To snap an 18-game losing streak in their customary season-opening clash with Bangor, Melrose-Mindoro needed a last-second field goal for a 21-20 win in 2025. In the latest Week 1 renewal of their non-conference rivalry, the Mustangs didn’t need those sorts of dramatics to secure a second straight win against the Cardinals.
Melrose-Mindoro (1-0) set the tone early with a goal-line defensive stand and proceeded to piece together a 23-0 shutout victory over Bangor (0-1) last Thursday in Melrose.
The loss marked the Cardinals first shutout loss since a 27-0 defeat to River Ridge in Level 2 of the 2024 playoffs. They had also suffered a 28-0 loss to Onalaska Luther in Week 2 of that same season. Prior to that, Bangor hadn’t been blanked since their 2004 season opener against Colfax.
Looking to avenge their one-point loss to the Mustangs the year prior, the Cardinals cobbled together an efficient opening drive to start Thursday’s game. But with Bangor in the shadow of the end zone, the Mel-Min defense bowed up and came up with a huge stop on a fourth-and-goal run from the one-yard line.
Though the Cardinals forced a three and out and got the ball back in plus territory, their next drive ended when sophomore quarterback Max Langrehr was picked off on a third-and-10 pass. Neither team scored in the first quarter
Melrose-Mindoro broke the stalemate early in the second, as senior quarterback Brady Blaken connected with junior Brooks Cowley for a 51-yard touchdown pass. On a third and six later in the quarter, Mel-Min senior Isaiah Kleinsmith broke off a 69-yard run to get to the Bangor three-yard line. Blaken cashed in one play later with a touchdown scamper on a QB keeper.
The ensuing Cardinal drive again got into Mustang territory, but Mel-Min junior Aaron Dunigan sacked Langrehr on fourth and seven at the 29-yard line to end the threat. The Mustangs added one final scoring drive before the half, capping it off with a touchdown on Blaken’s 18-yard catch-and-run pass to Cowley that made it 20-0 in favor of the home team at the intermission.
Already in firm control of the game, Melrose-Mindoro kept the pressure on to start the second half when senior Brody Banse returned the opening kickoff about 50 yards before finally being wrangled down just outside the red zone. Bangor managed to keep it a three-possession game, getting a defensive stop that forced the Mustangs to settle for a 25-yard field goal by junior Ryan Her.
The Cardinals put together a methodical drive that included a pair of successful fourth-down conversions and ate up the remaining eight minutes of the third quarter. But on a fourth-and-goal play from the Mel-Min four-yard line to start the fourth quarter, a Langrehr pass fell incomplete for a turnover on downs.
The Mustangs picked up three first downs on their next possession to burn seven minutes off the clock before finally needing to punt. After a final Bangor turnover on downs, Melrose-Mindoro was able to run out the remainder of the clock to complete the shutout win. It’s the first time the Mustangs have beaten the Cardinals in back-to-back meetings since 2004 and 2005.
Bangor junior Sawyer Jacobson rushed for 111 yards on 24 carries in his first game as the team’s new lead back.
Up next
The Cardinals are back on the road for their second and final non-conference game, squaring off against the Luther Knights (1-0) on Friday at 7 p.m. in Onalaska. Luther began their 2026 campaign with a 27-6 victory over Tomahawk in Week 1.
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