Sleepy Eye United Football

Game coverage brought to you by

United 22, BOLD 14

Aug. 28, 2025

Sleepy Eye United defeated BOLD with a late score to win its season opener Thursday night at Sleepy Eye Public field. Follow the captions on the photos below for more game action. This game coverage was paid for by First Security Agency. Contact me if you or your business would like to sponsor coverage of another game, sport or extracurricular event!

All photos are by Dave Forster and are available for purchase as a digital file or prints at my SmugMug page here. If you want an image, please support the coverage by buying it (the digital files are pretty cheap) -- thank you!

Please click on the images to see them in their fullest, best version, especially when viewing on a phone. Add your voice to the comment section below, and check out the game stats at the bottom of the page.

The game got off to a rocky start for United when BOLD returned an interception for a touchdown within the first five minutes of the game.

Carson Uecker defends 6-3, 220-pound tight end Owen Baumgartner in the end zone on BOLD’s two-point conversion attempt. Baumgartner made the catch but landed out of bounds, keeping the score 6-0 for the Warriors.

Sleepy Eye quarterback Brayden Heiderscheidt rolls out on a play in the first quarter.

Uecker prepares to spin on a defender during a 7-yard reception.

Gavin Fischer carries the ball a run in the first quarter with Jack Windschitl blocking. The drive would continue, despite yards lost from a holding and false start penalties, thanks to a couple of long completions between Heiderscheidt and Uecker. Fischer would eventually score on a carry from BOLD’s 5-yard line.

Fischer celebrates with lineman Hunter Mertz after his touchdown. Fischer would also score the 2-point conversion to put United up 8-6.

No. 40 Nick Tauer and Uecker team up on a tackle.

Hayden Zeig, left, and Keeyan Netzke celebrate after Zeig made a tackle for a loss.

BOLD’s Gabriel Bergstrom gains 20 yards on a reception.

Keeyan Netzke hits Warriors quarterback Colton Baumgartner on a pass in the second quarter with BOLD at Sleepy Eye’s 25-yard line. United defensive back Carson Uecker will intercept the ball.

Uecker returns his interception to midfield.

Netzke celebrates after the big play.

Jacob Fulmer grinds out an extra yard or two after taking contact on a carry in the second quarter.

Fulmer after the carry.

Ari Krzmarzick makes a tackle in the second quarter.

Gavin Fischer finds a hole with help from his linemen Hunter Mertz, left, and Emerson Johnson, for an 11-yard gain.

BOLD stopped a late second-quarter drive by Sleepy Eye with an interception near the 10-yard line, but United quickly got the ball back for another shot, thanks to this interception by Carson Uecker, his second of the quarter.

After Uecker’s interception and with the ball on BOLD’s 35, Keeyan Netzke breaks open a 34-yard gain with a little more than a minute left in the game. The play brought Sleepy Eye to the Warriors’ 1-yard line.

Brayden Heiderscheidt scores on a short-yardage keeper with less than 20 seconds to go in the first half to put United up 14-6.

Heiderscheidt tosses the ball to an official after his score.

Netzke delivered one of the loudest hits in the game with this sack that put BOLD at 3rd and 13 at the end of the third quarter. Tyler Mathiowetz intercepted a Warriors pass deep in United territory on the next play to stop the drive.

Netzke celebrates a false start by BOLD’s offense as the Warriors were lined up for a 4th and 4 on Sleepy Eye’s 9-yard line with less than 5 minutes to play, with United holding on to its 14-6 lead.

Adam Steffensmeier, right, and Carson Uecker cover a BOLD receiver on an incomplete pass to the end zone as the Warriors threatened with 4:28 left in the fourth. United took possession after the turnover on downs, but its offense stalled and gave up a safety when a bad snap on a punt went through Sleepy Eye’s end zone. On its next possession, BOLD scored on a 32-yard touchdown run, tying the game at 14-14. The Warriors attempted the extra point, but the kick went far to the left, keeping the game knotted with 2:40 to play.

With a little more than 2 minutes left and the score tied, Tyler Mathiowetz runs past BOLD’s defenders as he turns a short reception into a nearly 70 yard gain. United had the ball on their own 30 and was facing 2nd and 12 before this play. Mathiowetz nearly scored but was stopped near the 1-yard line by a diving tackler.

Lineman Jack Windschitl signals touchdown after Davin Suess punches the ball across the goalline following Mathiowetz’ reception to put United up six with about two minutes remaining.

Netzke hits Warriors quarterback Colton Baumgartner on BOLD’s final drive in the last two minutes. United stopped the threat with an interception by Merrick Mathiowetz.

The team, including Heiderscheidt and Ethan Schwartz, gather after the win.

Uecker, left, and Heiderscheidt celebrate the victory.

Game Talk

Comment on your favorite photos and the biggest moments in the game or give a shoutout to the team.

Keep it supportive!

Game coverage brought to you by

Sleepy Eye United Football

Game coverage brought to you by

United 22, BOLD 14

Game Talk

Game STATS