DEER RIVER- Deer River came up with a big play and a monster drive when they needed them most, getting two fourth-quarter touchdowns for a 22-16 win over the visiting Grizzlies on Friday.
The big play was a punt block that set the Warriors up on the North Woods 19 with Deer River holding a slim 10-8 lead. The Warriors put the ball in the hands of senior running back Joe Herfindahl, who scored on a three-yard plunge to extend the lead to 16-8.
Jared Chiabotti returned the ensuing kickoff 15 yards to set the Grizzlies up at their own 40. Grizzlies wide receiver Eric Aune was shaken up on a second-down reception and had to leave the game, but he came back in two plays later on fourth-and-nine for an 11-yard pass from Ty Fabish to preserve the drive. A penalty and a sack left the Grizzlies staring at a third-and-23 at the North Woods 38, but lightning struck in the form of T.J. Chiabotti, who raced 62 yards for his second touchdown of the night. Fabish connected with Aune again for the conversion, tying the score 16-16 with 6:23 to play.
Grizzlies fans were hopeful that their defense could repeat the magic they used to keep Deer River out of the end zone multiple times on drives that got as close as the North Woods five-yard line, but on first down from the Deer River 39, Herfindahl streaked through the right side of the line and dashed all the way to the North Woods 25. Four plays later, Herfindahl scored on a 12-yard run that proved to be the game-winning score.
North Woods had one more shot from their own 29 with 3:40 remaining, but lightning wouldn’t strike twice for the Grizzlies, as the Warriors shut down Chiabotti on fourth-and-21 with less than 30 seconds to go.
It was deferred revenge for the Warriors after a 46-36 loss to the Grizzlies last season, the only blemish on their 6-1 record. The teams were on a collision course to meet again in the sectional championship game, but the game wasn’t played due to the impact of COVID-19 on playoff scheduling.
Deer River threatened to take the lead on its opening drive of Friday’s game, but Aune came up with an interception at the goal line for the Grizzlies’ first big defensive stand of the night.
North Woods crossed the goal line three times at the end of the first quarter, but only one of those touchdowns counted. T.J. Chiabotti punished would-be tacklers on a 50-yard pass reception and score that was nullified by a North Woods blocking penalty. Then Fabish hit Aune on a slant pattern that the senior receiver took to the house for a 16-yard score, but that was erased by a Grizzlies’ personal foul.
Facing third-and-21 at the Deer River 29, Fabish flipped a screen pass to Chiabotti, who broke four tackles and waltzed into the end zone for the score that finally counted. Jared Chiabotti caught the two-point conversion to give the Grizzlies what would be their only lead of the game, 8-0.
Deer River quickly moved the ball for a first-and-goal at the Grizzlies 5, but huge stops from freshman Nick Abramson and junior Anevay Goodsky-Spears squashed the Warriors’ threat.
However, the Warriors got on the scoreboard three plays later when Fabish was sacked in the end zone for a safety. Deer River quarterback scored the team’s first touchdown of the night on a one-yard sneak with :43, and the two-point conversion by Austin Mundt gave the Warriors a 10-8 lead at the half.
When Fabish had the time to throw, he was red-hot, completing 12-of-16 for 115 yards, one touchdown and two conversions. Aune was on the receiving end of five of those passes for 44 yards and a conversion, and Jared Chiabotti also had five receptions for 16 yards and a conversion. T.J. Chiabotti caught two passes good for 58 yards and a touchdown.
Aside from giving up a long touchdown run, Deer River’s defense kept the Grizzlies’ run game in check for most of the game. T.J. Chiabotti netted 109 yards on 25 carries.
Freshman Nick Abramson and junior Anevay Goodsky-Spears received kudos from the coach for their defensive line play.
“He stepped up tremendously on defense Friday night,” Anderson said about Abramson. “His quickness and strength and speed shone through there.”
The performance turned in by Fabish was one Anderson said he knows the senior quarterback is capable of.
“When we gave Ty time, he found the open guy. It’s a bit unfortunate there that he has to throw three touchdown passes in order for one to count. But he found the right guys and showed what happens when we give him any kind of time to be able to read the defense.”
In addition to his receptions and interception, Aune led the Grizzlies on defense with 10 unassisted tackles.
“Eric is a phenomenal football player,” Anderson said. “He can catch anything that’s thrown his way. He’s a strong kid, he runs great routes, and he’s got very, very good hands.”
The Grizzlies are scheduled to take on Barnum at home on Friday. Due to the lengthy road trip for the Bombers, kickoff has been moved up to 3:15 p.m.