Zellmer comes to rescue for Blossoms

Published 4:40 am Saturday, September 27, 2008

As a coach it’s always comforting to know that if a starter goes down another can fill in and get the job done.

Friday night that was Blooming Prairie’s Matt Zellmer, who had a hand in all four of the Awesome Blossoms’ touchdowns including three from the air and one on the ground, leading BP to a 28-6 homecoming win over Medford.

Zellmer, under center Friday night in place of Austin Moe who is recovering from a high ankle sprain, passed for 213 of BP’s total 216 yards, connecting twice with Cooper Nelson.

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He added 71 more yards on the ground on 26 carries and proved to be just as tough on defense with two interceptions.

“Intelligence is a great thing,” coach Chad Gimbel said of his multifaceted receiver. “He’s getting more and more comfortable and knows his job.”

And his job, is made easier when you have as many threats as the Blossoms have.

Zellmer found Nelson and Josh Toquam repeatedly throughout the night hitting Nelson twice for scores in the second and fourth quarters and connecting with Toquam for a score and 104 yards.

“Our offense line gives us all the time in the world to deliver,” Zellmer said. “We’ve got four or five guys that make plays at any time.”

And when your receivers have the size Nelson has, it gets that much easier.

“I’m bigger than most out there,” Nelson said. “I just go up and get it.”

Nelson ended the night with six catches for 77 yards.

BP got on the board first with just over two minutes remaining in the first quarter on an 11-yard pass to Toquam. With the two-point conversion the Blossoms led 8-0.

Zellmer added to the score on the ground, running the ball in from one yard out at 7:40 of the second.

Then, with 2:35 remaining in the half, Zellmer hooked up with Nelson on a 16-yard pass.

With BP leading 21-0, Medford was finally able to get on the board on a four yard run up the middle with the Tigers’ Caleb Svenby carrying.

BP’s final score of the game was Zellmer and Nelson again with four minutes remaining in the fourth from four yards out.

For the Blossoms, Friday night’s win, which moves them to 3-2, is a good set up for the rest of the schedule that only gets tougher this coming Friday with Bethlehem Academy, 3-1 going into Friday night, on the road.

“We’re getting better,” Gimbel said. “This past week has been tough with personal issues, injuries, sicknesses. You hate making excuses, but that’s the truth, but we have kids who fight through adversity. We have a tough BA team next week and that’s No. 1 right now. That’s our concern to get through this.”