Blooming Prairie Wins Third Straight Section Title
Blooming Prairie football closed the season with a resounding 49-6 victory over Randolph to win their third straight Section 1A title and extend their winning streak to 18 games, which includes last year's state title. Due to the pandemic there is no state tournament this year. Coach Chad Gimbel, on Saturday's AM 1390 KRFO High School Coaches Show, "We're thankful we're able to get that game in and get some closure on the season."
BP grabbed control early by driving the field for a touchdown, recovering a Rocket fumble on the kickoff and going on another scoring drive. The Awesome Blossoms led 21-0 at the end of the first quarter, "I thought our defense was playing extremely well. Our offense was executing and it continued from there...Nice complete game. It was nice to see how much our kids have grown from the beginning of the season to the end...It takes all 43 of our kids to have a successful season like this."
Drew Kittelson tossed four more touchdown passes, giving him 22 for the season against just one interception. He amassed about 1,300 yards in just five games. Mitch Fiebiger and Bradley Simon each caught two scoring strikes. Tyler Archer scored twice and had about 115 yards rushing.
Gimbel said the celebration was different than other years, "It was weird. It was a feeling like we haven't had before. After winning a section championship you are usually elated, excited for the upcoming week, the state tournament...You're excited that you win, but it's bitter in the fact that the season is over and you don't get to go on. You're going to wonder what could have been."
A number of players on the football squad were also members of the BP boys basketball team that won the section title in March, only to find out the next day that the state tournament was canceled.
Gimbel credited BP Activities Director for her work behind the scenes to allow the student-athletes the chance to get a season in, "I can't give her enough credit for everything she's done and endured during this. As an AD, it's been hectic...All is said and done, and we're thankful we had the opportunity and privilege to get to play."
Blooming Prairie went 5-0 this season after completing a 13-0 state-title run in 2019.
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