Orioles Strike Early and Often in 41-0 Trouncing of Maple Grove

WATCH ARCHIVED GAME

There has been a lot of expectations on the Osseo Oriole football team, and for good reason. They return several seniors at key positions and landed a multi-tooled quarterback from Robbinsdale Cooper in DJ Hebert. The Orioles opened the season with a bang delivering a lopsided 41-0 drubbing of the Maple Grove Crimson.

The Crimson entered the game with a 15-4 record against the Orioles yet that was thrown out the window in a hurry as Osseo connected for 28 unanswered first half points and cruised through the second half to their victory.

Hebert marched his team on the opening drive and capped it off with a beautiful pass to the right corner of the end zone as he connected with Jameer Jackson from 8 yards out. Jackson ran a nice fade to the corner and hauled down the ball for a 7-0 lead capping the drive that was over 8 minutes long.

After going three and out, the Crimson were forced to punt and it was the offense that went to work for the Orioles again. Mixing in a steady balance of run with the pass, the Orioles struck from 30 yards out as it was Herbert finding Joey Sonnenfeld for the 14-0 lead.

Once again, the stout and quick defense of the Orioles shut down the Crimson in short order and turned it over to the offense who struck again. This time it was Jackson and Hebert hooking up again on a 17 yard pass in the second quarter. Jackson, a first team All-State selection last year is well on to his way for another selection as he finished the evening with 8 receptions 86 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Sam Conner, who rushed for 1435 yards and 14 touchdowns last year picked up his first rushing touchdown late in the second quarter as he scampered off right tackle and rumbled into the end zone untouched for the commanding 28-0 lead at the half. Conner finished the game with 45 yards on 15 carries.

The Orioles held Maple Grove to just 189 yards of total offense. 172 of their production came via the pass with a majority of it in the second half. Quarterback Patrick Schommer was 14-31-172 yards and directed the offense that was nicked up with injuries. He filled in for the injured Brady Jacobs who was no slouch last year as he produced 1435 yards in the air and 15 touchdowns last year as a sophomore. Receiver Dan Butorac was out as well as that made things difficult for the Crimson.

The time of possession was in favor of the Orioles by a large margin through the first half, yet the Crimson were able to get things going in the 3rd quarter. As they put together a few solid sets of downs, a pair of interceptions turned the tables back to the Orioles.

Herbert took to the ground and slice in from 5 yards out for the commanding 35-0 lead late in the 3rd quarter. Already a strong throwing quarterback, Hebert runs well and had an effective game on the ground (19-95-1td) It was an impressive debut for Herbert who left the game briefly in the 2nd quarter as he was shake up by a hit to the mid-section. He was replaced by Ali Kanan for a brief period, and it was Kanan in the fourth quarter who took over the offense.

Kanan was impressive as well as he has a rifle of an arm. He connected on a picture perfect pass of the middle with Tyler Strombeck for the 20 yard touchdown. The pat was blocked, as kicker Fafa Asante was 5-6 and steady in the kicking game all night for the Orioles.

The Crimson had a chance to score late in the game and were stuffed by the Oriole defense from 2 yards out as time expired. It was three trips to the red zone for the Crimson yet they came up empty when they knocked on the door. Tanner Ruprecht led the Crimson on the ground with 17 yards on 6 carries. Jake Weineke caught 5 balls and picked up 67 yards.

The Orioles have in ways felt a bit like Rodney Dangerfield in not getting a lot of respect. With an all around effort churned in Thursday night, there is plenty of reason to believe the rest of the Northwest Suburban Conference is well aware of the talent the Orioles bring. The Crimson meanwhile, will be hoping their vital cogs can be nursed back to health.