Falcons’ Peters Subdue Goodhue

It’s not rare for brothers to play on the same football team. It is rare for both to be important cogs on said team at the same time. Mama and papa Peters are pretty proud. Their sons made multiple plays, each a big one late, to propel #5 Fillmore Central (2-seed, 8-1) past Goodhue (3-seed, 7-2). The Falcons opened the 1A semifinal with a stop, then a drive. Matt Lutes’ 34-yard run helped set up a Riley Means 3-yard TD run (7-0). A muffed punt gave the Wildcats a short field in the second quarter. A Jack Gadient to Taylor Buck 19-yard pass helped set up a Gadient to Mariano Bigalk 15-yard TD pass (7-7). FC then marched late in the half. They got to first and goal at the one, but were pushed back to a 3rd and goal from the 17 (0:14.5). Means then found Josh Peters out of the backfield, and he matriculated the ball to the end zone for the 14-7 (halftime) lead. The third quarter was scoreless. In the fourth, a 44-yard Gadient to Bigalk pass set up a 12-yard Gadient to Ryan Schoenfelder TD toss. The PAT tied the score at 14 (7:43). With 3:00 left, Goodhue took over first and ten from the 36. Gadient tossed a pass. Samuel Peters called no-fly and score-zone on, a dramatic 47-yard pick-six (21-14) with 2:46 left! Goodhue then made FC territory. Nate Haugerud sniped Gadient (FC’s fourth pick). Two plays later, on 3rd and 4, J-Peters’ 81-yard TD run capped the game. FC avenged its 2015 29-0 section title loss. They moved to their second straight title game, 28-14! Sophomore Josh (11-110, TD rushing; 17-yard TD reception) and senior Samuel (47-yard INT return TD) scored three of four Falcon TDs. Means (2-4, 29, TD passing, 15-45, TD rushing) accounted for the other. B-Ristau (15-96; defensive INT) was big on the ground. FC rushed for 279 yards, Goodhue 22. Mason Huemann, a 1,000-yard back who had 242 yards against R-P, had 12 carries for 7 yards. Gadient (15-35, 237, 2 TDs, 4 INTs), Bigalk (4-96, TD receiving), and Schoenfelder (4-53, TD receiving) led their aerial attack.