By Jim Charboneau – October 27, 2023

The Barnum Bombers “take down” the Greenway Nashwauk-Keewatin (GNK) Titans 56-7 at Barnum in round one of the section 7AA playoffs running their undefeated streak to nine games. Once again, the whole team’s performance was outstanding. The offense, defense, and special teams all performed at a high level. “It is great to be playing your best football of the season when you enter the play-offs,” said Assistant Coach Matt Hosmer.

     The GNK Titans received the opening kickoff and started on offense at their 40 yard line. On fourth and six, the Titans were forced into a punt situation. The punter dropped the snap and a scramble for the ball was on. The punter managed to recover the fumble but the Bombers took over on downs at the GNK 26 yard line.

     Quarterback Hayden Charboneau passed to running back Gavin Anderson for a gain of 8 yards on first down. On second down, running back Carlos Beckstrand gained 4 yards on a short pass from Charboneau for a first down at the 14. Running back Caden Sheff then took a hand off for 8 yards to the 6. On third and goal from the 5, the Bombers ran reverse play to Beckstrand for the touchdown. Kicker Eoghan Heaslip’s kick was good; Barnum-7 GNK-0.

     The Titans covered Heaslip’s pooch kick on the kickoff and started at their 33 yard line. On fourth down and six, the Bombers were flagged for too many men on the field making it fourth and one. The Titans decided to go for it and made the first down at their 44. However the success did not last long as they were forced to punt after 3 plays. Wide receiver Eli Gilbertson returned the 28 yard punt 16 yards to the Bombers 44 yard line. 

     On first down, Charboneau lined up under center and after faking a pitch, he took a deep drop and darted an excellent pass to Beckstrand who was in full stride 20 yards down field. Beckstrand showed his speed taking the pass 56 yards to pay dirt for the touchdown. Heaslip added the extra point making it the Bombers-14 Titans-0.

    The Titans started at their 35 after the kickoff. On first down the Titans quarterback threw a nice pass to his receiver 15 yards down field. The receiver was able to shed a tackle attempt and run the football in for a touchdown. The extra point kick was good; Barnum-14 GNK-7.

    Eli Gilbertson picked up the kickoff at the 13 yard line and returned it 22 yards to the Barnum 35. Beckstrand ran for 11 yards on first down behind ferocious blocking to the 46. Sheff took the next carry breaking through the right side of the line for a 34 yard gain to the Titans 20. On first down Beckstrand took a pitch running up the middle breaking three tackles, he scored his second touchdown. The Heaslip kick was good, giving the Bombers a 21-7 lead.

     The Titans took over at their 40 on the next series. The first quarter came to an end with GNK facing a fourth and 2; Bombers-21 Titans-7. 

     The Titans moved the ball to mid-field but eventually turned the ball over on downs to the Bombers. Charboneau took a shotgun snap on first down and threw a quick pass to Beckstrand for 4 yards.The Bombers faced a third and eleven from their 49 after another play and a penalty. A run play picked up six yards well short of the first down. Charboneau’s punt traveled 45 yards for a touch back and the Titans set up at their 20.

     GNK earned one first down but found themselves in another punt situation on the next series. GNK tried a fake punt but the Bombers thwarted the attempt and took over on downs at the Titans 32.

     After a penalty, the Bombers had a first and 15 from the 37 yard line. Sheff carried 11 yards to the 26 on first down. On second down Fullback Cole Laitinen took the ball for a 10 yard gain and a first down at the 16. Charboneau dropped back to pass on first down with a heavy rush bearing down on him, he flipped a screen pass to Sheff in the right flat for a 16 yard touchdown. Anderson ran in the 2 point conversion; Barnum-29 GNK 7.

     The Titans returned the kick off to their 45 yard line. On first down, Gavin Anderson made an exceptional break on the pass undercutting the Titan receiver for an interception.

     On first down, Charboneau threw a long pass to Beckstrand for a 40 yard gain to the Titans 15 yard line. Charboneau ran a keeper for seven yards to the 8 on the next play. Tight end Gunnar Warpula then hauled in a Charboneau pass for the touchdown. The 2-point try was successful making the score Bombers-37 Titans-7.

     The Titans started at their 40 but had to punt after three plays gained 3 yards, The punt traveled only 10 yards so the Bombers took over at their 45 yard line.

     Sheff ran for 14 yards on first down to the GNK 41. Anderson then gained nine yards on the next carry to the 32. On third and 10, Charboneau rifled a pass down the middle of the field to Gilbertson for a 32 yard touchdown. Heaslip kicked the extra point; Bombers-44 Titans-7. The Titans next possession started at their 16. After one play, the half ended.

     The Bombers received the second half kick off starting at their own 31. Sheff gained 16 yards to the 47 on first down and followed that up with an eight yard run to the GNK 45 yard line. The Bombers gained another 11 yards and a first down at the 34 of the Titans. A holding penalty made it first and twenty from the 44. Charboneau passed for 11 yards to tight end Spencer Strohm on first down.  Anderson then ran for 19 yards to the 11 yard line. Following some elite blocking from the offensive line, Anderson was able to finish the drive with an 11 yard touchdown. “The offensive line has been playing very well as has the defensive line,” said coach Hosmer. “It’s always important to win in the trenches especially during the playoffs.” On the touchdown play, pulling guard Mark Hall assisted fullback Laitinen in putting the outside linebacker on the ground, he then continued down field where he “pancaked” a Titan cornerback while Anderson sped into the end zone. The kick failed making it Bombers-50 Titans-7.

    Many younger Bombers made their way onto the field early in the third quarter. GNK started at their 33 yard line after the kickoff but they were forced to punt again after three plays. 

     The Bombers took over at their 33 yard line on offense and drove all the way to the Titans 35. On fourth and twelve, the Bombers decided to punt. Charboneau placed his 33 yard punt out of bounds at the 2 yard line “nailing the coffin corner”.  Time ran out in the third quarter with Barnum leading GNK 50-7. 

     The Titans had no success on their next drive requiring them to punt from their 6 yard line. Barnum received the punt starting on offense from the GNK 30. On fourth and eleven from the Titans 21, Bomber’s quarterback Bryce Ferguson dropped back and fired a strike down the middle of the field to tight end Connor Blake who dodged a tackle and scored a 21 yard touchdown. The kick failed, making the final score Barnum-56 GNK-7 after a few more plays.

    The Bombers will face the Aitkin Gobblers in a section 7AA semifinal game on Saturday 10/28/23 at 2pm in Barnum. Coverage of both the GNK and the Aitkin games will be included the next issue of the Star Gazette. 

     If victorious, the Bombers will play for the Section 7AA Championship at the Esko field on Thursday, 11/02/23 at 6pm against the winner of the Mesabi East Giants and the Moose Lake Willow River Rebels game. I hope you will attend the games to support your Bombers and enjoy the fellowship of our community.