The Wahpeton Huskies avoided a winless 2025 football season Friday by putting together four complete quarters against Fargo South in a 30-19 home win, sending the seniors out with a victory.
South was coming off a 20-14 road win over No. 5-ranked Grand Forks Red River, and marched down the field for a passing score on the game’s opening drive Friday.
Wahpeton responded in the second quarter after senior linebacker Michael Petersen blocked a punt, setting the Huskies up inside the 10-yard line. Moments later, sophomore quarterback Jack Gilbertson rolled left and tossed a touchdown pass into the back of the end zone to sophomore receiver Cooper Koolmo.
Gilbertson put Wahpeton up 12-7 on a 2-yard keeper, following a brutal pancake block courtesy senior lineman Luke Anderson.
Late in the half, junior edge rusher Cayden Barth jumped on a snap that sailed over the punter’s head to give Wahpeton the football back. Gilbertson capitalized by hitting senior receiver Brayden Steffens on a 25-yard fly route to take an 18-7 lead into the break.
Wahpeton stretched the lead to 24-13 in the second half when Gilbertson extended the bootleg by reversing field, buying time and finding Michael Petersen for a short touchdown strike on the tailback’s first score since week two.
Sophomore linebacker Rylan Flack came up with a timely interception near the four-minute mark in the fourth quarter, diving to haul in a wobbly pass after Austin Morris was hit on the throw by a blitzing Isaiah Bruechert.
The turnover led to a game-sealing TD run by Gilbertson, marking his fifth total touchdown of the night.
The Wahpeton defense was stout throughout, highlighted by interceptions by Steffens, Flack, Koolmo and Aiden Bontjes — the latter coming in the game’s final minute to send Wahpeton into victory formation for the first time this season.
Unofficially, Gilbertson topped the century mark for passing yardage and added 143 yards rushing on 27 carries.
Petersen ripped off runs of 20 and 12 yards in the final quarter, unofficially closing the contest with 66 yards on 17 totes.
Steffens led the receiving corps with three catches for 64 yards and the ninth receiving score of his senior season.
Wahpeton finishes its rebuilding year with a 1-8 record while South closes at 2-7.