WEM converts 2-point play in OT to knock off Eden Valley-Watkins

By Chad Courrier

MINNEAPOLIS — Waterville-Elysian-Morristown coach Jon Bakken's first instinct was to kick for the tie in overtime, but defensive coordinator Jeff Wagner, sitting in the press box high above the Metrodome field, talked him out of it.

“He said, (Eden Valley-Watkins is) the best team, let's go for the win,” Bakken said.

So he called a timeout, put quarterback Conrad Masberg back in the game and tried for the two-point conversion. He called a play that failed in WEM's only loss, a regular-season setback against United South Central, but this time, the “naked boot” included sending running back Reid Roemhildt out on a weakside pattern. Masberg saw Roemhildt and completed the pass, giving the Bucs a 21-20 victory in the Class AA semifinals.

“I figured coach was a little risky, but when he called that play, I though ‘holy crap,’ ” Roemhildt said. “I couldn't believe it. I was so nervous when the ball was in the air, but I figured I could catch it. I can't explain what happened after that.”

Bakken said it was apparent early in the game that Eden Valley-Watkins was a little better than his team so he coached accordingly. But the Bucs stayed even with the undefeated Eagles, just a week after knocking off unbeaten Caledonia, the two-time state champions.

“That's the most yards we've given up all year,” Bakken said. “But we really hung in there.”

Both teams scored one touchdown in the first half. The Bucs scored their’s on a 2-yard sneak by Masberg and EVW found the end zone on a 1-yard run by Ryan Tri. Both teams kicked their PATs for a 7-7 halftime score.

“That's the best team we've played,” Roemhildt said. “They were really fast, and they passed it well, which is our weakness.”

EVW used 11 plays on its first drive of the second half, and it looked like the Bucs held at the 7-yard line. The Eagles lined up for a 25-yard field goal, but the snap went to the holder, who pitched to Tri on a reverse. He spotted Kevin Kramer in the end zone and completed the pass for the go-ahead touchdown, but the PAT kick was missed.

The Bucs pulled even early in the fourth quarter, going 77 yards in 13 plays. Masberg was 4 of 4 for 69 yards on the drive, which ended with another sneak. However, the Bucs' PAT kick also missed, leaving the score tied at 13 with 10:26 to play.

Both teams had chances to score, but Roemhildt made an interception at the 29 to stop EVW's best drive, and the Bucs failed on a fourth-and-1 at the 37 with less than two minutes to play.

In the overtime, Eden Valley-Watkins scored on the first play, a 10-yard pass from Tyler Geisinger to Ryan McCann, and the kick made it 20-13.

WEM also scored on the first play as Masberg passed to Grant Pope, who fought his way into the end zone, just past the pylon. Tyler Ranslow went out to kick the PAT, but Bakken called the timeout and set up the winning two-point play.

“I thought, what is (Bakken) doing?” Masberg said. “But when he called the play, I thought that should work. I saw (Roemhildt), and I just didn't want to throw it over his head.”

Masberg completed 12 of 19 passes for 152 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also rushed for 59 yards on 12 carries. The Bucs totaled 318 yards of offense.

Eden Valley-Watkins had 280 yards of offense, with McCann rushing for 145 yards.

WEM plays for the Class AA championship against Moose Lake/Willow River at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Metrodome. The Bucs won a state championship in 1999.

“This is a dream come true,” Roemhildt said. “This team is s young, with only seven seniors, but once we got to the playoffs, everybody has stepped up.”