Bluejackets Defeat Chisago Lakes

Cambridge-Isanti hosted Chisago Lakes on Friday night.

These two teams meet nearly every year, and its always an entertaining matchup. Last year the Wildcats hosted the Bluejackets and won, this year the Jackets were host could they win on their home field?

Early on the Bluejackets speed proved to be a problem. On the first drive of the game, C-I offense needed only 4 plays to score first, on a 49 yard run from Knox Andrus to go up 7-0.

Their defense came out strong and forced a three and out and got the offense the ball back. While their offense was moving the ball, they kept getting set back due to penalties. But it didn't seem to hurt their momentum as they would only need 3 plays on their 2nd drive to score. This time a 57 yard run from the State sprinter Jackson Ziebarth. Now up 14-0 still in the 1st quarter, the Jackets defense could pin their ears back and go after the Wildcats. But on Chisago Lakes 2nd drive they seem to find some momentum. They also got some help moving the ball, thanks to more C-I penalties. But none the less, the Wildcats were marching downfield and soon found themselves deep in Jacket territory. The 1st quarter closed and only seconds into the 2nd, the Wildcats found themselves in the endzone, on a 5 yard pass from Kellen Meissner to Zack Karst to cut the lead to 14-7. The nest possession for each ended without getting into scoring position. On the 4th C-I possession they would again find the endzone, this time on a trick play. They lined up in a two back wildcat formation. They snapped the ball to Peyton Coplan who rushed to his right, but instead of running forward he picked his arm up to throw. He would find his Tight End wide open for a 39 yard connection and score, extending the lead 21-7. The Bluejacket defense seemed to only get better as the 1st half went along. Holding the Wildcats to a turnover on downs. And this time their offense only needed one play to score. QB Laike Solomonson hooked up with Ziebarth for a 46 yard TD to make it 28-0.

On the next Chisago drive they once again found a little bit of a rhythm. They were moving the ball well and wound up into C-I territory. On a third and short, they looked to pick up their first through the air. But C-I's Grant Oliver was to quick through the line and got to Meissner for the strip sack. Griffin Kostecka recovered the loose ball and returned it 65 yards for a scoop and score! The Bluejackets would head into the half with a commanding 35-7 lead.

The Wildcats first drive of the 2nd half ended in a turnover due to a high snap over the head of Meissner, which the Bluejackets fell on. C-I started the drive in Wildcat territory and didn't take long to find the endzone again. This time it was Anders Lillemo scoring on a touch pass from 5 yards out to give them a 42-7 lead. The ensuing CL drive would see them string together some big plays and march down the field. They moved the ball methodically and kept themselves out of 2nd and 3rd and longs. Not only did they get into Jacket territory but they got inside the 5. With the ball at the one, Meissner snuck it in for a touchdown, the PAT was missed and the score was now 42-13 which was the final.

The Wildcats now 0-2, are still growing with some inexperience and will continue to improve as the season goes along.

Cambridge-Isanti is now 2-0 and will play a tough Monitcello team on the road on Friday.

Our Pine Insurance Player of the Game was C-I's Jackson Ziebarth!