FARGO — Blake McMullen doesn’t know what it feels like to lose a section tournament game.
The Mahnomen-Waubun senior has been the starting quarterback for three years now, and he’s been around the program even longer.
“Blake’s been starting for three years, and he’s been a water boy since he’s been about knee high,” head coach John Clark Jr. said. “He knows what I’m thinking before I think it, a lot of times.”
Thursday night at the Fargodome, he kept the program’s rich tradition going. The Thunderbirds outlasted a dogged Red Lake County team 21-7, capturing their fifth straight Minnesota Section 8A championship.
“It feels great just continuing the tradition and culture of the program,” McMullen said. “It’s just awesome to be able to set the standard for the younger classmates.”
“You're excited for the kids, because you know how hard they worked,” Clark said. “You know how much pressure is on a team like ours, that has had success. And to watch our kids perform at a high level, it’s a proud feeling for coaches.”
McMullen played like a veteran all night.
On the very first series of the game, a mishandled kick return and a negative run put the Thunderbirds at their own 1-yard line.
No matter. McMullen calmly dropped back and lofted a picture-perfect pass to junior Zach Zima, who secured the catch and sprinted 99 yards to the end zone. “(McMullen) threw a great pass and Zima ran a great route and turned on the jets,” Clark said. “Obviously a big play that gave us a big spark and a lot of momentum right there.”
McMullen finished with 181 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown.
“He just does what it takes to win,” Clark said. “He’s a great leader. Always positive and selfless, sacrifices stats for the team, and makes plays when he needs to.”
His second touchdown was a 5-yard connection with senior Tanner Stech, which gave Mahnomen-Waubun a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.
However, the Rebels punched back on the ensuing drive.
Senior quarterback Connor Duden completed a screen pass to Ethan Johnson. Johnson took off down the right sideline, scampering past defenders for a 42-yard touchdown.
Red Lake County’s defense kept the game within one possession until the fourth quarter. The Thunderbirds had two drives end with turnovers on downs, once on a fake punt in the second quarter, and again with an incomplete pass in the third. “That team is tremendous,” Clark said. “A state-worthy team. We have nothing but respect for them. We’re super proud that we were able to beat them twice.”
Mahnomen-Waubun finally put together another scoring drive in the fourth quarter. Picking up solid gain after solid gain on the ground with rushes from McMullen, senior Manny Johnson and senior Brody Lhotka, the Thunderbirds forced their way to the goal line.
With 4:16 left in the game, McMullen punched in a 3-yard touchdown run for a two-score lead.
“They’re tough kids,” McMullen said. “They were making plays at the line of scrimmage, they were blitzing and they were doing a great job. We were able to weather the storm.”
Lhotka sealed the game on the Rebels’ ensuing drive, making an interception near midfield.
“Brody’s just a football player,” Clark said. “That’s what he is, a dang good football player, and tough as nails.”
By Alex Faber
Alex Faber is a sports reporter for the Grand Forks Herald. A Michigan transplant, he graduated from Michigan State University in 2024 with a degree in journalism and minors in history and environmental studies.
