LONG PRAIRIE, Minn.– Friday night lights are back in Minnesota for another fall. Wadena-Deer Creek Wolverines got their season off on the right foot by defeating Long Prairie-Grey Eagle Thunder by a score of 8-0 in a defensive showdown by both squads.
The week 1 matchup between the Thunder and Wolverines is first game between the two schools for the first time since 2018. LPGE was looking for their first victory against WDC since September 23, 2011.
It is a season of firsts for the Thunder football program. New head coach Datrick Mitchell begins his tenure as the head coach of Long Prairie-Grey Eagle. The Thunder are also sliding from Section 4A to Section 5A in 2025. A new-look football stadium debut Friday night, headlined by a new turfed field to help the stadium host football, track & field, soccer, and also softball games.
Wadena-Deer Creek started the game off with a 50-plus yard kick return by Leo Petrowski. A fumble at the goal line gives the ball to LPGE for a touchback. An errant snap from the Thunder went into the end zone for a safety to make it 2-0 WDC in the first quarter.
Making the transition from guard on the offensive line to quarterback, sophomore Cam Snyder snuck his way into the end zone for a 2 yard rushing touchdown to score the first offensive points for the Wolverines in 2025. A missed PAT kept the score at 8-0 in favor of WDC in the first quarter. Snyder finished the game with 44 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground, while going 2/5 in the air with 18 passing yards and an interception.
The Thunder offense was unable to reach the end zone but received a great effort from senior running back Jacob Hidalgo rushed for 75 rushing yards to lead all runners in the game. Quarterback Evan Flan, a senior, finished 5/10 passing for 50 yards. Freshman wide receiver Erason Kortuem made a great first impression in his varsity debut by catching 3 passes for 37 yards in the air. Defensively, LPGE stood out by forcing four turnovers. Three fumbles were forced by the Thunder defense, along with one interception from junior free safety Isaac Otremba.
Another stop by the Wolverine defense put the game on ice. The Thunder offense had the ball inside the 20-yard line with less than 3 minutes on the clock. A high snap forced Flan to scramble on 4th and 4 and was taken down by WDC before reaching the first down marker. The Wolverines run out the clock to record their first win of the 2025 season.
Long Prairie-Grey Eagle will go on the road next week to take on Browerville/Eagle Valley. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. Friday night.
Wadena-Deer Creek will look to make it two wins in a row next Friday when they go on the road to square off against Lake Park-Audubon.