Bluejays total 81 at New Ulm

The New Ulm Eagles definitely gave the Waseca Bluejays a scare.

By the end, though, the only thing scary was the final score.

The Bluejays possessed the football 11 times and scored 11 touchdowns, blowing out the Eagles 81-36 while spoiling New Ulm's senior night Thursday, Oct. 6. The final score is not a misprint. The Bluejays won 81-36. The combined point total is a new state record.

“We told the players that good things happen to teams that play hard,” said Waseca coach Brad Wendland. “We knew we would have a lot of things to improve on after viewing the game on film  and we were excited to do that. We challenged them to be relentless at getting better.”

The Bluejays totaled 595 yards of offense, 438 rushing and 157 passing.

Quarterback Andrew O'Brien ran for 132 yards and three touchdowns while passing for three scores. Christian Rodriguez racked up 209 yard rushing with two touchdowns. Damarius Russell rushed for three touchdowns.

The Bluejays, who improved to 5-1, hosted Worthington in another Thursday game Oct. 13. They finish the regular season Wednesday, Oct. 19 at Luverne.

If you like offense, Friday's game at New Ulm was a treat. If not, you were shaking your head.

The Eagles, who entered the game with one win this season, shocked the Jays on the opening drive, going 80 yards in seven plays.

On Waseca's first play, OBrien broke up the middle and sprinted 80 yards for a touchdown.

Then it was the Eagles' turn. They needed only three plays to go 70 yards.

The Bluejays - behind hard running by Rodriguez - covered 59 yards in 13 plays.

After the Eagles went three-and-out, Waseca went 50 yards in seven plays.

Two plays later, New Ulm scored on a 40-yard run.

The Jays proceeded to travel 80 yards in eight plays. The key plays in the drive were O'Brien passes of 18 yards to Carson Ohnstad and 18 yards to Russell.

The Bluejays forced a three-and-out and partially blocked the punt, giving them the ball on the New Ulm 13. You know what happened next. On the second play, Rodriguez ran 6 yards for a touchdown.

Waseca ended New Ulm's next possession after three plays as Russell recovered a fumble. It took the Jays four plays to go 67 yards, the final 20 coming on a pass to Ohnstad.

The Eagles answered, of course, using seven plays to go 70 yards.

It was finally halftime, and the Bluejays led 47-29. Neither team, however, was finished - especially Waseca.

Taking the opening second-half kickoff, the Bluejays scored after only two plays to make it 55-29.

Starting at their own 29, the Eagles drove 12 plays to the Waseca 8 before stalling with a fourth-down incompletion.

The Bluejays traversed the 92 yards in only four plays.

After a New Ulm punt, the Jays drove 46 yards in four plays.

Carter Ellis intercepted a pass to set up Waseca on the New Ulm 19, and the Jays scored again after four plays despite having reserves in the game.

Sophomore Micah Allen-Haas scored the Bluejays' final touchdown on a 34-yard run.

The final 10 minutes of the game were played with a running clock, as per rule.

Wendland declined to speculate on how far this year’s team can go.

“We don't look ahead,” he said. “Our focus is what we can do on Monday to help us prepare for Worthington. It is senior night this week and we want to honor them as best as we possibly can.”

The Bluejays played at New Ulm without one of their best seniors, Kyle Ahlschlager, sidelined by injury. His return is uncertain.

 

 

WAS                   15    32     20      14 — 81

NU                      14    15      0        7 — 36

 

First Quarter

NU - Osborne 63 pass from Jensen (Lieb kick)

WAS - O’Brien 60 run (Neaves kick)

NU - Jensen 61 run (Lieb kick)

WAS - O’Brien 6 run (Rodriguez run)

Second Quarter

WAS - O’Brien 10 run (Rodriguez run)

NU - Frederick 40 run (Lieb kick)

WAS - Rodriguez 11 run (Rodriguez run)

WAS - Russell 6 run (Rodriguez run)

WAS - Ohnstad 20 pass from O’Brien (Rodriguez run)

NU - Frederick 9 run (Jensen run)

 

Third Quarter

WAS - Rodriguez 74 run (O’Brien run)

WAS - Da. Russell 55 pass from O’Brien (run failed)

WAS - Ohnstad 24 pass from O’Brien (kick failed)

Fourth Quarter

WAS - Mixteco 2 run (Neaves kick)

NU - Jensen 3 run (Lieb kick)

WAS - Allen-Haas 41 run (Neaves kick)

 

                              WAS        NU

First downs                    12               14

Rushing                     47-438          34-235

Passing                      9-13-0           7-23-1

Passing Yds.                  157            122

Total offense                  595           357

Penalties                       11-104          2-20

 

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing - WAS: Rodriguez 20-208; O’Brien 12-132; Allen-Haas 1-41; Da. Russell 4-23; Ludwig 2-23; Mixteco 4-12; Balderas 4 —1; NU: Jensen 10-92; Frederick 16-92; Peart 4-41; Osborne 2-12; Brudelie 10-4; Glasner 1 —6

Passing - WAS: O’Brien 9-13, 157; NU: Jensen 7-23 122

Receiving - WAS: Da. Russell 3-78; Ohnstad 5-73; Rodriguez 1-6; NU: Osborne 3-81; Tess 1-24; Brudelie 1-10; Benson 1-6; Haefner 1-1

Defense – WAS: Harguth 1 tackle; Da. Russell 3 tackles, 1 assist; Neaves 4 tackles, 2 assists; O’Brien 3 tackles; Ohnstad 3 tackles; Mixteco 2 tackles; Ludwig 1 tackle; Rupe 2 assists; N. Engel-Mueller 2 tackles, 2 assists; Johnston 8 tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception; Thompson 5 tackles; Hager 2 tackles; Garza 1 tackle; Droog 2 tackles, 1 sack; Stenzel 2 tackles, 1 sack; Brown 2 tackles; S. Engel-Mueller 1 tackle; Schumacher 1 tackle; De. Russell 1 fumble recovery