Buffalo 20, Brainerd 14 (OT): Buffalo more than happy to accept windy win

Sometimes one single Saturday afternoon, a little more than two hours' time, sheds the most powerful light possible on why high school sports are so much fun. The final score was Buffalo 20, Brainerd 14 in a football game that was played through 48 minutes of regulation and into overtime, but it's the moments -- and there were many -- that make these events what they are.

In phone conversations Friday, both coaches laid out their thoughts.

"Buffalo has a really good running game," said Brainerd's Ron Stolski, who became a head coach at 22 and remains one 47 years later. "They come at you very hard. Of all the teams we don't like to play against, that's the one because we're a small defensive team."

Bison coach Gerard Rohl: "We're going to have to do what we've been doing all year: hang on to the ball. They're just too good offensively, we can't give them too many cracks at it."

This was a Class 5A, Section 8 playoff semifinal. Loser goes home. The biggest factor was the wind, which came roaring through one goalpost and hollered and screamed all the way down to the other end.

The Warriors had the wind at their backs in the first quarter, and they failed to use it. After a 5-yard Buffalo punt put Brainerd in business at the Bison 31, Colby Ring ran for 20 yards on the first play, but they were stopped at the 2.

Another Buffalo punt, this time to the Bison 39. Brainerd went nowhere, punted and Buffalo took advantage with a 28-yard pass from Brooks Beilke to Nicholas Vetrano that set up a 16-yard scoring run by Taylor Vick on the second play of the second period. Bison up 7-0.

That's how the half ended.

Brainerd opened the third quarter with a flawless drive. Seventeen plays, 72 yards, and 6 minutes, 34 seconds of beauty that ended with Warriors fans chanting "Let's go blue!" and Ring scoring from the 1. The Warriors converted three third-down plays, and this was into the wind. Statement made, 7-7.

A few plays later, an interception bounced off the fingertips of Brainerd linebacker Andrew Mans -- the second near-pick for the Warriors -- and Stolski says, "That's two now. Let's just catch one."

Josh Gaughan put Buffalo up 14-7 with a 24-yard sweep into the end zone that closed the third quarter. Ring was open on a pass but had to look into the sun and couldn't make the grab. Brainerd receiver Michael Gervenak leaped for a pass in the end zone but came down awkwardly on a pylon and limped to the bench. Ring ended the drive with another 1-yard touchdown on pure second effort. All even, 14-14.

Brainerd kicker Zachary Cadwell was warming up for a winning field goal when Buffalo's Dan Ngandali intercepted a pass; Rohr's pregame words came to mind.

As overtime commenced, Brainerd Dispatch sports editor Mike Bialka, who also keeps statistics for the Warriors, was running out of paper on his clipboard. Brainerd defensive coordinator Bob Brakke told him, "I'm hoping you use five more lines: four for their offense and one for our score."

Brainerd had the ball first from the 10. Ring for 7. Ring lost 2. Ring gained 2. A field-goal try went wide right.

Buffalo ball at the 10. Vick fumbled on the first play but teammate Casey Druar fell on the ball. And then: Vick up the middle, 7 yards. Touchdown. Ballgame. Pandemonium. Handshakes. Cheers. Tears.

Stolski: "Buffalo's a good ballclub. They had us scouted pretty well. They did a very nice job."

Rohr: "Brainerd is the classiest bunch of kids, and Ron Stolski, what can you say about him?"

Vick: "This is sweet."

John Millea • jmillea@startribune.com