Tigers own 2nd and 3rd quarters in 49-21 win

Get used to the term "Mid State 2." It is within that entity that our MACA football team plays. We faced a rival at that level, Montevideo, Friday (9/7) at Monte. The first quarter was wild. The teams went back and forth. The quarter ended with the orange and black up 21-14. Suspense faded after that as Monte's offense finally got throttled. Meanwhile the Tigers maintained their scoring zip, recording 14 points each in the second and third quarters.
Monte scored seven meaningless points in the final quarter, meaning that the curtain came down with MACA enjoying this 49-21 win. So we're 2-0.
The Tigers didn't pass often but this tool was quite effective. Our first touchdown came via the pass, an 11-yard completion that had Camden Arndt throwing and Jaret Johnson catching. Eli Grove kicked the point-after. The Tigers were on their way. Monte answered with a 29-yard run by Chase Korte followed by a Selvin Hernandez kick. Then we saw the MACA passing game go to work again to net a score. Zach Bruns threw a 34-yard TD pass to Arndt. Grove kicked. Montevideo showed it still had fight as Korte carried the ball in from the two, and Hernandez's toe was true on the conversion.
MACA fans must have risen to their feet as they watched Arndt take off on a 78-yard scoring run. The PAT was good. Then it was Johnson catching the pigskin on an 18-yard scoring play. Bruns made the throw, and Grove kicked for the PAT. Arndt was at the fore as pass-catcher when next the refs signaled "touchdown." Arndt caught an 82-yard pass from Bruns, and Grove was like clockwork again on the PAT.
There were two more touchdowns left in our bag of tricks. First it was Bruns scoring on a 17-yard run. Grove added the PAT, then Matt McNeill ran in from the three, after which Grove kicked successfully again. Brady Hogrefe of Monte scored the final touchdown of the night. Hernandez booted the ball through the uprights. Whew! That's a lot of scoring.
Our orange and black had 13 first downs. Arndt racked up 113 rushing yards on the night, on just 11 carries. Bruns totaled 51 rushing yards on eight carries. Other ballcarriers were Matt McNeill (25 yards), Jack Riley (6), Kenny Soderberg (5) and Tristan Raths (3). Bruns orchestrated an efficient passing game where he had four completions in seven attempts for 143 yards and no interceptions. Arndt completed his only pass attempt. Arndt had three of the receptions for a total of 125 yards. Johnson had two catches for 29.
Monte's top ballcarrier was Chase Korte: 18 carries for 77 yards. Tyler Blue did Monte's passing and this Thunder Hawk completed four passes in ten attempts for 47 yards. The pass catchers were Trent Dreyer, Cade Weber and Jackson Snell.
 
Volleyball: Tigers 3, Benson 0
Various Tigers went up to slam kills in the 3-0 win achieved by the orange and black in Tuesday volleyball. The opponent was Benson on September 4. Scores were 25-14, 25-8 and 25-12. Nine different Tigers recorded kills led by Bailey Marty with seven and Kenzie Hockel with six. They were joined by Lexi Pew (5), Sophie Carlsen (3), Emma Berlinger (3), Jen Solvie (2), Liz Dietz (1), Larae Kram (1) and Leandra Hormann (1).
The West Central Tribune of Willmar continues to misspell several of the Tigers' names. If more people would come to my blogs, maybe the message re. this would get passed on. I thought this would be corrected this time around. Wrong-o. I was suspicious about at least one of the names which made me consult our roster on the "Maxpreps" site which I'm quite sure is accurate. The correct spelling of the four names according to that roster is: Kenzie Stahman, Larae Kram, Leandra Hormann and Sophie Carlsen. I have noticed the misspelling spilling onto the local paper's website. 
Riley Decker was authoritative at the service line, racking up four aces. Marty batted three serving aces. These Tigers each had one: Dietz, Carlsen, Hockel and Stahman. The setting work was spread among three: Kram (11 assists), Dietz (10) and Decker (8). Pew achieved two ace blocks while Carlsen and Marty each had one. The always-reliable Decker in digs had the team-best 15 on this night. Marty dug up the ball 13 times, Hockel nine and Dietz 7.
Benson's top setter was Mariah Ahrndt. The top Brave hitter was Claire Ricard. Ricard had Benson's only ace block. In digs it was Maranda Wieber leading the team with 17.
 
Cross country: Stewart wins Holdingford Invite
What a day for MACA distance runner Noah Stewart at Holdingford. The Thursday event saw Stewart reach the finish line No. 1 with his time of 16:50.20. Ben Hernandez was No. 7 to the finish chute with his 17:59.70 showing. Solomon Johnson had a time of 18:19.50, good for 13th place. Other Tigers were Bradley Rohloff (19:06.50), Jared Books (20:24.60), Thomas Tiernan (20:36.70) and Colten Wohlers (21:42.20).
Melrose had the top boys team and MACA was in fourth place among the eleven teams.
The MACA girls' effort was led by Maddie Carrington in fifth place with her time of 21:18.5. Meredith Carrington placed 14th with her time of 22:27.90. The Carrington sisters were joined in the orange and black effort by Crystal Nohl (23:45.20), Malory Anderson (23:45.50), Kylie Raths (24:00.50) and Caryn Marty (24:37.60). Albany's Kristine Kalthoff was girls champion with her time of 20:16.20. Maple Lake had the top girls team.
 
Football on the edge
You know if you have visited my blogs before - and thanks very much - that I am trying to ring warning bells about the sport of football. Ignore my views at your own peril. I am irritated by high school football parents who sniff at what I have to say because of course they enjoy going to their sons' games at present, and of course they enjoy seeing their team win. So giddy over the present, they'll diss yours truly and the fact-based information I am trying to share.
Last week we got the news about another former pro player with CTE who committed suicide. It was Jason Hairston. He was only 47 years old. He played linebacker with the San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos in the '90s. He revealed two years ago that he was suffering from the effects of CTE. Concussions and head injuries lead to this tragic condition.
High school parents sometimes don't want to hear about this because they feel former pros are in a separate category. The counter argument to this, is that adolescents have bodies and brains that are more tender and vulnerable. Helmets only give the illusion of security. The problem is with the head rattling around inside the helmet, Grasshopper.
I am blessed by never having had the talent to play football. Why should that happenstance be a blessing? This is a risk that needs to be removed from life.
 
Miss my opener coverage? Here is is
My coverage of the MACA football opener, the win over Holdingford, is on my companion website "Morris of Course." This post also covers early-season volleyball and cross country. I invite you to click on the link below. It's great to still feel "relevant" in terms of giving some attention to MACA school activities. It's rewarding even if a mere handful of student-athletes and parents visit, and I'm quite certain they do. Whether they admit it or not!

http://morrisofcourse.blogspot.com/2018/09/maca-football-surges-to-bury.html

 

That anonymous New York Times op-ed
Bizarre: the president with all his authority and power can't seem to identify the op-ed writer who made waves with the anonymous submission to the New York Times. Why the elusiveness? OK I have a theory that I think is quite logical: several top administration officials who shared the same ideas - and who wouldn't, really? - submitted those ideas to an outside writer who then wrote the actual piece. Therefore all top administration people could "deny" writing it. Let's see if I'm right, because someday we will know the truth.
Between the president's famous amorality and the Catholic Church's continued horrible scandals, who in his right mind would want to call himself a Christian? Really.
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com