Quite the catch: Mott-Regent receiver Mosbrucker’s record-setting career due to connection with QB

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Press Photo by Dustin Monke Mott-Regent senior receiver Chad Mosbrucker, right, races down the sideline as Parshall-White Shield senior Dexter Two Crow pursues him on Aug. 27 during a 9-man, Region 4 game at the Badlands Activities Center. Mosbrucker set all of Mott-Regent’s major receiving records this season while working with long-time quarterback McCahen Schweitzer.

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Passing isn’t really the forte for every 9-man football team. But for Mott-Regent, the passing attack is lethal.

Chad Mosbrucker entered the season with team records within his grasp and the 6-foot-3, 181-pound senior receiver managed to set them all and help send his team to playoffs.

However, Mosbrucker knows his efforts wouldn’t have been achieved if not for a strong supporting cast, including quarterback McCahen Schweitzer. At 5-10, 140 pounds, the senior offensive field general doesn’t look like the prototypical record-breaking quarterback. But he is.

“They are both really talented,” Mott-Regent head coach Ron Benson said. “As far as quarterback play goes, McCahen knows the game and he’s another coach on the field. Chad is a big presence out there.”

The Schweitzer and Mosbrucker connection started in seventh grade. Though in high school, Schweitzer didn’t start at quarterback until his junior year, the two picked up where they left off in junior high.

“He knows where I’m going to be and he knows where I’m going to throw it,” Schweitzer said. “If I throw it up, he’s going to up and get it.”

The ‘going up to get it’ attitude has propelled Mosbrucker to three team receiving records — 23 touchdowns, 115 receptions and 1,824 receiving yards. Mosbrucker also made his mark on defense, breaking Mott-Regent’s interception record with 15. All four records were previously held by Clint Grosz, who was a four-year starter for Dickinson State football team.

“I knew coming into this season I was closing in some pretty close records,” Mosbrucker said. “I just wanted to come out and wanted to make sure our team won games first. My goals for breaking records have been reached and it just been a blast.”

Schweitzer came into the season fourth in career passing yards and is currently sitting second in multiple categories. He’s thrown for 3,442 yards and 39 touchdowns.

The road to the top was a tough challenge. Schweitzer needed career numbers of nearly 5,000 yards and 55 TDs to pass Jon Meier’s records. But, the quarterbacks he did pass this season included Luke Honeyman, who he used to back up, and his older brother, Brade Schweitzer.

“Being the best is pretty crazy. Jon Meiers played college ball and my brother Brade and Luke Honeyman were also a good quarterbacks,” McCahen Schweitzer said. “Being up there with those names is quite special, it’s all about winning. When those records come too, it’s pretty amazing.”

Winning games wasn’t a problem for the Wildfire (7-2). Their two losses on the season were against teams ranked in the top 5 of the 9-man poll at one point this year. Playing some of the top competition in the state during the regular season has given Mott-Regent a glimpse of what it takes to succeed in the postseason.

“I think it’s prepared us well,” Mosbrucker said. “With those two losses to Central McLean and Divide County, they are both very good teams.”

The Wildfire’s playoff hopes start against Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood, who has been receiving 9-man votes for last couple weeks, at noon on Saturday in Mohall.

“We always expect to win,” Benson said. “We have high expectations and we know this Mohall team is really talented. They have a lot of seniors, a lot of kids that have started two years and their real explosive on offense. We have to do our best to slow them down and make some plays on offense.”

During the last couple games, opposing defenses gave extra attention to Mosbrucker, but other receivers have stepped up in his place.

“Taylor Zentner and Tanner Vesledahl can catch the ball well,” Benson said. “There are some good kids that can catch the ball.”

Despite double coverage, McCahen Schweitzer still feels confident passing to Mosbrucker.

“Double coverage doesn’t really matter guarding him,” he said. “He’s taller than everyone. He can probably jump higher than everyone else. When teams want to double him it’s their loss, because it opens things up for our other receivers.”

Though the double coverage can be irritating, Mosbrucker knows it’s doesn’t exactly hurt his team.

“It’s frustrating, but it’s good at the same time,” he said. “If they have two guys on me, hopefully somebody else will be open. Getting that attention gives me more confidence as a player, because they are looking at me as that number one target.”

So, with all the passing that goes on, where do the running backs sit? Jacob Greff leads the Wildfire with 497 yards and eight touchdowns.

“The running game benefits,” Schweitzer said. “They can’t have those eight guys in the box and have to go to six or seven. Jacob Greff has had a big year at fullback for us.”

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