Polk County West falls in OT to Mahnomen-Waubun in section semifinals
Oct. 28—MAHNOMEN, Minn. — Polk County West pushed undefeated No. 1 seed Mahnomen-Waubun to the limit but the Thunderbirds are advancing to the Fargodome.
Tanner Stech's 24-yard field goal in overtime gave the Thunderbirds an 11-8 win over the Thunder on Saturday in the semifinals of the Minnesota Section 8A playoffs.
"It was a great battle by both teams, and I couldn't be more proud of our bunch," PCW coach Darrin Byklum told KROX AM radio station in Crookston. "When you're inside the 5 or the 10, you need to score and we didn't do that. That would've been the difference in the game. We were beat 42-8 last time we played these guys. Our bunch played their tails off."
Both teams scored in the third quarter.
Joe Slette caught a 24-yard touchdown pass from Tanner Stech. Easton Bevins punched in a 2-point conversion run to give Mahnomen-Waubun the 8-0 advantage.
Later in the quarter, Jonny Speicher caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from Mike Gapp. The two connected again for the 2-point conversion pass.
"Mike made some good throws, and we got the points and a big 2-point conversion," Byklum said. "But it's a fourth quarter game. Both teams played hard. We're very proud. Win or lose, it was one heck of a game."
Gapp finished with 74 rushing yards on 24 carries. He also threw for 108 yards but was intercepted four times.
Mahnomen-Waubun was led by Easton Bevins, who had 15 carries for 54 yards.
The Thunderbirds improved to 9-0 and will play Ada-Borup West in the section championship game. The Thunder end the season 5-5.
