Game Report: Mountain Iron-Buhl vs. Ogilvie
OGILVIE– In what was double coverage for us on Friday night, after watching football in the Metro we made our way 70 miles north to change gears and watch some 9-man football between the Ogilvie Lions and the Mountain Iron-Buhl Rangers.
Game Takeaways
The biggest difference in this game was how the momentum was controlled. We saw the Ogilvie Lions start the game and control the momentum early, but in the end, it was the Mountain Iron-Buhl Rangers taking over late in the second quarter with a big-armed pass from QB Asher Zubich Asher Zubich 6'1" | 185 lbs | QB Mountain Iron-Buhl | 2023 State MN (2023) late in the first quarter to start the trail of momentum for the rest of this game.
“It’s not about the size, it’s all about the fight,” is a pretty strong quote to describe this game. If you looked at the roster packet before the game, you would see that Ogilvie had a size advantage against Mountain Iron-Buhl, but while watching this one, the Rangers came to fight. Whether that was the strong physicality I saw on defense or the speed and power in the Rangers rushing attack, the Rangers did not back down to the size mismatch that Ogilvie had.
With scouting into now my third season for Prep Redzone and formerly Northstar Football News, I have watched and evaluated thousands of players across the Midwest. In my first ever game watching the Ogilvie Lions, I saw a tandem of twin brothers get a key interception and then the other getting a touchdown on that next play. Those brothers I am speaking of are both sophomores to watch in 9-man football in Tucker Kenyon (2024) and Hunter Kenyon (2024). With two years left after this season, I am intrigued to watch their skillsets improve and hopefully get an opportunity to play college football as they both will be members of our Big Dogs of the Game coming up on Monday for their hard hits, shifty footwork at running back, and much more.
Scoring
First Quarter
Passing touchdown by QB Cody Milbradt (2024) for the Ogilvie Lions to go up 6-0. The two-point conversion was no good. Ogilvie 6, Mountain Iron-Buhl 0
The Ogilvie Lions would score yet again to get the momentum train going when RB Tucker Kenyon (2024) would run in one of his multiple touchdowns on the night from six yards out. The Lions would be shut out back to back times on their two-point conversion tries. Ogilvie 12, Mountain Iron-Buhl 0.
It was Mountain Iron-Buhl QB/DB Asher Zubich Asher Zubich 6'1" | 185 lbs | QB Mountain Iron-Buhl | 2023 State MN (2023) that slang a 72-yard pass to WR Braylen Keith (2023) to start chipping away at theLion’s defense. The Rangers got the first two-point conversion of the game when they punched in a run past the goal line. This would be the only quarter the Rangers would not win in this one. Ogilvie 12, Mountain Iron-Buhl 8. End of the 1st quarter.
Second Quarter
This next play was exactly when I knew the momentum shift was coming in full force for the Rangers. FB Hunter Weigel (2022) ran with incredible power for the Ranger’s next score as he put not one, but two Ogilvie Lions on a truck stick on their rear ends as the Rangers got the lead and the two-point conversion. Mountain Iron-Buhl 16, Ogilvie 12.
It was the Rangers yet again showing off some power and speed in between the tackles to get another touchdown score from another intriguing sophomore to watch in the coming years in RB Damian Tapio (2024). The Rangers would come up short on the two-point conversion. Mountain Iron-Buhl 22, Ogilvie 12.
It was then the Kenyon brothers that kicked the Lions back into gear. With the Rangers deep in their own territory, Hunter Kenyon (2024) picked off an Asher Zubich Asher Zubich 6'1" | 185 lbs | QB Mountain Iron-Buhl | 2023 State MN (2023) pass and got the ball to the Ranger’s 13 yard line giving Ogilvie a very short field to get into the end zone. The other Kenyon brother, Tucker Kenyon (2024) on that next play would take the ball to the end zone for a 13-yard rushing score. The Lions would be successful on the two-point conversion making this one a nail-biter going into halftime in Ogilvie. Mountain Iron-Buhl 22, Ogilvie 20. End of the 1st half.
Third Quarter
Just like he changed the momentum of the game in the 1st quarter with a 72-yard pass, Mountain Iron-Buhl QB Asher Zubich Asher Zubich 6'1" | 185 lbs | QB Mountain Iron-Buhl | 2023 State MN got it done with his legs early in the 3rd quarter for the Rangers escaping the Ogilvie defense for his second touchdown of 50 yards or more on the night this time on the ground. The Rangers would never look back after Zubich set the tone in the third quarter. Two-point conversion no good. Mountain Iron-Buhl 28, Ogilvie 20.
The Rangers struck a chord once again in their rushing attack, as Damian Tapio (2024) powered his way thru to the Ogilvie defense for a six-yard touchdown rush where he showed great strength getting yards thru contact. Two-point conversion was no good. Mountain Iron-Buhl 34, Ogilvie 20.
Add back-to-back touchdowns for Damian Tapio (2024) as he got his third one of the game putting the Rangers in full command. Two point conversion no good. Mountain Iron-Buhl 40, Ogilvie 20. End of the 3rd quarter.
Fourth Quarter
The Rangers struck again part of the way thru the fourth quarter as Asher Zubich Asher Zubich 6'1" | 185 lbs | QB Mountain Iron-Buhl | 2023 State MN (2023) again showed his solid touch on the football for a 32-yard passing touchdown. This would be the final time the Rangers would score on the night. Two point conversion good. Mountain Iron-Buhl 48, Ogilvie 20.
It would be the Lions of Ogilvie with the last score of the night when yet again the Kenyon brothers got involved in the touchdown department when Hunter Kenyon (2024) put his head down on a short gain over the goal line. Mountain Iron-Buhl 48, Ogilvie 26. Final.
Ogilvie (1-2) will go on the road in Week 4 to face the McGregor Mercs which hold the same record as the Lions.
Mountain Iron-Buhl (3-0) will have a bye week next week due to the fold of the Northeast Range Nighthawks and will prepare for a heck of a battle against the 3-0 Cherry Tigers who the Rangers should have a slight upper hand on despite their records being similar.