Fargo Shanley tight end David Burns didn't know exactly how he made the game-winning catch.
In fact, just thinking about it had the senior scratching his head in amazement.
"I don't even know how to describe it," Burns said. "I can't take any credit for it."
Burns leaped, fought off two Wahpeton defenders and hauled in quarterback Devon Roehrich's wobbly pass with 1 minute, 12 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
The touchdown lifted Shanley to a 12-7 victory in its Eastern Dakota Conference football opener Friday.
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It was the Deacons' first win of the season and their first game at Concordia's Jake Christiansen Stadium, their home field for this year. Shanley played its home games at the Fargodome last season.
Burns sealed the win with a pair of defensive stops totaling 15 lost yards on Wahpeton's last-minute drive attempt.
"He dominated at the end," Shanley coach Dale Hammerschmidt said.
Shanley did the majority of its offensive damage on the ground.
The Deacons (1-2) rushed the ball 47 times for 226 yards. Roehrich led the team with 115 yards on 17 carries.
Shanley went 96 yards in 9 minutes on the game-winning drive.
Each play for positive yardage, with the exception of the touchdown pass, came on the ground.
"We found a little rhythm offensively," Hammerschmidt said. "We're going to keep building on that."
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Wahpeton 0 0 7 0- 7
Shanley 6 0 0 6-12
S-Rodenbiker 2 run (kick failed)
W-Green 4 pass from Friskop (Agayev kick)
S-Burns 29 pass from Roehrich (pass failed)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Wahpeton, Roland 11-20, Casper 10-20, Gulden 4-22, Friskop 4-(-38), Wentzel 1-3. Shanley, Roehrich 17-115, Hushka 14-64, Berry 11-16, Rodenbiker 6-31.
PASSING: Wahpeton, Friskop 3-9-1 42 yards. Shanley, Roehrich 3-7-0 53, J. Weir 1-2-1 4.
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RECEIVING: Wahpeton, Casper 2-38, Green 1-4. Shanley, Burns 2-41, Sinner 1-12, K. Weir 1-4.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Dustin Monke at (701) 241-5549
