Anselmo-Merna wins afternoon shootout at Bertrand, 52-42.

Posted Saturday, September 12, 2015, at 12:55 AM

Anselmo-Merna quarterback, Troy Gilligan (#22).

by Bobby Mills (1000 Yard Guy)

Class D-2, number 2 rated Anselmo-Merna spotted 2-0 Bertrand a couple of first quarter leads, then reeled off 3 straight touchdowns and never looked back in a 52-42 win over the Vikings. Although the visiting Coyotes lead 30-12 with 1:41 left in the half, the game was never really out of reach for Bertrand until the final gun. It was also a red letter day for Coyote junior running back Keenan Stupka, who rushed for 33 times for a punishing 165 yards and 3 touchdowns, all in the first quarter.

Strangely enough, Anselmo-Merna began the game with 2 empty possessions, and Bertrand one, before the Vikings struck with a Cooper Grabenstein to Dakota Fitzgerald scoring pass, covering 39 yards. Stupka scored the 1st of his 3 opening quarter TDs with a 3 yard run on Anselmo-Merna's next possession to knot things at 6 apiece. It took only one play for Bertrand's outstanding running back Tyrell Younger to score after the ensuing kick off, racing 57 yards for the score on the 1st scrimmage play.

Less than a minute later, it was again the Coyote's Stupka, this time on a quick 40 yard touchdown burst. Anselmo-Merna was on top 14-12. The 5-9, 145 pound Stupka would tally his 3rd TD of the frame with a 6 yard scamper with :47.2 left in the quarter, staking the Coyotes to a 22-12 lead.

Anselmo-Merna stretched the lead to 30-12 with a minute 41 left in the half when All-State quarterback Troy Gilligan lofted a soft 4 yard TD pass to wide receiver Collin Safranek. Bertrand wouldn't let the score stand for long. With just 36 ticks left until the halftime break, Viking signal caller Cooper Grabenstein lofted a short pass to Tyrell Younger and the punishing runner did the rest, taking the reception 31 yards for the score. Grabenstein hit Fitzgerald for the double PAT, and Anselmo-Merna led 30-20 at the break.

The two undefeated D-2 powers traded touchdowns three times in the 2nd half and when Younger bolted in from the one yard line for his 5th TD of the warm, sunny afternoon, Bertrand was back within 10 points, 52-42, with 5:48 left in the contest.

The defenses took over from that point on and Bertrand could just never quite crack the hard hitting Coyote defense to get that catch-up score.

Anselmo-Merna survived a scare with 2:37 left in the 3rd quarter when Troy Gilligan went down with a leg injury. It appeared to be a cramp, but Coyote Head Coach Matt McGinn simply moved Keenan Stupka to the QB slot, taking the direct snap. Stupka gained some tough yards the next 3 plays, then Gilligan returned to the field to score on a 1 yard run with just :8.5 seconds left in the 3rd frame. That was a huge score for Anselmo-Merna, giving them a 44-28 cushion going into the money quarter.

Tell you what, 8-Man football fans, these are two pretty salty football teams I watched Friday afternoon. Anselmo-Merna's twice 1000 yard rusher/1000 yard passer, Troy Gilligan is about as good as it gets in Class D-2 football. On the other side, Bertrand's tough, rugged running Tyrell Younger is also one of the best in the class. And how about junior Keenan Stupka, only a 145 pounds, taking over where graduated, 2-time 1000 yarder, Trent Geiser left off a year ago? 165 yards against a good Bertrand defense "ain't" too shabby.

For Anselmo-Merna, it was Stupka's 165 yards on 33 carries and 3 TDs that led all rushers. Troy Gilligan added 111 yards on 22 touches. The senior QB also connected on 7 of 12 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown in the game. Gilligan was also a force on defense, making 15 tackles. Junior Joel Mundorf added 13 stops, and 130 pound sophomore Cameron Downey also chipped in 10 tackles for the Coyotes.

For Bertrand, Tyrell Younger ended the day with 146 yards on 26 carries and 5 touchdowns. Quarterback Cooper Grabenstein, a 180 pound junior, completed 11 of 18 passes for 190 yards and 2 scores. Wide receiver Dakota Fitzgerald, the man with the hops and sticky fingers, hauled in 6 of Grabenstein's passes for 124 yards and a touchdown.

Anselmo-Merna, who improves to 2-0 for the season, will be off next week but not by choice. The Coyotes will receive a forfeit win over Elwood, who had to cancel its season due to low player numbers. Bertrand, now 2-1, will have a bye next week before returning to action September 25th when they travel to Bartley to play Southwest.