Dallas Ehrmantraut scored four times Wednesday night in leading the Verndale Pirates to a 50-27 victory over Ortonville at Mahlen Field.
The senior standout converted passes from Dillon Card into touchdown receptions of 15 and 13 yards. Ehrmantraut also ran in a 29-yard touchdown and returned an Ortonville pass 50 yards for six points.
Dakota Finck led the Pirates with 147 rushing yards on 18 carries. Finck scored once on a 4-yard run. Card kept the ball 23 times and picked up 70 yards. His 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter opened the scoring for Verndale.
Card also hit Alex Walsvik with a 13-yard touchdown pass. Walsvik was Verndale's top receiver with four catches for 50 yards.
The Trojans countered with a tough aerial game led by Jade Hasslen. The Ortonville quarterback threw touchdown passes to James Nitz, Scott Erickson and Cole Peters of 13, 29 and 21 yards. He also ran in one touchdown. Hasslen completed 24 of his 41 passes for 284 yards but he was also picked off four times.
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"They did a good job passing the ball, especially in the first half, they couldn't miss," Mahlen said.
The Trojans, who have been struggling this season despite the efforts of a new coaching staff led by Ricky Bolin, had the ball deep in Verndale territory with two seconds left in the first half. Trailing 22-13, Hasslen put the ball up for grabs in the corner of the end zone where it was picked off by Verndale's Josh Gilb. Hasslen's good passing night was offset by four interceptions.
"They had a chance to score there just before the half, so that was a big play," Mahlen said.
In addition to the interceptions by Gilb and Dallas Ehrmantraut, the Pirates got interceptions from Marcos Gomez and Colter Ehrmantraut. Cory Uselman was Verndale's top tackler with 10 stops. Dallas Ehrmantraut was credited with eight.
The victory was Verndale's third a row, and sends them into the Section 4, Class Nine-man playoffs with a 6-2 mark. The Pirates will be hosting Isle in a 7 p.m. game Tuesday at Mahlen Field.
Ortonville 6 7 0 14 -- 27
Verndale 6 16 14 14 -- 50
Ort: James Nitz 13 yd pass from Jade Hasslen (PAT failed), Hasslen 1 yd run (PAT Kyle Rockensock kick), Scott Erickson 29 yd pass from Hasslen(PAT Austin Schoon pass from Hasslen), Cole Peters 21 yd pass from Hasslen (PAT failed)
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Vern: Dillon Card 1 yd run (PAT failed), Alex Walsvik 13 yd pass from Card (PAT Card run), Dallas Ehrmantraut 15 yd pass from Card (PAT Ehrmantraut run), Ehrmantraut 13 yd pass from Card (PAT failed), Ehrmantraut 29 yd run (PAT Ehrmantraut run), Dakota Finck 4 yd run (PAT failed), Ehrmantraut 50 yd interception return (PAT run)
Ort. Vern.
First Downs 16 23
Yards Rushing 29 298
Yards Passing 284 121
Total Yards 303 419
Passes 24-41 7-11
Intercepted by 0 4
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Fumbles lost 0 1
Penalties 7-55 9-70
Verndale 30, B-E 0
Dillon Card and Dakota Finck scored two touchdowns apiece Friday night in a shutout victory over the Chargers at Mahlen Field.
Cards cashed in on scoring runs of 14 and 9 yards in the first half. Finck took over in the second half and scored from 5 and 4 yards out.
The Pirates held Brandon-Evansville to 101 rushing yards and 57 yards through the air. With Card rolling up 183 yards on 31 carries and Finck adding 89 on 23 attempts, the Pirates rushed for 277 yards. Card hit on four of his nine passes for 26 yards.
Card led a balanced Verndale defensive effort with 10 stops. Dallas Ehrmantraut and Grant Grossinger both recorded nine tackles. Cory Uselman was credited with seven.
Ehrmantraut and Marcos Gomez both picked off passes for Verndale. Gomez also recovered a fumble.
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B-E 0 0 0 0 - 0
Verndale 8 8 8 6 - 30
Verndale: Dillon Card 14 yd run (PAT Card run), Card 9 yd run (PAT Dallas Ehrmantraut run), Dakota Finck 5 yd run (PAT Card run), Finck 4 yd run (PAT failed)
B-E Vern.
First Downs 10 23
Yards Rushing 101 277
Yards Passin 57 26
Total Yards 158 303
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Passes 7-14 4-9
Penalties 5-40 3-30
