Laker Football Survives Slugfest With Park Rapids 26-14

Detroit Lakes, MN (KDLM) – It wasn’t pretty, but Detroit Lakes improved to 5-2 on the season with a 26-14 win over Park Rapids at Mollberg Field on Friday night in what was likely the final football game in Detroit Lakes this season.

The Lakers started the game in a special way: recognizing senior Logan Hilde with a designed TD play. Hilde was born with cerebral palsy, but he hasn’t let that stop him from suiting up with his team and leading them out onto the field before every home game.

Awesome moment to start the @dlhsfootball vs Park Rapids game with @Logan_LilManJ scoring his first career touchdown to start the game. @WDAYSports @DomIzzoWDAY @MSHSLjohn pic.twitter.com/u8aCchXYlq

— KDLM Detroit Lakes (@KdlmSports) October 15, 2022

“It was a big shock, honestly, when coach (Reed Hefta) told me what going to happen,” Hilde said after the game. “I didn’t know what was going down…it was a big surprise. I wasn’t expecting anything like that at all. These guys mean everything to me. For them to support me and back me up like…I couldn’t ask for anything more. For sure, it was one of the most special things that could ever happen to me.”

Junior Mason Carrier started the game at quarterback for Detroit Lakes, who had lost two straight games coming into the matchup with Park Rapids. Detroit Lakes’ first drive ended with an interception by Panther linebacker Noah Larson. The Panthers punted the ball back to Detroit Lakes after a third-down sack by Charlie Zok on the next drive. After struggling to get off the field on third downs the previous two weeks, Detroit Lakes had five third-down sacks on Friday night.

Mason Carrier finished off the next Laker drive with a 24-yard touchdown run to open up a 7-0 lead with three minutes left in the quarter. Carrier found the endzone again in the closing seconds of the first quarter with a 66-yard touchdown run top give the Lakers a 13-0 lead after one quarter of play.

.@MasonCarrier5 sheds three defenders as he scores from 66-yards out to give @dlhsfootball a 13-0 lead over Park Rapids. pic.twitter.com/7C91MVgwD8

— KDLM Detroit Lakes (@KdlmSports) October 15, 2022

Panther quarterback Noah Morris opened up the passing game in the second quarter, finding Ryan Carroll on a 47-yard touchdown midway through the quarter to cut the Laker lead to 13-7.

Detroit Lakes responded with a passing touchdown of their own: a 36-yard screen pass from Mason Carrier to Ethan Carrier for a 20-7 lead.

Passing touchdown @MasonCarrier5 to @EthanCarrier14 gives @dlhsfootball a 20-7 lead: pic.twitter.com/4FXaf0UjkC

— KDLM Detroit Lakes (@KdlmSports) October 15, 2022

Morris and the Panthers were driving again before Grady Kirchner picked off Morris deep in Laker territory with a minute left in the quarter. The Lakers kept their foot on the gas, looking for more points before the end of the half. But Carrier had a pass tipped at the line of scrimmage that fell into the arms of Panther lineman Lucas Kritzeck, who returned it for a 54-yard pick-six and cut the Panther deficit to six points at the half, 20-14.

Carrier gets hit as he throws, the ball goes up for grabs, and is picked and housed by Lucas Kritzeck to cut the Laker lead to 20-14 right before the half. pic.twitter.com/vPrXNWjf0i

— KDLM Detroit Lakes (@KdlmSports) October 15, 2022

Park Rapids got the ball to start the second half but were forced to punt after Will Martin sacked Morris on third down. The next drive would end the same way: a Martin sack on third down. The Lakers would get their only score of the second half on another long Mason Carrier touchdown…this one from 59-yards out…for a 26-14 lead.

The Laker defense buckled down in the second half, with Carrier and Tyson Ullyot each picking off Morris deep in Laker territory ending long Panther drives en route to shutting out Park Rapids in the second half.

In all, both teams would combine for seven turnovers: four for Detroit Lakes (two fumbles, two interceptions) and three for Park Rapids (four interceptions). DL’s Will Martin (2), Charlie Zok, Logan Olson, and Cade Jackson all recorded sacks.

Mason Carrier would finish the game 7-for-13 passing for 97 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions plus 157 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries. Ethan Carrier had 147 rushing yards on 14 carries, plus two catches for 58 yards. Tyson Ullyot (7 yards), Hunter Korth (10 yards), Cody Bartness (12 yards), Breck Winter (11 yards) and Tyler Bye (-1 yard) each had one catch in the game.

With the win, Detroit Lakes improves to 5-2 and will play their regular-season finale at Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton on Wednesday night. Park Rapids falls to 0-7 and will play their final game of the regular season at home against Thief River Falls.

SCORING SUMMARY

PR 0 14 0 0 – 14

DL 13 7 6 0 – 26

SCORING PLAYS:

Q1:

DL – 2:40, 24-yd TD run M. Carrier (Buboltz XP good) 7-0

DL – :08, 66-yd TD run M. Carrier (Buboltz XP no good) 13-0

Q2:

PR – 8:40, 47-yd TD pass Morris to Carroll (Morris XP good) 7-13

DL – 5:52, 36-yd TD pass M. Carrier to E. Carrier (Buboltz XP good) 20-7

PR – :41, 54-yd interception return Kritzeck (Morris XP good) 14-20

Q3: