Chargers get the victory in the Mud Bowl

Written by Kari Sundberg, Eagle Editor

“The Mud Bowl will be one of those games we will always remember,” said John Wilebski, Head Coach for the GG Chargers Football team. “We are so proud of our kids playing such a great game with heavy hearts. It was such an inspiration for Payton Grandstrand, Coach Grandstrand, the entire Grandstrand family and the community,” he added.

It was a really nice way to end a really tough day. Students had learned that afternoon that 2019 Grygla Graduate Payton Grandstrand had passed away. With heavy hearts, players paid tribute to Payton by wearing his name & football number on their pads and hanging a sign on the bleachers facing the field. It said, “This one’s for you, Payton.”

And it sure was.

The Chargers got the win in double overtime against the Storm and the tears were shed. It was the last regular season game and also Parent’s Night on Tuesday, October 15th. Playing Stephen/Argyle Storm, the Chargers were facing a tough game with doubts of a victory hanging in the air. The field was a mess and towards the end it was hard to even decipher who was who as the players were completely covered in mud. But when that score board switched 20-14 in the Chargers favor, the crowd and players jumped to their feet…the air was filled with cheers…tears flowed down the cheeks of many. To watch the coaches and players all run into one big circle – hugging, crying, cheering…it was such an emotional sight to watch and the victory felt great for so many reasons that night. As Coach Wilebski said, it was one of those games you will always remember.

The Chargers will play the Storm again on Tuesday, October 22nd, in East Grand Forks. Will they get one more victory and defeat Stephen/Argyle? By the time this story’s out, we’ll have the answer!

For pictures of Senior players with their parents, turn to page 3.

Stats from Chargers vs. Storm on Tuesday, Oct. 15th – per John Wilebski   

GG: 0 8 0 0 OT 6 6 = 20

SA: 0 8 0 0 OT 6 0 = 14

S/A Jason Lindgren 46 yard td run(pat pass good), G-G Riley Manderud 2 yard td run (pat Loken run good), S/A Mike Jacobson 1 yard td run ( pat no good), G-G Matt Busse 9 yard td run ( kick no good), G-G Matt Busse 6 yard td run pat no good)

Andrew Loken 27 carries for 80 yards, Matt Busse 2 carries for 15 yards 2td’s, Riley Manderud 4 carries for 5 yards 1 td, Nolan Anderson 1 -3 yards, Blake Jensen 1 for 1 yard

Passing: Manderud 1 for 6 for 15 yards

Rec: Jordon Coan 1 rec for 15 yards

Defense: Blake Passa 13 tackles, Gabe Arveson 8 tackles, Jared Haack 9 tackles, 1 QB sack, Andrew Loken 22 tackles, Ian Haugen 5 tackles 1 QB sac