Chatfield football (3-0, 3-1), which entered the week unranked in the Class AA polls (but received votes), played a wild offensive game at #1 in AAA Cannon Falls (4-0). The Gophers pulled the rare feat of not just knocking off a team from a higher class, but knocking off the #1 team in a higher class. The Southeast-White leader beat the Southeast-Blue (bigger schools) co-leader. On multiple occasions, the Gophers turned long-down-and-distance situations into TDs. But it wasn’t without the #1 team flexing its muscles. The Bombers used a three-back, mostly inside-the-tackles rushing attack to the move the ball. The halftime score was 20-6 Cannon Falls, as Chatfield’s lone score came on a Sam Backer to Cole Johnson 57-yard TD pass (on 2nd and 25 no less) in the first quarter. That TD made it 6-6, but CF won the second quarter 14-0. The lead was trimmed to 20-14 when Backer broke tackles and spun his way to a 72-yard TD run (on 3rd and 17 no less) to open the third quarter scoring. But the home squad answered with their second double-digit-play scoring drive of the game. With around 6:00 to go in the third, Cannon Falls led 26-14. But the Gophers then scored twice before the quarter was out. Backer hit Luke Carrier for an 18-yard pitch and catch TD. After forcing a CF three-and-out, Backer had a 60-yard TD run brought back by penalty, only for him to burst a 45-yard TD run the very next play. Scoring on all three of its possessions in the third, Jeff Johnson’s group went ahead for a first time at 30-26. After holding CF on fourth down near midfield to begin the fourth, Chatfield went 48 yards in eight plays. A 24-yard TD pass from Backer to Johnson (on 4th and 10 no less) annulled all of what was a 3rd and 28. The Gophers led 38-26. Cannon then authored a 9-play, 70-yard scoring drive. With 5:28 left, the Bombers closed to down 38-34. But Chatfield’s offense wasn’t stopped once in the second half (when it mattered). After Drew Schindler recovered an on-side kick, Chatfield went 52 yards in seven plays. Backer capped things with a 12-yard TD run. Out-scoring Cannon Falls 38-14 in the second half, teams combining for 39 first downs, Chatfield posted a huge win, 44-34. Backer (29-279, 3 TDs rushing; 7-13, 154, 3 TDs passing) put up over 400 yards total offense and 6 total TDs. Five of his TDs and 228 of his rushing yards came after halftime. Johnson (3-88, 2 TDs receiving) caught two scores. Eli Hopp (7-66 rushing, 2-59 receiving) went over 100 yards total offense. Carrier (4-35, TD receiving) helped. Parker Delaney (4-6, 28 yards, INT passing) threw three two-point conversions. Grady Schott caught two. Cannon Falls ran for over 330 yards. Carson Hammel (19-155, 2 TDs rushing) and Colton Loeschke (12-103, TD rushing; 29-yard TD reception) each topped 100 yards. Chatfield lost the turnover battle 2 to 1 (and CF’s interception came in the final 2:00). The Gophers also won despite getting penalized nine times for 80 yards. Chatfield (3-0, 4-1) is likely to get ranked now. They lead the White over Goodhue (3-1, 4-1) and Triton (2-1, 4-1). The Wildcats topped Caledonia in triple OT.
Backer/Gophers Top #1 in AAA Cannon Falls
