PLYMOUTH, Minn. - Friday night lights turned into the late show for the Moorhead Spuds.
The Spuds started their scheduled 7 p.m. game against Robbinsdale Armstrong nearly three hours late on Friday because the contracted officiating crew did not show up.
Instead, the crew which had just completed officiating the Cretin-Derham Hall at Wayzata game traveled across town to complete a second shift, working the Moorhead at Robbinsdale Armstrong game beginning at 9:58 p.m.
The Spuds defeated Robbinsdale Armstrong 22-14.
The Spuds, 1-0 entering the game after beating Detroit Lakes last week, shook off any chances of a flat start following the long delay and marched 63 yards on 11 plays on their opening possession for a 7-0 lead. Moorhead receiver Nate Borgen took a pass from quarterback Nick Stoltman for a 10-yard touchdown reception nearly five minutes into the game.
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The Spuds gained 151 yards in the first half, but they fumbled the ball away twice on punts, giving Armstrong a couple of prime scoring opportunities. Twice the Falcons drove short distances to reach inside the Moorhead 5-yard line, but twice Armstrong running back Joey Mossberg fumbled the ball away.
Moorhead's Tony Emerich intercepted an Armstrong pass and returned it 65 yards to the Falcons' 11-yard line, but the Spuds couldn't punch it into the end zone on four attempts.
Moorhead's Torey Ostlund, however, gave the Spuds a 9-0 lead when he tackled Mossberg in the end zone for a safety with 8 minutes, 21 seconds left in the third quarter.
The Spuds recovered a second fumbled Armstrong snap shortly after at the Falcons' 11-yard line and parlayed it into a touchdown. The Spuds converted two fourth downs inside the Armstrong 15-yard line and took a 15-6 lead when Jay Thoreson scored on a strong second-effort from the 1-yard line with 23 seconds left in the third quarter.
Armstrong took advantage of good field position and scored on a six-play, 54-yard drive early in the third quarter.
The Spuds, however, stopped the two-point conversion to keep their two-score lead.
Moorhead then drove and scored on a 3-yard Chancey Ames run around the corner. Jeremy Smith's extra-point kick gave Moorhead a 22-6 lead with 6:51 left in the game.
Armstrong scored with 4:12 left to make it 22-14.
