Junior Ray Beiningen’s 37-yard touchdown run with just over 8 and a half minutes to play in the game propelled the visiting Mound Westonka varsity to a 37-35 comeback road win over Providence Academy at Mithun Field Sept. 22. Beiningen, who set career highs in both carries (38) and touchdowns (5), ran through and around the Lions, tallying 282 yards from scrimmage.
Providence Academy (1-3) opened the scoring with back-to-back Magnus Hansen to Maximillian Klassen scoring strikes. The second touchdown opened up a 14-0 Lions advantage just 9 minutes into the game. The White Hawks finally got on the board, taking just 24 seconds on a 57-yard drive that culminated in a Beiningen 12-yard run. Senior Sam Gaylord’s extra point made it a 14-7 game. However, Providence came right back and finished off a 66-yard drive, with Hansen finding a wide-open Charlie Willihnganz on fourth and 2 from the Mound Westonka 23-yard line.
Westonka (4-0) then went on a sustained drive that took nearly 6 minutes off the clock. The 76-yard march concluded with Beiningen bursting through from the 1-yard line. A bad snap on the extra point led to a 21-13 deficit. The White Hawks defense held the Lions to a three-and-out on their next possession, the first stop of the game for Westonka. The ensuing punt gave the White Hawks great field position at the Providence 41-yard line.
The Lions were able to hold the White Hawks to just a field goal as time expired in the first half. Gaylord knocked it through the uprights from 36 yards out for his first career field goal, giving Providence Academy a 21-16 lead at the break. It is only the third time in the last three seasons that Mound Westonka has trailed at the half during a regular season game.
Westonka junior Cole Munsterteiger opened the second half by intercepting Hansen and returning it to the 50-yard line. On the play, junior Carter Kleinsasser pressured Hansen and hit him just as he was releasing the ball. Following the interception, it took just 5 plays for Beiningen to rumble into the end zone from 8 yards out.
A pass interference penalty on the two-point conversion gave Westonka another chance, and Beiningen plowed through the line to give the White Hawks their first lead, 24-21. A poor kickoff led to great field position for the Lions, and it took their offense just one play to retake the lead, as Hansen found his favorite target, Klassen, on a crossing pattern that he took down the middle of the field for a 56-yard TD and a 28-24 lead.
"Right when we thought we finally got our bearings and some momentum, we gave up another big play," said Westonka head coach Nick David. "Hats off to Providence Academy, as they came out on fire. With that, we need to do a better job keeping things in front of us moving forward as we just gave up too many big plays."
The White Hawks tried a fake punt on 4th down near midfield on the ensuing possession, but junior QB Cole Drill’s pass was intercepted at the Providence 28-yard line. Westonka’s defense played tough on the next Lions drive and induced a punt that went for only 13 yards, giving the White Hawks the ball at their own 39-yard line.
The first play of the fourth quarter resulted in a Beiningen 1-yard TD, and Gaylord’s extra point allowed Westonka to take the lead for good at 31-28. The White Hawks stood tall again, stopping the Lions on a 3rd down sack by junior Alan Zuniga-Lopez. "It was so awesome to see Al get pressure on the QB on that play, as we struggled to do so all night," said David. "That QB sack was a much needed play."
A bad snap on the Providence punt gave Westonka the ball at the Lions 40-yard line. Two plays later, Beiningen (38 carries, 247 yards) closed the door with his 37-yard TD run. Hansen found Klassen one last time for a 50-yard TD, cutting the lead to 37-35; but the White Hawks breathed a sigh of relief when the onside kick rolled out of bounds, allowing Westonka to run out the clock.
Drill threw for 92 yards and picked up an additional 57 on the ground. Junior Max Kraay hauled in four catches for 41 yards. Senior Owen McCue returned four kickoffs for 86 yards, including a 35-yard return.
On defense, the White Hawks were led by senior safety Jack Nelson’s seven tackles (five solo). Cornerbacks JT Kimbrough and Brandt Tebbs (one pass defended) both finished with five tackles, while senior linebacker Jaaron Konkel contributed five tackles. Junior Dylan Sloan had a tremendous game with five tackles, a TFL, and a sack. As a team, Westonka had six tackles-for-loss and three sacks while holding the Lions to 16 yards rushing.
The White Hawks return to Haddorff Field this Friday evening, Sept. 29, as they face Lake Minnetonka archrival Orono for Homecoming. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. with Homecoming festivities beginning at 5 p.m. The traditional Hawk Walk will take place at 6:15 p.m. in front of Haddorff Field.
Beginning this season, the Mound Westonka and Orono football game will be referred to as the "War on the Shore, Battle for the Anchor" with the winner taking home a traveling trophy. This year’s matchup will be the 43rd time these two teams have met. The rivalry began in 1955 with the White Hawks holding a 12-1 advantage through the first 20 years. Since then, Orono has reeled off 29 straight, including a dramatic Section 6AAAA Semifinal Playoff win in 2021 when Josh Delange’s touchdown catch with just seconds remaining gave the Spartans a 22-21 victory. Mound Westonka looks to avenge their 2021 playoff loss and defeat Orono for the first time since 1984.
