Burlington racks up more than 500 yards
By Mike Ramczyk
UNION GROVE – A week after rushing for a season-high 146 yards, Burlington High School senior Jack Miller had an encore for the ages in his final football game as a Demon Friday night.
Miller scored six touchdowns as Burlington totaled nearly 600 yards and railroaded host Union Grove, 53-36, in a game that wasn’t that close.
Though Burlington finished the season 4-5 (3-4 SLC) and missed the playoffs, the Demons finished strong with 90 points in two blowout victories.
Union Grove finished 4-5 as well but 2-5 in conference.
Miller’s bulldozing style made him a tough tackle for Grove defenders, and he added some finesse on a 57-yard touchdown, where he bounced off tacklers and showed a late burst. Miller’s power was on full display with four 1-yard scoring runs and another 4-yard run.
“Our O-line was on fire tonight,” said Miller, who finished with 158 yards. “They were opening some big holes. We were able to put four quarters together.”
“I’m happy for the guys that we finished the season the way we did,” Burlington coach Steve Tenhagen said. “We established the run early and stuck with it. We played with a high level of intensity and physicality up front, which set Jack up. He played the game of his career tonight.”
Miller opened the scoring in the first quarter, but Grove quarterback Matt Nelson hit Alex Rewolinski for a 16-yard scoring strike to knot things at 7-7.
Then, the Demons reeled off three straight touchdowns, including long runs of 38 and 57 yards by Burlington quarterback Nick Klug and Miller, respectively.
Burlington’s 27-7 lead at the 9:05 mark in the second quarter put the Demons in control and forced the Broncos to abandon the run game, though Burlington was forcing three-and-outs thanks to constant quarterback pressure.
Joey Needle’s 2.5 sacks led Burlington’s total of five, as Nelson was often flushed from the pocket.
“Our defensive line had great line surges in short-distance situations,” said senior linebacker Donal O’Sullivan. “And the secondary did a good job of covering receivers when Nelson extended plays.”
Nelson finished with 363 yards passing and two touchdowns and ran for another two scores.
Late in the second quarter, Nelson escaped pressure and hit a leaping Carson LaPointe, who sprinted inside the Burlington 10 for a 50-yard gain. Nelson’s three-yard run made it 27-14 with 7:13 left.
But the Demons drove right back downfield, and after a timeout, Klug faked a run, jumped and lobbed a pass to senior Dale Damon, who wrestled it away from a defender for a 26-yard score.
“Burlington came out and smacked us in the mouth,” said Nelson, who also led the Broncos in tackles. “They definitely wanted this one more. Our inexperience got to us.”
Union Grove head coach Craig McClelland credited Burlington, which racked up 569 total yards.
“They’re a team, with a couple losses here or there, they could’ve made playoffs,” he said. “We couldn’t stop them. We had no answers for them. Burlington was dynamic and hungry. You have to tip your hat. They played a phenomenal offensive game.”
Demons keep foot on gas pedal
Burlington kept pouring it on in the third quarter, as Union Grove’s failed onside kick set up the Demons near midfield. Grant Tully’s first-down run set up another Miller dive, giving the Demons a 41-14 lead with 9:42 in the third.
In the fourth, Miller’s first touchdown gave Burlington it’s largest lead at 47-14.
Nelson and Austin Walker ran for scores in the final period, and Nelson also hit Jacob Ross on a 78-yard hook-and-ladder play, which showcased Ross’ speed.
“We really were able to pound the ball,” senior offensive lineman Connor Raboine said. “Everybody was doing their job. We played with a lot of heart tonight, which we’ve been trying to find all season.”
Klug tallied 173 yards passing and 150 on the ground with two touchdowns.
Tully led the team in receiving with 51 yards and added 74 yards rushing on nine carries.
Aaron Sturdevant paced the defense with seven tackles.
Ross caught six balls for 167 yards, and LaPointe added 122 yards on six catches.
Nelson finished the season as the SLC leader with 1,861 passing yards. He said he will decide soon whether he’ll play college football next year at Minnesota State-Mankato, St. Cloud State or Minnesota-Duluth.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better coaching staff for my three years here,” Nelson said. “They are young, energetic, and practices are so much fun. They really made it great.”
For Burlington, it was a season of progress, as the Demons lost three games by a total of nine points before putting two complete games together at the end of the season.
“Wins and losses aren’t as important as the bonds we develop,” O’Sullivan said. “That pushed us the last two games. We just wanted to come out and compete and finish for each other.”
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