Brainerd Warriors face fifth-seeded Bemidji in 28-27 rematch

Brainerd High School head coach Jason Freed expects his team to face a disciplined Bemidji Lumberjacks squad on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 2 p.m. at Adamson Field. The top-seeded Warriors host the fifth-seeded Lumberjacks in the Section 8-5A semifinals. The two teams met earlier this season in a game that Brainerd won by a single point, 28-27, on Oct. 2.

Freed noted that Brainerd defeated all four Section 8-5A opponents during the regular season, but each victory was decided by a margin of seven points or less. The closest result was the matchup against Bemidji. That game featured a late defensive stop by the Warriors, who forced a two-point conversion failure with 58 seconds remaining to secure the win and claim the Babe’s Bell trophy.

The Lumberjacks entered the playoffs with a 0-8 regular season record before defeating the Sauk Rapids Storm 35-21 in the opening round on Tuesday, Oct. 27. Freed acknowledged that the rivalry between the two schools is well respected. He stated that Bemidji has been trending in the right direction, making their first win against Sauk Rapids a matter of time.

Bemidji’s offensive strategy under new starting quarterback Josh Arel has shifted toward ball control. Freed said the Lumberjacks aim to control the clock and the ball, which requires the Warriors to manage their own possessions effectively. In the Oct. 2 game, Arel completed nine of 13 passes for 132 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He replaced Owen Vandermeer at the quarterback position for that contest.

Brainerd’s offense relied on Malik Lauer and Kyle Syrdal in the regular season meeting. Lauer threw for 174 yards on 13 of 18 attempts with two touchdowns and one interception. Syrdal ran for 78 yards on 20 carries and scored the game-winning touchdown with 10:02 left in the fourth quarter. Lauer also rushed for 383 yards and seven touchdowns this season, while Syrdal has 674 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns.

Freed emphasized the need for Brainerd’s defense to remain confident and fast. He pointed to the team’s performance against Monticello as an example of disciplined play. He also noted that Bemidji possesses one of the best defensive lines in the section, requiring the Warriors to maintain a balanced offensive approach to keep the defense off balance.

The Warriors finished the regular season with a 7-1 record after defeating Spring Lake Park 52-42. Freed used the 10-day break between the final regular season game and the playoffs to prioritize rest. He sent players home for three days and focused on fundamentals during the first few days of practice without a confirmed opponent.

The other Section 8-5A semifinal features No. 2-seeded Alexandria hosting No. 3-seeded Sartell at 2 p.m. Saturday. Bemidji’s Garret Halverson led the Lumberjacks with 69 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the Oct. 2 game. Arel has passed for 487 yards and four touchdowns with 10 interceptions in five starts this season.