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02/16/2006: "Thunderbirds move to Championship Game"

T-Birds vs Stampede: Recap
Thunderbird D with Another Shutout
Heather Reinhart
2006-09-24
 The Central Minnesota Thunderbirds got the win they needed on Saturday when the T-Birds topped the visiting Superior Stampede 30-0.
 It was the fifth shutout of the season for the Thunderbirds, who improved to 7-1 with the win.But the victory did not come as easily as the score would indicate.
 The Thunderbirds went four-and-out on their first possession and handed the ball to the Stampede, who marched down the field and threatened to score. The Thunderbirds defense regained control just in time, and kept Superior out of the end zone.
 "We were adjusting and we were tweaking things and we finally figured out what we had to do to stop them," Coach Chad Baldwin said.
 Central Minnesota quarterback Chris Esterley found Lance Nelson for a 15-yard touchdown late in the first quarter, but Mike Jacobs' extra-point missed and the Thunderbirds led 6-0.
 Early in the second quarter, the Mike Dietel and Ray Reinhart put pressure on the Stampede quarterback and forced him to throw from the end zone. He was charged with intentional grounding, and the Thunderbirds were awarded a safety to go ahead 8-0. Two minutes later, the lead stretched to 14-0 when Esterley completed a 21-yard touchdown pass to Damien Cannaday. (Jacobs' extra point was blocked.)
 Esterley continued to click on offense when he completed a 5-yard touchdown pass to Blake Schwegel late in the first half. Jacobs made the extra point and the Thunderbirds took a 21-0 lead into halftime.
 The Stampede had several chances to score in the third and fourth quarter after the Thunderbirds defense was called for numerous penalties. But the defense showed its strength when it counted and kept the Stampede out of the end zone.
 Randy Lee had a third-quarter interception for the T-Birds, and also picked up a botched punt, which gave the Thunderbirds the football deep in Stampede territory. Jason Dumler added an interception in the fourth quarter and returned it 20 yards.
 "Defensively, we did our usual," Coach Baldwin said. "Offensively, we had a great first half and in the second half, we were just flat."
 While the offense wasn't as strong in the second half, the T-birds did manage to add nine more points to the scoreboard.
 Jacobs kicked a 17-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to put his team ahead 24-0. Later, Eric Wessels ran 15 yard for a touchdown (extra point attempt failed) and the Thunderbirds won the game 30-0.
 The victory was Central Minnesota's fourth victory over Duluth/Superior in the past two years. In those four games combined, the Thunderbirds have outscored the Shoremen/Stampede 136-3.
 "You never would think that by how tough they are," Baldwin said. "They pushed us to the limit. They drove us three times and we stopped them."
 Despite the Thunderbird penalties, which totaled more than 100 yards in the game, the defensive effort was the highlight of the game.
 "The defense does nothing but impress me every week," said Wessels. "They just keep throwing shutouts."
 Mike Illies led the defense effort with five solo tackles and one assist. Lee, Dumler and Ramon Burroughs each had four tackles in the win.
 Defensive end Jeremy Gothman said he enjoys being a part of "the best defense in the country," and added that the slew of penalties was due to being over anxious.
 "We want to jump the ball and destroy them and to be a champion, you've got to hold back," he said.
 Gothman also gave credit to the offense.
 "Our offense is coming together very well," Gothman said. "Esterley was amazing."
 Esterly completed 11 of 19 pass attempts for 168 yards and three touchdowns in Saturday's win. His lead receiver was Cannaday, who caught two passes for 68 yards and a touchdown. Nate Middleton caught one pass for 25 yards, and Nelson added two catches for 25 yards and a touchdown.
 Wessels led the rushing game with 13 carries for 50 yards.
 "This game I had the most opportunities to carry the ball," he said. "My confidence had gone up with each game."
 Eric Tarasewicz added seven carries for 14 yards, and Esterley had three carries for 11 yards.
 Wessels said the victory was very much a team win.
 "Our offensive line was fantastic this game," he said. "Both running backs did a great job of falling forward and getting extra yardage."
 With the win, the Thunderbirds advance to the Mid-America Football League Championship game, which will be played at 6:35 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, at Macalester College in St. Paul.
 The Thunderbirds will face the Midwest Pioneers in the championship game — the only team they have lost to this season. That loss came by a score of 17-14 in the Thunderbirds' season opener.
 "They got us at the beginning of the year and it'll be nice to get them when it matters," Wessels said.
 "I think it'd be nice to get another shot at the Pioneers," Baldwin added.