Rebels shocked in final minute

by Nick Clark
(Created: Wednesday, October 7, 2009 4:12 PM CDT)


It was rainy, it was windy and it was miserable, but it was also a jubilant Homecoming at Champlin Park Friday, Oct. 2.

Then, in all of 60 seconds, Andover spoiled it.

The Huskies got two touchdowns from Chase Vasquez in the final moments Friday to escape out of Champlin with a 19-18 Northwest Suburban Conference victory and remain a perfect 5-0 and in first place in league play.

Vasquez landed on his owns teammate's fumble in the endzone with just under a minute to play to pull Andover to within five points, then after a successful onside kick, the Huskies went right back down the field, ending the game on a 9-yard pass from Tyler Finnes to Vasquez as time ran out on he game clock.

Vasquez's heroics trumped what was another dominating night for Champlin Park back Brandon Marquardt.

He scored on three runs, including a 66-yard touchdown with 4:31 to play that put the Rebels up 18-7.

In all, Marquardt padded his Mr. Football resume with 166 yards on the ground and another 50 that came on just two catches.

Through five games, he's now accounted for 1,102 yards of total offense and 16 touchdowns.

Friday, he was mostly on his own. Quarterback Steven Harvey struggled in the elements, throwing four interceptions. His defense picked off Finnes five times, but they couldn't get in front of that final pass to Vasquez in what was the night's most critical play.

Champlin Park (3-2) will play at Elk River (1-4) at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, before closing out the season with a home game against Park Center Oct. 14 and a trip to Osseo Oct. 20.