FARIBAULT —Blooming Prairie running back Jack Decker’s first carry against Faribault Bethlehem Academy was a nightmare, but the rest of his touches played out like a dream come true as the Awesome Blossoms blasted Faribault Bethlehem Academy 40-13 in Faribault Saturday.

Decker, who fumbled on his first carry of the game, racked up 147 total yards and he scored a career-high six TDs for the Awesome Blossoms.

Decker ran for two scores, he caught three TD passes and he put the icing on the cake when he was playing linebacker and he jumped on a fumble in the end zone to put BP up 40-7 with 9:28 left in the game.

“Our line blocked awesome and we had great blocks downfield from the receivers,” Decker said.

The Blossoms (5-0 overall) had their way on offense throughout the night, but Decker’s fumble and a costly 15-yard penalty stalled two of their first half drives and they led just 14-7 at the break. BP, which scored TDs on its first four possessions of the second half, made the biggest play of the game with its defense to start the second half when the Blossoms stopped FBA quarterback Ted Brown on a fourth and one from the BP 40-yard line.

“Without a doubt that was a huge play,” BP head coach Chad Gimbel said. “That really did change the tide of the game and the momentum of the game. Our defensive line and our linebackers stepped up in the second half.”

After struggling in the first half, the BP defense held FBA to just two first total first downs in its four possessions of the second half. Offensively, the Awesome Blossoms used a quick passing game to dominate the game.

BP quarterback John Rumpza threw six interceptions in the a Section 1A title game loss to FBA last season, but he was nearly perfect on Saturday, as he went 28-for-34 with 361 yards and three TDs.

“We’ve had this one circled all year and all offseason,” Rumpza said. “It feels great.”

Rumpza didn’t throw the ball deep very often, but his receivers feasted on underneath routes as the Cardinals (3-2 overall) kept their safeties deep. Cole Sunde, Anthony Nelson and Tristen Haberman all had at least 90 yards receiving for BP in the win.

Of course, Decker had a large impact on BP’S game plan as well as he helped break the game open when he turned a screen pass into a 41-yard TD that made it 26-7 with 3:09 left in the third quarter.

“Jake is a beast. He wasn’t going down tonight,” Rumpza said. “I was thinking all week if they’re going to play four deep like that, we can go underneath. I can get the ball to Jake and he can do his thing all night long.”

SCORING SUMMARY

BP 7 7 12 14 — 40

FBA 0 7 0 6 — 13

First quarter

(BP) Jake Decker 45 run (Ethan Strunk kick) (6 plays, 95 yards) :29

Second quarter

(BP) Decker 3 pass from John Rumpza (Strunk kick) (8 plays, 64 yards) 4:23

(FBA) Christian Von Ruden 11 run (Lexi Temple kick) 1:03

Third quarter

(BP) Decker 1 run (kick failed) (3 plays, 40 yards) 9:26

(BP) Decker 41 pass from Rumpza (pass failed) (9 plays, 85 yards) 3:09

Fourth quarter

(BP) Decker 9 pass from Rumpza (Strunk kick) (9 plays, 52 yards) 9:42

(BP) Decker 0 fumble recovery (Strunk kick) (1 play, 0 yards) 9:28

(FBA) Von Ruden 10 run (kick blocked) (7 plays, 58 yards) 2:43

BP STATS

Passing: John Rumpza, 28-for-34, 361, 3 TDs; receiving: Tristen Haberman, 6-for-97; Anthony Nelson, 6-for-93; Cole Sunde, 10-for-92; Jake Decker, 4-for-50, 3 TDs; Mitchell Jones, 1-for-23; Sam Swenson, 1-for-6; sacks: rushing: Decker, 11-for-97; Scott Romeo, 1; penalties: 4-for-50

FBA STATS

Rushing: 150; passing: 62; penalties: 7-for-55