MAYVILLE, N.D. — With the North Dakota 11-man West roster featuring big defensive tackles Lucas Schweigert of Bismarck Century and Justin Littlewolf of Mahnomen-Waubun, running the football was a major challenge for the East squad in the North Dakota Shrine Bowl.
But would anyone be able to throw the ball Saturday with wind speeds of more than 30 miles per hour?
West Fargo Sheyenne quarterback Grant Warkenthien, a Minnesota State Moorhead recruit, did it better than anyone at Jerome Berg Field.
Warkenthien threw for 145 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for another score, to lead the East team to a 14-10 win over the West on the campus of Mayville State.
The East's decisive drive came early. The East went up 14-7 in the final minute of the second quarter thanks to Warkenthien finding a groove with Grand Forks Central's Sam Strandell, a UND recruit.
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With about two minutes to halftime, Warkenthien hit Strandell for 13 yards, then 11 on the very next play to put the East at first-and-10 from the 14 with 50 seconds remaining.
Warkenthien took two draws up the middle — one for 10 yards and the next for 4 yards into the end zone to seal the game-winning score.
The West cut the lead to 14-10 with 7:18 left in the third quarter when Jamestown's Brode Hillstrom connected from 24 yards out on a field goal.
Although there was no scoring in the fourth quarter, the East held the ball for most of the frame.
Warkenthien, who hit West Fargo's Parker Nelson for a 37-yard screen pass for a touchdown for the game's first score, was able to keep the clock moving with passes to Strandell for 32 yards on third-and-9 and later to John Gores of Fargo Shanley for 16 yards.
Hillsboro-Central Valley's Jace Leshuk led the East ground attack with nine carries for 46 yards. The East finished with just 74 total rushing yards.
The West's lone score came on a wildcat run from Dickinson's Troy Berg — a 5-yard scamper with about four minutes left in the second quarter.
The East passing attack was led by Adin Jungers, a Hazen, N.D., product, who's committed to Dakota State.
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Jungers was 4-for-12 passing for 71 yards.
N.D. Shrine Bowl
In Mayville, Saturday
11-man
East 14,West 10
First quarter
E – Parker Nelson 37 pass from Grant Warkenthien (Parker Gallagher kick)
Second quarter
W – Troy Berg 5 run (Brode Hillstrom kick)
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E – Warkenthien 4 run (Gallagher kick)
Third quarter
W – Hillstrom 24 field goal
Individual leaders
RUSHING – E: Jace Leshuk 9-46, Grant Warkenthien 7-28; W: Isaiah Huus 14-30, Caleb Rist 10-30
PASSING – E: Warkenthien 10-18-1, 145 yards; W: Adin Jungers 4-12-0, 71 yards
RECEIVING – E: Sam Strandell 3-56, John Gores 3-34, Parker Nelson 2-51, Jake Deutsch 3-29; W: Clay Heimer 1-32, Preston Kroeber 1-25, Landon Gerving 2-24
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