Football: Lunde, WDC punishes Bagley on the ground to clinch first winning season since 1999

WADENA – For the first time since 1999, the Wolverines will have a winning record at the end of the regular season.

Wadena-Deer Creek’s comeback win over Bagley on Friday night pushed its record to 5-1 on the season. The Wolverines gained 393 yards in a 22-18 win.

Bagley’s Noah Nelson had himself a hack of a first half. He opened the scoring with a four-yard touchdown run to give the Flyers a 6-0 lead. He then picked off Josiah Kallevig and returned the interception to the house to put Bagley ahead 12-0.

The Wolverines thrived on the ground. Evan Lunde scored his first of three touchdowns in the second quarter from four yards out to cut the deficit in half. He then broke free for 20-yards to give WDC a 15-12 lead with 5:30 left in the quarter.

Bagley’s Kaden Peterson returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards to the house to give the Flyers their second lead of the night at 18-15.

With just over three minutes left in the first half, Lunde got loose again. He scampered 33-yards for the game-winning touchdown. Cole Woods buried his second extra point of the night to put the Wolverines ahead for good at 22-18.

Lunde rushed for 191 yards on 25 carries with three touchdowns. As a team, the Wolverines gained yards on the ground.

Despite the deep ball not being a huge factor, Kallevig’s connection with Teshe Loer was evident in the short-yardage passing game. Loer caught 11 passes for 130 yards. Kallevig was 15-for-24 through the air for 159 yards.

Lunde was a force defensively as well. He led the team with 10.5 tackles. He also had two tackles for losses, one of them being a sack.

WDC is currently in third place in the Minnesota-Scores QRF rated Section 6-2A standings. With a rating of 34.3, the Wolverines will need to win out to have a chance at a first-round bye. West Central Area-Ashby (37.2, 4-2) and Osakis (49.6, 5-1) stand above them. Sauk Centre is in fourth place with a record of 3-3 and a rating of 34.2.