading this program towards the right direction."

The loss dropped the Bombers record to 1-3.