FARGO - Two weeks has made a big difference for the Fargo Davies football team.
After starting the season with two losses, the Eagles have come back to even their record and did so by defeating Grand Forks Red River 47-27 during an Eastern Dakota Conference game Friday at Fargo Davies High School.
Junior quarterback Aidan Hartness led the way for Davies, rushing for 164 yards and two touchdowns.
"It is a huge win for our program," Hartness said. "I think this is the stepping stone to a new start."
On the same field two weeks ago, Davies (2-2, 2-0 EDC) suffered an overtime loss to Minot, but back-to-back wins now have the Eagles' season looking up.
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"Now we have some confidence," Davies head coach Jason Thielges said. "Our kids are playing hard. They have done the work and now it is starting to show up on the field, which is nice to see."
Davies wasted little time on offense, scoring on its first two drives. The first was a 10-play, 75-yard drive, which Hartness capped off with a 26-yard touchdown. Hartness, who also was 5 of 10 passing for 98 yards, finished Davies' second drive with a 14-yard score.
"The first two drives set the tone," Hartness said. "We put a lot of trust in our offensive line and running game."
Senior Alek Groth also flourished in the Eagles' running game, rushing for 116 yards and three touchdowns. Senior Jordan Hjelseth rushed for 35 yards and a touchdown for Davies.
"We knew we would have a challenge playing against Red River," Groth said. "Their offensive and defensive lines are always tough, but our offensive linemen were making holes for us all night.
"They couldn't handle our offensive line and our guys just hit the holes," Hartness added. "Huge push and huge holes will score touchdowns."
Davies led 26-7 at halftime. Red River opened the second half with an 85-yard kickoff return touchdown from junior Austin Reynolds. Reynolds caught five passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns, but Davies never allowed the Roughriders (2-2, 1-1 EDC) to make it a one-score game in the second half.
"We didn't tackle well and they were more physical than we were," Red River head coach Vyrn Muir said. "We didn't do anything to stop them running the ball until the end of the game and by then, it was too late."
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Red River quarterback Chad Bartosh was 10 of 18 passing for 153 yards.
Davies linebacker Dylan Hughes returned an interception 31 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter.
Davies 13 13 14 7- 47
Red River 0 7 13 7-27
D-A. Hartness 26 run (Boe kick)
D-A. Hartness 14 run (kick failed)
RR-Ranisate 10 run (Regimbal kick)
D-Groth 10 run (Boe kick)
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D-Hughes 31 interception return (kick failed)
RR-Reynolds 85 kickoff return (kick failed)
D-Groth 70 run (Boe kick)
RR-Reynolds 2 pass from Bartosh (Regimbal kick)
D-Hjelseth 6 run (Boe kick)
RR-Reynolds 5 pass from Bartosh (Regimbal kick)
D-Groth 3 run (Boe kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
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RUSHING: RR, Ranistate 13-83, Nuelle 1-1, Bartosh 6-15, Lunski 2-(-3), Schumacher 3-12.. D, Melby 10-42, Groth 13-116, A. Hartness 18-164, Hjelseth 8-35, Rayl 1-5, Team 2-(-12).
PASSING: RR, Bartosh 10-18-1-153, Lunski 1-1-0-26. D, A. Hartness 5-10-0-98
RECEIVING: RR, Reynolds 5-103, Straus 4-48, Walters 1-1, Robson 1-27. D, T. Hartness 3-77, Vetter 1-13, Melby 1-8.
Readers can reach Forum reporter
Tom Mix at (701) 241-5562
