Posted: 9/14/05
WBL drops a goose egg on the Rangers home opener
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Joe Drennan
Sports Editor
Pregame activities that included Minnesota Vikings mascot Ragnar and Forest Lake High School senior Jake Neumann performing as part of Shaky Jake were not enough to help spark a Rangers victory over favored White Bear Lake Friday night. When the dust settled the Bears had defeated the Rangers 41-0.
The Bears returned the opening kickoff to the Rangers 46 yard line and didnít look back as they moved the ball down field for their first touchdown of the game. The Bears added another touchdown with a 21 yard run on the last play of the quarter to take a 14-0 lead.
ìIt could have been 14-7 going into the half but there was some question about a pitch and then there was a penalty,î Rangers head coach Matt Cleary said. ìYou canít make mistakes like that against the two time defending conference champions because when you do they get confidence and we start questioning ourselves.î
After one threatening drive in the first quarter the Rangers tried to encroach upon the Bears end zone in the second quarter but they couldnít get close enough for even a field goal.
The Bears added two more touchdowns before half time to take a 28-0 lead.
With the game pretty much in hand the Bears took all their big plays out of the playbook and reverted to a ball control game to kill the clock, but they added a touchdown in both the third and fourth quarters to make sure the Rangers would not have the opportunity to make things interesting.
ìWe saw some good things in the game,î Cleary said. ìWe played with a lot more heart than the first game, but the players have to learn to trust us coaches and trust that weíre going to put them into situations where they can succeed.î
Looking ahead
The Rangers travel to Mounds view Friday to take on the fourth ranked Mustangs at 7 p.m. The Mustangs defeated Woodbury 36-24 this past week to remain perfect on the season at 2-0.
ìWe expect a Forest Lake team thatís going to come out and give us everything theyíve got,î Mounds View head coach Jim Galvin said.
Cleary appreciates Galvinís comments but reminds fans that White Bear Lake coach Bob Jackson said similar things about expecting a close game from the Rangers too.
ìItís going to depend on what the kids believe in,î Cleary said. ìIf they believe in themselves, then weíll give Mounds View a good game.î
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