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Rampage make another late stand, improve to 6-1

LAKE BENTON, MINN. – Playing with roughly half its roster in a meaningless game hours from home on a hot and muggy afternoon, it would have been easy for the Midwest Rampage to phone it in here on Saturday.

The No. 2 seed for the Southern Plains Football League playoffs was already wrapped up. There was really nothing to be gained with a win, but laying down simply wasn’t an option.

Four hard quarters and another late defensive stand later and the Rampage were celebrating a 6-1 regular season.

With just 20 players in uniform, the Rampage took the lead late in the first half on a 32-yard field goal by Gunnar Wyatt and then relied on the defense the rest of the way in a 17-14 victory over the Buffalo Ridge Wildcats.

The Rampage and Wildcats (1-6) will meet once again this Saturday in the first round of the playoffs, this time in Webster City at a time to be determined.

“This game tested exactly who we are and why we all love to play the game of football,” Rampage head coach Matt Girdley said. “It was a long road trip with a skeleton crew, but props go out to everyone, especially on special teams, for stepping up and playing new positions.”

Rampage quarterback Ben Jass completed 20 of 28 passes for 223 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He hooked up with Jeromy Keehn on a 25-yard scoring strike in the first quarter and then found Gunnar Wyatt on an 87-yard bomb early in the second period.

The favorite target of Jass for the past two seasons, Wyatt reeled in nine catches for 134 yards. Keehn was on the receiving end of six throws that netted 57 yards.

Rampage tailback Ross Haren lugged the ball 30 times for 115 yards. The black and orange out-gained Buffalo Ridge 356-199. The Wildcats managed just 18 yards rushing on 16 carries; the Rampage defense has allowed just one rushing touchdown all season.

Wildcats’ quarterback Sam Lindgren threw TD passes of 27 and 56 yards to Heath Schindler and Brett Delaney. But he was picked off twice by Kris Schult and Tyler Mosbach, and sacked three times by John Elkin, Brian Miller and Caleb Bonjour.

“It was a great overall team effort to get the win,” Elkin said after amassing nine tackles from his linebacker spot. “It feels great to be 6-1 and the No. 2 seed.”

The Wyatt field goal that broke a 14-14 tie in the waning seconds of the first half came following a crucial drive that covered 55 yards in less than 25 seconds. His kick sailed through as time expired in the half.

Buffalo Ridge made one last gasp drive deep into Rampage territory at the end of regulation. A long pass from Lindgren appeared to be going in for the winning touchdown until Rampage linebacker Shon Osborn chased down the receiver and tackled him at the Rampage 4-yard line in the final minute.

It eventually went to fourth-and-goal at the 11; Rampage defensive back Kris Schult broke up a fade pass intended for Delaney to preserve the win.

The late defensive stand was key, but it never would have occurred without Osborn’s hustle play, Elkin said.

“Osborn’s play at the end of the game shows why you never give up,” Elkin said.

Osborn registered a team-high 10 tackles in the win. Justin Engh collected eight and Tyler Kibbee had seven.

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