Frazee ends season with 6-3 record

Photos by Chad Koenen
Quarterback Adam Vigen rolls out to his left during the first quarter of Saturday’s Section 8AA semi-finals game against Hawley.
Ben Reierson looks for the edge during the first half of Saturday’s game against Hawley in Frazee.

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

Frazee had its season come to a close on Saturday afternoon as the top seeded Hornets fell to fifth seeded Hawley 24-14. The Hornets led by a score of 8-7 in the second quarter after a pair of trick plays led them across the goal line. Hawley answered with a late touchdown in the second quarter to take a 15-8 lead at the halftime break. 

Hawley led 21-14 in the second half, before coming away with a 24-14 win to end one of Frazee’s best regular seasons in a number of years, which included the top seed in Section 8AA. 

“We had a successful season. That is the first that we have been the first seed in school history and we have received that opportunity to be ranked that high,” said head coach Russ Hackel. 

Photos by Chad Koenen
Conner Erickson and Blake Sonnenberg converge on a tackle during Saturday’s Section 8AA semi-finals game against Hawley.

Even though there was some people who contended the Hornets should not have been the top seed since they played largely a Class A schedule, Hackel said “our boys worked their tails off and they had a great season.”

Along with the top seed, Frazee received a bye in the opening round of the playoffs.  That time away from the game allowed the Hornets to get a bit of rest before heading into Saturday’s Section 8AA semi-finals game against Hawley, but it may have also led to a bit of nerves coming out of the gate.

“Having that time off was good for healing and everything but momentum was going our way coming off our win against OTC,” said Hackel. “I felt our boys were a little tight for the game.”

Mason Mickelson tries to shed a tackler during Saturday’s game against Hawley.

Hawley will now take on second seeded Barnesville in the Section 8AA championship game on Friday night at the FargoDome. Kick off for Friday’s championship game is at 5:30 p.m.

Barnesville advanced to the championship game after defeating third seeded Pelican Rapids 66-36 on Saturday. 

The loss ends the Hornets season with a record of 6-3 overall. Hackel said the Hornets will look quite a bit different next year as they will lose nine seniors to graduation, but he is hopeful this year’s senior group has laid the groundwork for future generation of Hornet football players. 

A group of Hornets converge on a tackle during the first half of Saturday’s game in Frazee.

“It’s been a special group of boys that we saw grow up,” said Hackel. “The journey they had. Where we started with them to where they ended up. I am proud of them and their work ethic and everything, They have made our program better and hopefully our kids see that and work harder.”

Individual stats and information concerning Saturday’s game was not available at the time of press.