PREP FOOTBALL: Lumberjacks looking to rebound at home

BEMIDJI - After losing their season opener week one at St. Francis last Saturday 24-14, the Bemidji High School football team is looking for redemption at 7 p.m. today when Sauk Rapids-Rice comes to town.
The Lumberjacks (0-1) will open Chet Anderson Stadium for the fall season tonight as the Storm (1-0) rolls in fresh off of a 33-20 win against Princeton.
“They are 1-0 and they seem to be running the same type of scheme so we shouldn’t get any surprises,” said head coach Troy Hendricks.
“Hopefully we can win the line of scrimmage on both offense and defense.”
The Lumberjacks’ offensive line will be key today as the team will look to get senior running back Logan Hatfield going.
Last week Hatfield had 13 yards rushing in the first half before he started to take off in the second half as he finished with 74 yards.
If Hatfield finds yardage, it could open things for the quarterback, which is still a wide open competition.
Senior Jalin Rose started week one and completed 5-of-15 passes for 40 while junior Jonah Muller came in late and threw one pass, a 14-yard touchdown to Alex Vollen.
Both Rose and Muller will see time today behind center.
“Both (quarterbacks) had a great week of practice,” Hendricks said. “Jalin is going to take the first series and Jonah is going to take the second. They both have unique talents and hopefully you’ll see what each one can bring to the table. We’re going to focus on their strengths and see how the game progresses.”
Defensively the team is looking to be able to get off the field this week.
The Lumberjacks were able to force the Fighting Saints to two fourth downs on their first drive, only to see St. Francis convert on both as it scored to go up 7-0.
Bemidji’s defense was unable to keep its opponent out of the endzone on the first two drives in the season opener as the Fighting Saints jumped out to a 14-7 lead, one it wouldn’t give up the rest of the way.
“Our coaches have simulated a lot of fourth down plays and conversions,” said senior captain Wyatt Yartz. “We’re definitely ready for any tricky stuff that could come at us.”
The defense should be ready for anything as the unit has one thing on its mind going into today’s game and it’s posting a zero.
With head varsity baseball coach Mike Fogelson as defensive coordinator, it should come as no surprise his defensive unit is looking to pitch a shutout.
“Defensively we’re obviously pitching for that shutout,” Yartz said.
“We need to get off the field. Having a three-and-out, making them punt and getting off the field. Offensively we’re looking to get push and controlling the line of scrimmage.”
One of those converted fourth downs in the opening drive came after what looked to be a three-and-out for the Lumberjacks.
But a fake punt fooled the punt return team as St. Francis converted on a 17-yard run.
The special teams also had its ups last week as Javon Rodgers ran back a 95-yard touchdown to make it a 7-7 game and kicker Lineas Whiting was 2-for-2 with PATs while also kicking off well.
Whiting is also on the soccer team, which has its season opener at 2 p.m. today in Little Falls, but Hendricks believes his kicker will be back in time to pull double duty.
“Lineas will hopefully continue to improve when we can get him more and more reps,” Hendricks said. “He’s got a lot of potential.”