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Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Guts Over Fear

Slim Shady is back again, and he brought friends. While I haven't gotten to listen to "Shady XV" yet, I've heard "Guts Over Fear," the single from it. The compilation disc has me excited as an Eminem fan, especially since I really enjoyed "Marshall Mathers LP2" last spring.

As for me, I'm busy covering Class AA State Champions, and doing winter previews. I have my first basketball game tonight. After Thanksgiving break, which will strangely be an ample five days for me (just how it shook out), I'll be back after that and hard at work as the winter sports season engulfs my time.

In fantasy football my teams are doing well, I guess. I'm 7-5 and in the playoffs in one league, and all but in, in the other. I had a horrible week this week in the league in which I've punched my ticket already. I hope that Calvin Johnson, Brandon Marshall and Shane Vereen can wake up for the playoffs in week 14, 15 and 16. I'm only playing for seeding this week. I am currently fifth, but I could be anywhere between fourth and sixth by the end of week 13.

I have a few photos from the Pierz/Rochester Lourdes semifinal on Nov. 15 to share, but I also am going to share my leftover Holdingford Prep Bowl photos a week early too. Happy Thanksgiving.

The photos below (and others) can be purchased at ecmpublishers.smugmug.com:

Pierz lines up for the National Anthem prior to the semifinal game against Rochester Lourdes, Nov. 15 in St. Cloud.

Senior Robbie Skiba runs for a chunk of his 153 yards against Lourdes.

Junior Jonny Kasper temporarily stops the Eagles' Carter Greguson.

The Holdingford cheerleaders dance to the pep band prior to the Prep Bowl, Nov. 21 at TCF Bank Stadium.

Fast forward to the end as senior Matt Messman carries the Class AA Championship trophy in front of Husker fans.

Rude photographer ran up and got in mine and everybody's way as the Huskers celebrate.

Coaches and players explode as the Huskers tie the game on the last play of regulation.

Everyone reacts to a Nate Brinker touchdown run on the first Holdingford play of  the first overtime.

Sophomore Blake Patrick has three BOLD defenders bearing down on him as he tries to haul in a pass.

Senior quarterback Austin Gerads takes off running down the field.

Messman scampers ahead for a gain.

Brinker (left) looks to aid teammate Messman to wrap up Warriors back Ben Steffel.


Monday, November 17, 2014

Mom

"Mom" by Garth Brooks is easily one of the most powerful songs I have heard in a long, long time. It is really a tearjerker, and is going to be a staple on Mother's Day, wedding days and any other celebration of mothers everywhere. I am tempted to buy Garth Brooks' latest album "Man Against Machine."

As for fantasy football, I'm currently 6-5 in one league, and on the cusp of being 7-4 in another. Players are getting healthy, and I like my chances coming up on the playoffs here.

 As for T.O's Picks, I went a terrible 4-6 two weeks ago, and since I'd pretty much be picking a ton of NFL games, I'm going to call it a season. I went 57-23 in nine weeks of picking.

I have a lot of pictures from the past two weeks to share. I hope you enjoy.

Robbie Skiba and Logan Stangl celebrate in the end zone of the Section 5AAA Championship, Nov. 1 in St. Cloud.

Skiba is off to the races against the Cathedral Crusaders.

Skiba set the school record for rushing yards with 325 yards in the game.

Skiba and junior Jonny Kaspers chase down Cathedral's Isaac Heying.

Coach Luke Mitchell celebrates Holdingford sophomore Blake Patrick's 90-yard interception return touchdown, Oct. 31 against Otter Tail Central.

Carter Loven of the Patriots (left) and Tyler Hellickson of the Royals fight for a jump ball. Stupid Ref got in my way.

The Royalton fans were so loud that at least one fan had enough.

Royalton band director Chris Coppicus (far left) and the rest of the Royals pep band play in the Fargodome, Oct. 31. 

Senior quarterback Brady Moulzolf breaks a Jordan Sales tackle.

Kyle Lange (middle) follows the block of Aaron Ripplinger (right) as quarterback Tyler Evans (left) watches.

Sales cruises into the end zone for a long touchdown catch.

Skiba runs in a game against DGF in Brainerd on Nov. 8.

Beau Winscher stiff arms a DGF opponent.

USA football players await the beginning of the state quarterfinal game against Braham.

Skiba follows a block by lineman Austin Gall.

Skiba carves more yards on the defense.

Skiba is off to the races.

Senior QB Ethan Lochner attempts a pass.

Lange dives forward for more yards against Braham, Nov. 8.

Lange is hit by Braham's Randy Braund on a halfback pass.

Aaron Ripplinger stuffs Braund.

USA's Tyler Evans trips up the Bombers' Ryan Larson.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Editing Floor Blues

Since I do a lot of editing, both of myself and of others, I like the track "Editing Song Blues" from Yusuf/Cat Stevens' latest release, "Tell 'Em I'm Gone." The entire album is very clean, tight and well produced. Most songs are very polished, catchy and strong lyrically. No matter if you're a fan or not, you'll likely find this album a good listen.

This past week I did some traveling by heading down to Fargo last Friday for a pair of playoff football games. USA, Holdingford and Pierz all advanced to the state quarterfinals in Brainerd on Saturday. That makes for one long day of football, which also means I'll be missing the opening day of hunting.

Fantasy took another turn for the worse this week, as I lost in both leagues, and am now 5-4 in both, and falling fast. The good news is that I had a lot of byes last week, and most of my injured players are nearing or will come back this week. That should help a bunch, well if Philip Rivers doesn't melt like he did last week (-.68 points, really! REALLY!!???)

As for my picks last week, I went 7-3 on another good week. The games I got wrong were Holdingford over OTC, SCSU over Bemidji State and New England over Denver. Sorry for not believing in you Huskers, Huskies and Patriots. I am now 53-17 this year. As for this week:
USA over Braham: The Patriots offense did struggle last week, but I think they can muster enough to get past the Bombers.
MLWR over Holdingford: I know I picked against the Huskers last week too, but MLWR had a really tough schedule and was nearly perfect throughout against a lot of AAA and AAAA schools.
Pierz over D-G-F: Though D-G-F has played a lot of AAAA competition they have also lost two of those games. The Pioneers haven't had much of a challenge in several weeks, but though they'll find it a challenge, I think they'll take care of DGF.
Bethel over St. Johns: Bethel is having a great season so far, and they even beat Concordia, whom the Johnnies lost to. I think Bethel has the edge.
SCSU over Minot State: This should be a blowout. Minot is epically bad.
Iowa over Minnesota: The Gophers can't handle a game against the Hawkeyes, who are one of the best teams in the Big 10.
Bengals over Browns: Tempted to pick the upset here, but have to go with the Bengals and the Red Rocket.
Packers over Bears: The Bears have been disappointing this year, and this continues against a rested Packers team.
Eagles over Panthers: No upsets here.
St. Louis over Arizona: Upset special here though, as the Cardinals lose for the first time since week 5 against the Broncos.

I have six pictures to share from last week's volleyball and football playoffs.
The Flyers had a message for opponent Holdingford. It worked as they won 3-2 on Oct. 24.

Kyle Lange (No. 9) blocks for Tyler Evans (No. 4) as Evans returns an interception for a touchdown against New York Mills in the section semifinals on Oct. 25.

USA's Aidan Guthrie looks to tackle NYM's Chance Pettow.

Little Falls senior Kendra Pohlman hammers one of several kills.

Robyn Nuehring goes up for a spike.

Autumn Zupko with a hit from the outside against Holdingford Oct. 24.