Bornemann sets Dakota Bowl record as Hazen wins Class 1A football title

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GRAND FORKS — Briar Bornemann is small by football standards. But the Hazen junior was a big play waiting to happen Friday.

The 5-foot-7, 160-pound running back set a Dakota Bowl single-game record by rushing for 286 yards. He sparked Hazen’s big-play offense as the Bison beat the Westhope-Newburg-Glenburn Sioux 55-28 in the North Dakota Class 1A high school football championship game at the Alerus Center.

The previous record of 280 yards in a game had been set in 1997 by Velva’s Wade Kittleson. “I didn’t expect that,” Bornemann said of the record-setting game. “Our line had such a push today. I don’t think I’ve seen a push like that before. They’re amazing athletes. It’s fun, having a lot of room to run.

“With my height, it’s hard to tackle a small guy.”

Borneman scored four touchdowns, on runs of 15, 5, 6 and 34 yards, the last one on a cutback across the field on which he ducked under a would-be tackler and broke into open field.

The senior had 13 plays on which he picked up double-figure yardage. But he wasn’t alone in that department — the Bison had 25 plays on which they had double-figure yardage.

Quarterback Stetson Carr had four running plays and seven pass completions that went for double-figure yardage. The senior finished 8-of-10 passing for 177 yards and one touchdown and rushed for 106 yards and three TDs.

That led to a nearly unstoppable offense. Hazen had 11 possessions, eight of which went for touchdowns, one ended on a turnover and the remaining two were at the close of halves.

“The offense had a good day,” Hazen coach Rick Philion said. “It’s tough to defend both Stetson and Briar. They’re both huge big-play kids.

“Briar is so dynamic. This is what looks like when he plays. Speed, elusiveness, power — he’s the total package.”

Bornemann also had two catches for 46 yards.

Hazen jumped out early, leading 29-0 with 7:48 left in the first half. Westhope-Newburg-Glenburn was within 29-8 at halftime and 36-22 midway through the third quarter. But Hazen scored three unanswered touchdowns to pull away.

Hunter Braaten was the playmaker for the Sioux. He was 20-of-35 passing for one touchdown and rushed for 86 yards and two scores. But Westhope-Newburg-Glenburn didn’t have one comeback left after rallying for victories in its previous five games.

“They (Bison) have the whole package,” said W-N-G coach Tom Nesvold, whose team joins the 9-man ranks next season. “We got gassed. We just couldn’t shut them down.”

WNG 0 8 14 6 — 28

Hazen 14 15 13 13 — 55

First quarter

H–Bornemann 15 run (kick failed), 11:15.

H–Carr 5 run (Bornemann run), 5:04.

Second quarter

H–Bornemann 5 run (Fears kick), 11:15.

H–Carr 2 run (Carr run), 7:48.

WNG–Braaten 13 run (Miller pass from Braaten), 2:55.

Third quarter

WNG–Hancock 32 run (Salloway run), 11:25.

H–Doll 5 pass from Carr (Fears kick), 7:59.

WNG–Braaten 10 run (pass failed), 6:02.

H–Bornemann 6 run (run failed), 3:33.

Fourth quarter

H–Carr 17 run (Fears kick), 9:11.

H–Bornemann 34 run (kick failed), 6:09.

WNG–Simpson 62 pass from Braaten (run failed), 4:16.

TEAM STATISTICS Hazen WNG

Rushes-yards 51-492 28-139

Passing yards 177 210

Comp.-Att.-Int. 8-10-0 20-35-1

Total yards 669 349

Punts-Avg. 0-0 2-30

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: H, Bornemann 27-286, Carr 12-106, Leintz 6-59, Opp 1-23, Steffan 3-21, Bruner 1-0, Zimmerman 1-(minus 3). WNG, Braaten 15-86, Ko.Hancock 8-53, Ka.Hancock 4-5, Conway 1-(minus 5).

PASSING: H, Carr 8-10-0-177. WNG, Braaten 20-35-1-210.

RECEIVING: H, Doll 3-88, Bornemann 2-46, Opp 2-32, Wiedrich 1-11. WNG, Simpson 3-86, Miller 6-42, Salloway 4-37, Ko.Hancock 4-26, Conway 2-23, Ka.Hancock 1-(minus 4).

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