It was a match-up of undefeated state-ranked teams, #1 Caledonia (5-0) at #7 Chatfield (5-0). The Gophers pulled a rarity, playing the Warriors competitively. They held the vaunted Caledonia offense (46.5 PPG) in check. Chatfield intercepted Caledonia QB Noah King three times. Carson Larrabee majorly screwed up two Warrior punts. The Gophers hit the Warriors. The Warriors hit the Gophers. But Caledonia intercepted Chatfield three times. Two hurt real bad. The #1 ranked team stayed that way. The game’s only offensive score was a King 17-yard TD pass to Tate Meiners late in the second quarter. Cal led 7-0 at half. In the third, a Seth Allen interception and return staved off a Warrior drive, and set up the Gophers near mid-field. But Chatfield’s next play saw sophomore QB Reid Johnson throw it right to King, who returned it 56 yards to pay-dirt for a 13-0 Warrior lead. The teams had three early fourth quarter turnovers. In the final three minutes, Chatfield made the Warrior 10-yardline. Kyle Cavanaugh then intercepted Johnson, returning it 96 yards to pay-dirt, a second pick six. Caledonia prevailed 20-0. Gage Tuohy paced the Gopher ground game (23-79 rushing). Johnson, forced to make plays as Caledonia keyed on the run, will have better days (4-17, 74 yards, 3 INTs). Allen had two interceptions. King (14-27, 147 yards, TD, 3 INTs) to Meiners (4-97, TD receiving) was Cal’s best ‘O’. Each team had under 100 yards rushing. Caledonia had 226 yards of offense, Chatfield 162. The teams combined for 235 interception return yards (Cal 169, Chat 66). And the Warriors’ third INT was an 80-yard pick six annulled by penalty. The Gophers were in Warrior territory six times including thrice in the fourth (25, 13, and 10-yardlines). Chatfield notably played without starters Lincoln Salisbury (injured) and Isaiah Froese (sick). Caledonia (4-0, 5-0) and St. Charles (4-0, 5-0) lead the SE-White over Chatfield (3-1, 4-1).
#7 Gophers Test #1 Warriors
