Members of the 2009 United North Central Warriors football team made their contribution to team history with a 42-18 victory over Warroad in the first round of the 8AA playoffs. It was the team’s first playoff win since Menahga and Sebeka paired their football programs, and they did it in front of a home town crowd in Sebeka.

While the boys would have liked to have added to their legacy with a victory in the second round, that goal will have to wait until next year. On Saturday, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton lived up its number one seeding to eliminate the Warriors from the playoff field, 42-0.

UNC 42, Warroad 18

The first half was a true shoot-up as both teams struggled to gain an advantage.

UNC got the scoreboard rolling in the first quarter with a 10-yard end zone run by running back Tom Gruchow. The point after kick was no good, but the Warriors were up 6-0.

Warroad came right back to tie it up with a rushing touchdown, but failed to take the lead when their conversion attempt was foiled by the UNC defense.

The Warriors quickly regained the lead on the Warroad kick-off, after Joey Cuperus returned the kick 65 yards for a touchdown. Then quarterback Kasey Tyge threw the ball to wide receiver Ben Skoog for two points to give United North Central a 14-0 lead.

The Warroad squad then showed its big play capability with a 60 yard touchdown toss, but the two-point attempt failed again leaving them trailing behind UNC, 14-12, at the end of the period.

Warroad gained their only lead of the football game (18-14) with a rushing touchdown early in the second quarter, but then the Warriors took over the game with back-to-back scores to take over the lead for good.

Gruchow rushed for his second touchdown of the night, then Tyge ran the ball in for two points to make it an 22-18 game.

UNC followed up with a touchdown pass from Tyge to Luke Hendrickson and a successful point after kick by David Revelo to give the Warriors a 29-18 halftime lead.

Warroad didn’t score on the UNC defense at all in the second half, while the Warriors added some cushion.

Tyge connected with Alex Brockpahler for a 17 yard touchdown reception in the third quarter, and it was Tyge to Brockpahler again in the fourth. The 87 yard touchdown pass and another good kick by Revelo put the cap on a 42-18 victory.

DGF 42, UNC 0

For the first time all season, the Warriors were held to less than 100 yards of total offense. Even so, it was still a relatively close game at the half with Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton taking a 14-0 lead at halftime.

The Warriors had reversed their fortunes with big plays in several games during the season, but not this time.