Backer/Gophers Top #1 in AAA Cannon Falls

  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.