MVL posts upset over WEM, 24-20

By JIM BASTIAN

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- If you have ever been a new kid in school, you knew that sooner or later you would have to face the school bully and prove yourself.

Minnesota Valley Lutheran is that 'new kid' in the Gopher/Valley Conference this year and Friday night, they met the 'bully' of the conference, fourth ranked in Class 2A Waterville-Elysian-Morristown.

To say that they proved themselves may be an understatement.

The Charger defense forced seven WEM turnovers, the last coming on an Andy Beilke interception with 49 seconds left in the game as MVL upset the Buccaneers 24-20 in Gopher/Valley Conference.

"I cannot say enough about how our guys at times looked like their gas tank was empty but they just kept coming back," said an emotional coach Jim Buboltz. "I cannot name enough guys that just put their heart out on the field. (Charger quarterback) Karl Struck could hardly walk running the offense. Andy Beilke was cramping up all game. He made a big interception (one of five picks by the Chargers in the game -- two by Nate Nass and one each by Dave Petersen, Andy Beilke and Struck). Our offensive line play by Nate Hacker -- this team played so well."

The Chargers, who had forced three Buc turnovers in the third quarter, carried a 17-7 lead into the final quarter before the Bucs scored two touchdowns in less than two minutes to take a 20-17 lead on a 49-yard pass from Brent Vollbrecht to Bryan Woitas and a 24-yard interception return for a score by James VanHoudt.

But MVL came up with a big offensive play that proved to be the game-winner on their next offensive series.

First, Struck completed his only pass of the second half (6-for-18 in the game) hitting Nathan Nass for a 20-yard gain. A Beilke eight-yard run proceeded a 42-yard touchdown jaunt by speedster Grant Holzhueter at the 8:56 mark and a 24-20 lead following Beilke's extra point kick

"(Charger offensive co-ordinator) Rollin Timm called a great game -- especially this counter play -- it was a fantastic call," said Buboltz.

That proved to be enough as an inspired Charger defensive secondary latched onto two Brent Vollbrecht aerials in the final six minutes.

"This is a great win for us," said Nathan Nass who had two picks on the night and a fumble recovery. "We played great. We went down a couple of times but we fought right back. We wanted to play a 5-3 (defense) and throw in some blitzes up the middle -- everybody just played great on defense."

But it would be WEM (1-1) that drew first blood, marching 80 yards in eight plays with a 40-yard touchdown pass from Brent Vollbrecht to split end Leon Barber.

MVL, who out-gained WEM 87-76 yards in the first quarter, got on the board early in the second quarter when Andy Beilke booted a 22-yard field goal to cap off a nine-play, 51 yard drive to cut the lead to 7-3 going into halftime.

Nass' recovery of a Dane Roemhildt fumble keyed a 35 yard, seven play drive with a reverse to Holzhueter -- the same play that would eventually win the game for MVL -- for 25-yards being the big play that ended when Beilke hit for his first of three touchdowns.

WEM mishandled the ensuing kickoff and MVL recovered on the Bucs' 29-yard line. Eight plays later, Beilke hit paydirt from a yard out for a 17-7 MVL lead

"The turnovers prove that you are hitting hard and we were.," Buboltz said. "When you play Waterville, you have to be able to hit with them -- our guys came up big. And this was a big win for us -- our first win in the Gopher/Valley. We want to tell the rest of the conference. "

WEM 7-0-0-13 -- 20

MVL 0-3-14- 7 -- 24