Blaine spotted Coon Rapids a 14-0 first-quarter lead, then roared back to score the last 28 points for its win last Friday night that moved it to the top of the Northwest Suburban Conference with a 3-0 record.

“That’s where we wanted to be after three weeks, but in a strong and balanced conference like the one we play in, that’s probably not the most realistic expectation you can have. But we are taking it.”

Coon Rapids nearly took the game from Blaine by coming out strong to take the 14-0 lead thanks to a pair of touchdown passes from Blair Townsend to Jerrad Zimmel that respectively covered 5 and 25 yards. Coon Rapids had a chance to make it stick, too, had it not fallen back into a familiar mode of self-destruction which cost it a game the week before against Anoka when it turned over the ball five times.

Indeed, a turnover — a second-quarter fumble inside the 5-yard line — set up Blaine for its first touchdown, a plunge of two yards by quarterback James Peterson into the end zone. Later in the quarter, Blaine was about ready to punt, but a Coon Rapids encroachment penalty gave it new life with a first down. This perpetuated a drive that eventually was capped by a 15-yard Peterson-to-Mike Thai touchdown pass play to tie the score 14-14.

Coon Rapids had what appeared to be the go-ahead touchdown just before the half, but a holding penalty nullified another touchdown pass play involving Townsend and Zimmel and led to a missed field goal.

In all, Coon Rapids, which accrued 287 yards in total offense, had 11 penalties in the game for more than 100 yards; more than half of which were incurred during the first half.

“We did not pay attention to details, the little things,” said coach Jon Young. “We just did not have the focus we needed to get done what we needed to get done.”

In the third quarter, Townsend was directing the Coon Rapids offense toward the end zone once more, but on second down from the 3-yard line, one of those little things cropped up again — someone forgot to enter the game — as fullback Joe Novak rolled into the end zone. Because Coon Rapids had just 10 players on the field, but not the required seven players on the line of scrimmage, it was penalized five yards.

“Game break,” said Young with a sigh.

Not quite, but yes, another ouch for Coon Rapids, which was turned into a major sore point moments later when a Townsend pass was picked off by Blaine defensive back Sam Chase just a step into the end zone. Chase returned the ball to the 24-yard line.

Coon Rapids returned the favor with a Novak interception three plays later, but all this resulted in was another long field goal opportunity for kicker Kevin Nelson, whose kick was blocked by Blaine linebacker Tobi Saporu.

“Our goal was to make Coon Rapids work for its points,” said Gerrety. “Coon Rapids has an outstanding offensive, an explosive offense, but we figured the longer and harder [it] had to work, then the better chance there would be for breakdowns and opportunities for us. [When it counted and those opportunities were presented] we made the plays when we needed to make the plays”

Deven King got behind Coon Rapids' Jeremy Oakley, caught a James Peterson pass and broke away for a 75-yard touchdown.

The game entered the fourth quarter tied 14-14 until Peterson dropped back on third-and-five from his 25, pump-faked, then launched a bomb up the left side line to Deven King, who collected the ball and ran to the end zone to complete a 75-yard go-ahead touchdown play.

Blaine’s victory-clinching touchdown came inside the final moments after another interception. Ultimately, Peterson capped a short drive with a 10-yard quarterback keeper up the middle to give Blaine the 14-point victory and sole possession of first place...

— Tom Yelle