Central's defense, running game click en route to 41-21 homecoming win over Wahpeton
Oct. 6—GRAND FORKS — Grand Forks Central football coach Jake Schauer described his Knights team as a Jekyll and Hyde team: Sometimes the offense clicks, and other nights the defense does the heavy lifting.
On Friday, both sides came up big as Central beat Wahpeton 41-21 at their homecoming game at Cushman Field.
Central, which improved to 3-4, forced four punts, two turnovers on downs and a fumble on Wahpeton's seven drives of the first half.
On the other side, the Knights scored on three of its six drives of the first half. It wasn't all perfect, though; Central's other three drives ended with a Jack Simmers interception, a punt and Caden Johansen fumble. The difference-maker for Central Friday, though, was the team's ability to shake off turnovers and score on their next possessions.
"Football is a game of adversity," Schauer said. "Things are going to happen that make you feel like crap. But it has to be a quick memory and keep going."
Wahpeton, which fell to 2-5 on the season, punted on its first possession, then Nick Langenwalter intercepted Simmers on the Knights' first drive.
On the Huskies' first play, Treyton Mauch fumbled. Simmers recovered, and after two first down plays for Central, Simmers ran in a 39-yard score to give the Knights a 7-0 lead.
Caden Johansen was Central's No. 1 running back, rushing 21 times for 147 yards and a touchdown. That score came on the first play of the second quarter to give Central a 14-0 lead over the Huskies.
The Knights were without senior Erick Paye, which forced Central to switch up their normal game plan, allowing Johansen to show off his abilities as an every-down back.
"We were challenged to change some of the things we do, and honestly, it might be one of those things that makes us better in the end," Schauer said. "We love Erick, and we're excited to have him back next week. But now we put some stuff on film that people really need to be ready for, and hopefully it only gets better from here."
The Knights' third score of the first half was a highlight reel one-handed grab by Tray Kuntz, a 25-yard pass from Simmers to the back corner of the endzone.
Simmers' fumble early in the third quarter led to an 82-yard fumble return touchdown for Mauch, Wahpeton's first score of the game.
As the Knights did all night, Simmers responded on Central's ensuing possession with a 1-yard rushing touchdown, keeping the Knights up three scores.
The fourth quarter saw another fumble from the Knights, but, on the second pass on Wahpeton's drive, Gabe Tande intercepted Bjorn Kubela for an 84-yard pick six.
With Central up 35-7, Kubela found Mauch for a 23-yard touchdown pass, cutting the lead back to 21. After a Knights three-and-out, the Huskies were pinned back at the 3. Eli Thompson jumped a route for a 7-yard pick six, giving Central a 41-14 lead.
Kubela found Jackson DeVries for a 48-yard touchdown, Wahpeton's second fourth quarter touchdown. Momentum for the Huskies ran out there, though, and the Knights secured their third win of the season 41-21.
The win sets Central up to still make a run to the playoffs.
"We have the mindset that we can't lose another game," Schauer said. "We have to win two games, and then maybe we're in the playoffs. We take it one play at a time, one quarter at a time, one week at a time, and we'll see what happens."
