#7 Lions Hold Off Mountain Lake in Battle of Unbeatens
Nine-man seventh-ranked Spring Grove scored all the first-half points, and visiting Mountain Lake Area scored all the points in the second half. But the East Sub-District Lions (4-0, 5-0) held on to win the battle of football unbeatens, 21-12, over the visiting West Sub-District Wolverines (4-0, 4-1). After punting twice, SG scored on three straight possessions, traveling 85, 53 and 73 yards, to lead 21-0 at halftime. Two plays after intermission, Bryce Berns intercepted a Mountain Lake pass, but the Wolverines would not be denied again, controlling the second-half clock with 13 and 16-play scoring marches covering 65 and 70 yards. Both MLA touchdowns came on fourth down. The Wolverines converted four of five fourth-down plays total, including a fake-punt pass for 27 yards (a momentum shifter) on their first TD drive. Mountain Lake (4-0, 4-1) failed on both extra-points passes, the first broken up by Lion Troy Reinhardt. The second failed PAT required the Wolverines to score twice with 5:13 remaining. The Lions then resurrected their offense to run out the clock with an eight-play possession before time expired. Overall, Spring Grove outgained the visitors, 271 to 206 and won the turnover battle, 2 to 0. Lion quarterback Bryce Berns rushed for 129 yards, including a 39-yard scamper that was the longest play of the day, setting up his 15-yard TD scramble, just 33 seconds before halftime (SG led 21-0). Berns (8 of 16) threw for 86 yards, including a 2-yard TD toss to tight end Brandon Jahnke – the most amazing play of the day. Berns had been spun completely around while in the grasp of a Wolverine pass rusher. Meanwhile, Jahnke had slipped to the turf in the end zone but got up to take a few steps before leaping above a Wolverine defender to snare the 6-point pass (SG led 7 0). The other Lion TD was also for short yardage (3 yards) but also memorable. Dash Ranzenberger (12 carries, 42 yards) took the handoff and was seemingly buried by three tacklers before he spun away and plunged across the goal line. (SG led 13-0). Zach Brumm snared a career-high six receptions for 51 yards. Ben Udstuen caught the only deep aerial for 33-yards. Udstuen also caught a leaping two-point conversion pass and kicked an extra-point. Evan Karschnik, the West Sub-District scoring leader, scored on a three-yard run but was otherwise limited to only 39 yards on nine carries. Quarterback Jake Evers (11-17, 99 yards passing) threw a 7-yard TD pass to Maxton Fast, but Evers was also intercepted twice (Brumm and Berns). The Lions won last year’s season opener at Mountain Lake, 28-7, and walloped the Wolverines, 40-18, in the 2018 state championship game. SG (4-0, 5-0) and LeRoy-Ostrander/Lyle/Pacelli (4-0, 5-0) lead the South-East. They do not play each other.
#3 Gophers Squash #6 Triton, Stay Perfect
On paper, it was two ranked undefeated teams doing battle. Third-ranked Chatfield (3-0, 4-0) hosted sixth-ranked Triton (2-0, 4-0) in a key Southeast-White affair. But the home Gophers, for their homecoming, were dominant to take sole possession of first place. Chatfield’s first three drives were all touchdowns and they completed just one pass to do so. Triton’s first two drives each went three-and-out. Behind their talented offensive line on the legs of running backs Ben Carrier and D’Andre Williams, and fleet QB Carson Rowland, the Gophers blasted to a 20-0 second quarter lead. Carrier had the first two TD runs, each a four-yard run. Both series were 10-plus plays. Rowland plowed in from one-yard out for the third score. Williams had a 40-yard run to help set up that touchdown. Triton got on the board in the second quarter via a Pierce Petersohn to Graden Thomas 27-yard pass play. At the half, the Gophers led 20-6. Triton then marched a bit with the first series of the second half including completing a fourth down, 19-yard fake-punt pass. But Gopher Tobin McMahon ended the excursion with a red zone interception. And Chatfield’s ground-and-pound went back to work. Rowland completed a trio of passes to aid the offense as they scored twice in the final 4:00 of the third quarter. The first was capped when McMahon fell on a Williams fumble (after a 16-yard run) in the end zone. Williams capped the second with a five-yard TD run. The latter, just a 35-yard drive, was set up when Kaisen Johnson sacked Petersohn on 4th and 4. Up 33-6 heading the fourth, Chatfield won by that tally to stay perfect on the season. Williams (13-112 yards, TD rushing), Carrier (16-71, 2 TDs rushing), and Rowland (11-73, TD rushing; 5-8, 61 yards passing) helped the Gophers roll up 18 first downs and 329 yards on the ground. They were one week removed from rolling up 482 yards versus D-E. Triton’s Petersohn was busy throwing the ball (12-26, 146 yards, TD, INT passing), hitting Thomas (6-108, TD receiving) the most. The Snakes were held to 56 yards rushing. The #3 Gophers (4-0, 5-0) now lead the Southeast-White over #5 Caledonia (3-1, 5-1), #10 Cannon Falls (2-1, 4-1), and the #6 Cobras (2-1, 4-1).
Hungerholt Scores 100th TD in #6 L-O/L/P’s Win Over Grand Meadow
The game itself was not close. Sixth-ranked LeRoy-Ostrander/Lyle/Pacelli jumped all over Grand Meadow (0-4), building a 40-0 halftime lead. They cruised to a 54-12 victory to stay unbeaten. But more of note was the accomplishment of fast and athletic Cardinal quarterback Camden Hungerholt. The senior tallied six total scores in the game (10-235, 4 TDs rushing; 5-9, 178 yards, 2 TDs passing) including his 100th career TD. It is a feat that has been recorded as being done less than 10 times in the state’s history. Lanesboro’s Niko Anderson did so in the 2010s. Chatfield’s Sam Backer, who is currently starring at MSU-Mankato, did so just two years ago. Hungerholt is Mankato bound. Said feat has been done multiple times by quarterbacks. Hungerholt (a QB) has 63 rushing scores, 38 passing, and one receiving. Tysen Stevens (2-56 receiving; 4-26, TD rushing) and Reid Hungerholt (3-26, TD rushing; 2-42, TD receiving) helped the L-O/L/P cause. Stevens also hit Carter Sweeney for a 38-yard pass play. R-Hungerholt hit Dylan Christianson for a 48-yard pass play. Ryder Stern caught an 80-yard TD from C-Hungerholt. GM got a long run and TD from Brady Hrykas right after halftime, a Blake Hubbard 5-yard TD run late in the game. Hrykas (3-68, TD rushing) and Malachi Young (10-48 rushing) led the Larks’ exclusive ground attack. The Cardinals (4-0, 5-0) and #7 Spring Grove (4-0, 5-0) are tied atop the South-East. GM fell to 0-4, 0-5.
#5 Warriors Honor Hodges,Sack Lancers for Homecoming
For their homecoming, #5 in AA Caledonia honored a long-time assistant/strength coach and shutout La Crescent/Hokah. Played on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, the Warrior defense only faced one threat. After Caledonia took advantage of punt snap gone awry and scored on a 4th down 6-yard Ethan Stendel to Tristan Meyer TD pass late in the first quarter, the Lancers marched to the Warrior five. A Drew Todd to Mayes Boyer 32-yard pass play was key. But Caledonia then got two big sacks, one from Graysen Proulx and one from Max Schmitz on fourth down to end the series. On the Warriors next drive, Stendel hit Will Allen for a 54-yard TD pass to expand the lead to 14-0. In the final two minutes of the half, a four-play, 46-yard series was capped when Stendel bolted in from 18-yards out. At the half, the Warriors led 21-0. They added a third quarter Hunter Frank 53-yard TD run. The Warrior reserves then closed out the game with an all run, 15-play, 71-yard drive, that ate up almost the entire fourth quarter clock. LC/H ran one offensive play in the quarter. It salted away a 28-0 Warrior win, Caledonia’s third shutout of the season. Stendel (5-12, 96 yards, 2 TDs passing; TD run) accounted for three scores. Ben Stemper (11-91 rushing) and Frank (9-89, TD rushing) led the Warrior ground game. Noah Schroeder (9-55 rushing) helped as Caledonia ran for 277 yards. For the second straight week, multiple receivers (Allen, Meyer) just caught touchdown passes. Defensively, the Warriors had six sacks. Proulx had two, M-Schmitz one and a half, Stendel one, Cooper Allen, J.T. Hammell, and Tanner Ginther each a half (unofficially). LCH quarterback Drew Todd was sacked as many times as he completed passes (6-8, 55 yards passing). The Lancers were held under 100 yards total offense. And at halftime of the game, long-time Strength and Conditioning Assistant Coach Ernie Hodges was honored, as he has decided to take a step back from his daily involvement in the program. Coach Carl Freuchte called him a “Godsend” to the Warrior program. Hodges was humble saying, “(I’m just) blessed to be a part of a great thing.” The Warriors have long been known for their strength and speed which has been very key to their football dynasty. Caledonia (3-1, 4-1) trails #3 Chatfield (4-0, 5-0) in the Southeast-White with #10 Cannon Falls (2-1, 4-1) and #6 Triton (2-1, 4-1) residing in third and fourth places. The Gophers beat the Cobras in week five.
Knights Power Past Cougars in Battle of 3-1 Teams
Kingsland (3-1, 3-1) and Mabel-Canton (3-1, 3-1) entered their week five contest each sitting tied for the third place in the South-East. But in Mabel, the Knights rallied behind a replacement quarterback to post a key victory. Caden Reiter stepped in for starter Kaaleem Reiland (coach’s decision) and the Knights promptly powered on. Reiter opened the scoring with a 75-yard first quarter TD run. In the second quarter, the Knights added two more scores. A 7-play, 55-yard series was capped by a 2-yard Zach Reiland TD run. Later in the quarter, the Knights had another one play series. Z-Reiland ripped off a 60-yard TD run for a 20-0 lead. The Cougars had two solid drives in the half. Their opening series marched 11 plays to the Knights 12 only to turn the ball over on downs. Trailing 6-0, M-C also marched to the Knights red zone late in the first quarter, only for a fumble to end the threat. After halftime, the Cougars got on the board. They went 55 yards in eight plays. Isaac Underbakke hit Tyler Larson for 13-yard TD pass, making the score 20-6. But the Knights responded with a 10-play drive capped via Parker Johnson 14-yard TD run to make it 27-6. Johnson added another TD-run, as Kingsland posted a 33-6 victory. Reiter (9-14, 98 yards, TD, INT passing, 8-102, TD rushing), Z-Reiland (13-121, 2 TDs rushing), and Johnson (5-50, 2 TDs rushing) helped the Knights run for 294 yards. Sam Howard (4-30 receiving) was the top receiver. Defensive lineman Ira Schmidt had a team-best 10 tackles including a key sack to help thwart M-C’s first drive. Johnson also had a sack as he ran his season total to nine. Underbakke (7-11, 111 yards, TD passing) and Kale Tollefsrud (16-65 rushing; 5-75 receiving) led M-C. Larson (2-38, TD receiving; 10-16 rushing) had the TD reception. M-C was held to 83 yards rushing on 38 carries. Kingsland (4-1, 4-1) takes over sole possession of third in the South-East. They’ve won four straight by a collective tally of 211 to 35! M-C fell to 3-2, 3-2.
Falcons Top Cotter in Battle of 3-1 Teams
Fillmore Central (3-1, 3-1) and Winona-Cotter (3-1, 3-1) entered their week five match-up with identical records. But the Falcons proved the Ramblers’ record was at least somewhat based off opponent strength in posting a convincing win. For FC’s homecoming, Chris Mensink’s group used a pair of big special teams plays to stoke a three-score halftime edge. Greg Kennedy returned a punt 58-yards to paydirt in the first quarter to give FC a 14-0 lead. Cotter then scored to narrow the margin to 14-7, only for Josh Haugerud to return the ensuing kickoff 87-yards to paydirt to make it 21-7. FC also scored on its first drive of the game, and their last drive of the half. A 20-yard Bridon Bahl to Kennedy pass play in the waning ticks of the stanza stokes FC’s advantage to 28-7 at intermission. The Falcons then added two fourth quarter scores. They won by a final of 42-14. Kane Larson (14-113, 3 TDs; 2-24 receiving) had his best rushing day including the first, and last two, scores. Bahl (12-17, 122 yards, TD passing) was efficient behind center. Kennedy (5-55, TD receiving) led FC’s receivers. Haugerud (5-33 rushing; 12-yard reception) and Anthony Kiehne (4-13 rushing; 4-31 receiving) helped on “O”. Haugerud and Cody Serfling had interceptions on “D.” FC (4-1, 4-1) and Lewiston-Altura (4-1, 4-1) lead the Mid-Southeast Blue ahead of a week six collision. Cotter’s previous three wins were over Faribault B.A. (0-5), K-W (0-5), and W-K (2-3).
Mid-Southeast Blue District Football (9/27)
Rushford-Peterson 54, Hayfield 6 (R-P: Jaxson Meldahl 2-62, TD receiving, 19-yard TD run; J. Bunke 9-172, TD rushing; Caden Lea 4-10, 78 yards, 2 TDs passing, 4-34, TD rushing; Domanick Corcoran 7-yard TD reception, 65-yard interception return TD; Owen Lange 48-yard TD run; Caden Mattson, 7-25, TD rushing; Sebastian Escobar 5-48 rushing. R-P is 2-3, 2-3)
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