There was nothing pretty about Minot High School's 26-8 Senior Night win against Mandan.
Even on the game's definitive offensive play - a 42-yard touchdown run by junior running back Brady Lampert that put the Magicians (4-0 overall, 2-0 West Region) up two scores with 6:58 to go - there was a Minot player dealing with a wardrobe malfunction.
"I didn't get touched at all and I ran right up the middle," Lampert said. "But I lost a string in my pants on that one. Luckily my pants were really tight."
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Tim Chapman/MDN
Minot High School senior receiver Brandon Van Dusen comes down with a touchdown reception Friday at Duane Carlson Stadium.
Lampert scored a pair of touchdowns and rushed for 125 yards on 25 carries, a rare bright spot on a day where botched plays, turnovers and penalties haunted both offenses.
"We got handled up front," Minot coach Barry Holmen said. "They have quick defensive linemen and two excellent linebackers. They gave us fits all night. We were searching for what we could do."
Holmen's search to find offense included changing centers early in the game, when Chance Smith replaced fellow senior Nick Nesdahl in an effort to find a "different combination."
The Magicians scored defensively less than three minutes into the game. After Minot went three-and-out on a possession that started inside Braves (1-3, 0-2) territory, the Magicians capitalized in a big way.
Mandan junior quarterback Ross Effertz couldn't find an open receiver while being chased by senior defensive end Bryan Doerr and threw the ball away from his end zone. The referee ruled the play intentional grounding, giving Minot two points on a safety.
"I wanted that so bad," Doerr said. "So when I saw (Effertz) turn around at me, I was like 'That's mine.' "
Doerr picked up a sack later and was limping after the game was over. He said his knee has been bothering him, but won't affect his ability to practice or play next week.
The Magicians scored a pair of second-quarter touchdowns on a 23-yard completion from junior quarterback Alex Yanosko to senior wide receiver Brandon Van Dusen and a 3-yard touchdown run by Lampert. The shifty tailback's second score came after a Mandan fumble gave the ball to Minot in the red zone.
Yanosko completed 4-of-9 passes for 36 yards and had a pair of interceptions - one to Effertz. He was also tamed on the ground for the first time this season, totaling just 33 yards on 17 carries. Many of the negative rushing plays came as a result of snaps over his head.
Minot picked up 65 penalty yards on nine infractions.
"We had a poor week of practice and we addressed that," Holmen said. "I think when you have a poor week of practice that translates into troubles on the game field Friday night. I think we learned a lesson and still we managed to get a 'W.' "
Minot travels to Fargo Davies for a non-conference game Friday at 7 p.m.