The Cannon Falls Bombers and Pine Island Panthers treated the few football fans allowed into the game today to a turnover free contest.  The Bombers blasted past the Panthers 27-18.

The teams received permission to play the game a week before the regular season is scheduled to start in Minnesota.  After just one week of full practices both teams looked ready to go.  There were very few penalties in the game and the players did their best to maintain physical distancing on the sidelines.

Senior running back Marcus Banks scored a touchdown rushing and a touchdown receiving while amassing 67 total yards for Cannon Falls.  The first offensive series of the game Banks scored on a 4 yard run with the point after kick attempt no good.  At 9:58 of the first it was 6-0 Bombers.

Pine Island scored on their first series also thanks to a long pass to get them into the red zone.  Junior quarterback Nick Grande showed good poise while hitting junior running back Jarod White on a 9 yard pass with 5:54 to go in the first quarter.  The Panthers extra point kick attempt was no good.

Cannon Falls would then take advantage of good starting field position and score twice before the half to take a 21-6 lead.  Actually they probably feel they should have had another score.  On their second series the Bombers got into the red zone after starting at their 46 yard line but turned the ball over on downs at the 11 yard line.

Senior quarterback Owen Edstrom connected with Banks on a 10 yard pass.  Banks ran the ball for the two point conversion with 5:06 to go in the second quarter.

Edstrom hit Beau Zimmerman on a crossing route in the back of the end zone with :37 to go in the half.  Spencer Krinkie kicked the extra point between the uprights to complete the Bombers scoring.

Neither team scored in the third quarter.

Grande followed his center Dominic Schafer on a 1 yard keeper with 9:04 left in regulation.  The two point attempt was unsuccessful.  During the series the junior quarterback looked like he was going to be sacked and somehow achieved a first down run.  I said his new nickname should be "Houdini Grande."

Bombers senior Riley Miller scored with 5:39 to go on a 7 yard run up the middle.  The extra point kick attempt was no good when the holder bobbled the snap.  Krinkie was still able to get the kick off but the timing was off.  Banks had a highlight reel run on the drive stiff arming an initial tackler near the line of scrimmage before bouncing the run outside and making a Chuck Foreman reminiscent spin move to avoid another tackle attempt.

With exactly a minute to go Panthers senior running back Graham Majerus scored on a 13 yard run.  The two point attempted run was unsuccessful.

Pine Island had trouble stopping the Bombers Triple-T offense.  Cannon Falls had some coverage problems against the Panthers offense.

The total statistics were even with Cannon Falls rushing for 266 yards on 40 carries averaging 6.7 yards an attempt.  Riley Keenan led the way with 83 yards on 6 carries according to the Bombers statistics.  Riley Miller had 11 carries for 61 yards.  Banks 57 yards on 9 carries.  Edstrom 10 attempts for 44 yards.

Edstrom was 3 of 6 passing for 20 yards, two touchdowns.  Total yardage was 286.

Pine Island had 93 yards rushing and 180 yards passing for 273 total yards according to the Cannon Falls statistics.

The Bombers defense had 5 sacks in the game.  3 by Riley Keenan and 2 by Beau Zimmerman.  Senior defensive back Jake McAdam deflected 3 passes.

Riley Miller had 9 total tackles, Keenan 8 total tackles and junior Colton Loeschke 7 total tackles with 6 solo for Cannon Falls.

Bombers Head Coach Dan Meyers told KDHL following the game his team has a few things to work on but , "It was great to finally play football again on a beautiful fall day at John Burch Park."

Cannon Falls is coming off back to back state tournament appearances.  With no apparent state tournament this year their senior co-captains have made a third straight Section title their goal.

The Bombers are scheduled to travel to Triton next Friday with a 7:00 p.m. kickoff.

Pine Island entertains Red Wing next Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

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