#6 Gophers Down #1 Warriors in Big Early Season Game
In another chapter of their rivalry, ranked AA teams #6 Chatfield (2-0) and #1 Caledonia (2-0) did battle in a big week three showdown. Plays late in the second and third quarters majorly helped determine the verdict. Leading 6-0, with first half waning, Chatfield got back-to-back big pass plays. Quarterback Carson Rowland hit Masyn Kreter for 34 yards and then a double-covered Kaisen Johnson for a 28-yard contested TD reception. The quick progression down field in the final minute was huge, as the Gophers scored with 0:17 left in the stanza. Doing so sent Chatfield to half up 14-0. The Gopher defense held the Warriors to just 64 yards of offense in the stanza. Caledonia’s best scoring opportunity was a field goal attempt blocked by Ethan Cole. Ben Carrier scored Chatfield’s first TD on a 19-yard run earlier in the second quarter. With the score still 14-0, late in the third quarter, Caledonia nearly pulled to within one score. But on a Ben Stemper middle burst, Carrier knocked the ball loose at or inside the one-yard line. Gopher Ryan Eickhoff recovered in the end zone. Stemper came to rest in the end zone, a near TD. A few plays later, Carrier snuck through a hole and raced 56-yards to pay-dirt, putting Chatfield up 20-0 with 11:01 left in the game. Caledonia nearly immediately answered though. Quarterback Ethan Stendel sprinted left-side for a 66-yard TD run to make it 20-6. The rest of the quarter, time ticked slow for the Gophers while it raced for the Warriors. Chatfield denied a Warrior scoring drive with 5:31 left, as state champion wrestler Rowland took down Stendel on a 4th and goal from the four. The Warriors next drive, using a short field, then found paydirt. A 1-yard Stendel run made it 20-13, but with 1:23 left. Chatfield’s Cole then recovered the ensuing on-side. Caledonia got the ball back but with only 0:16 left, not nearly enough time. Jeff Johnson’s Gophers made a statement with a 20-13 win. Rowland (7-11, 122 yards, TD passing) did his best work with his arm. Carrier (13-92, 2 TDs rushing) led the Gopher ground game. Kreter (4-75, conversion reception) and Johnson (2-30, TD receiving) led the Gophers in the air. Stendel (10-20, 90 yards passing; 12-75, 2 TDs rushing) had both Warrior scores. Stemper (14-79 rushing) was their top rusher. Outgaining Chatfield 236 to 99 in the second half, Caledonia out-gained the Gophers 300 to 226 for the game. But they had the game’s only turnover. They also had three goal-to-goal trips that yielded zero points. Chatfield has won four of five versus Caledonia after the Warriors dominated the series in the 2010’s. Caledonia won 27-0 last year. New polls in place, top White teams #3 Chatfield (2-0, 3-0), #5 Cannon Falls (2-0, 3-0), #7 Triton (1-0, 3-0), and #6 Caledonia (1-1, 2-1) are all ranked.
#8 Lions Shut Out Superlarks, Stay Perfect
The Spring Grove starters scored on five of their six possessions in a 32-0 road win at Grand Meadow. The Lions traversed long distances with scoring drives of 70, 73 and 91 yards. A Superlarks fumble and a low punt snap provided great field position for 37 and 18-yard SG scoring possessions. The only time the regulars did not score was when a 69-yard drive reached the GM two-yard-line before a fourth-down interception in the end zone by Blake Hubbard. The Superlarks defense was in a bind whenever Lion QB Bryce Berns was back to pass. He was intercepted for the first time this season but also completed 9 of 12 passes (75%) for 171 yards. When receivers were covered, Berns ran instead and scored on two of his four scrambles with 59 and 17-yard jaunts. The Lions rushed for 267 yards, 94 on Berns scrambles. Adding in four called QB runs, Berns finished with eight carries for 124 yards (295 yards total offense). Zach Brumm caught five passes for 95 yards, and Ben Udstuen had two big-yardage receptions totaling 66 yards. But all five touchdowns came on the ground with Dash Ranzenberger (8-63 rushing) scoring his first three varsity touchdowns on plunges of 6, 14 and 8 yards. Opening holes up front were Shawn Crouch, Tysen Moen, Devon Williams, and Brandon Jahnke. Overall, the Lions outgained the Larks, 438 yards to 185. GM attempted only three official passes all game, a fourth nullified by a Lion pass interference penalty. GM senior Dalton Pischke (19-134 rushing) had both breakaway runs – a 34-yard burst in the first half and a late 35-yard sprint against Lion reserves. The Larks hindered themselves with eight fumbles, losing three. The downside for the Lions were 10 penalties for a season-worst 94 yards. The #8-ranked Lions (3-0, 3-0) lead the South-East over #7 L-O/L/P (2-0, 3-0), M-C (2-1, 2-1), and Kingsland (2-1, 2-1).
#7 Cardinals Control ACGE to Move to 3-0
LeRoy-Ostrander/Lyle/Pacelli built a 26-6 lead on Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons at the half. The Knights got within two scores multiple times thereafter, but the Cardinals always had an answer. Camden Hungerholt’s 55-yard TD run in the fourth quarter was the reply after AC/GE pulled to within 40-26. Trevor Carrier’s group then walked away with a comfortable 46-26 win. Hungerholt (21-41, 303 yards, 4 TDs, INT passing) was not super-efficient with his completion percentage, but his yardage, yardage per completion, and TDs thrown were all impressive. He hit Carter Sweeney nine times for 164 yards two TDs. Reid Hungerholt (2-63 receiving) and Ryder Stern (31-yard reception) also caught scores. And Hungerholt was naturally a beast on the ground with 23 carries for 282 yards and 3 TDs rushing! He thus accounted for 585 yards total offense and all seven Cardinal scores! Defensively, LO/L/P had four sacks with Dylan Christianson notching two, Stern one, and Spencer Goodale one. The Cardinals improved to 2-0 in the South-East, 3-0 overall. They sit just behind #8 Spring Grove (3-0, 3-0) in the sub-district standings as the only two unbeatens left. Kingsland and Mabel-Canton (2-1) are tied for third.
Rodriguez Powers ‘Canes Past Cougs
Mabel-Canton entered its week three contest with Houston 2-0 and ranked #9 in the 9-Man polls. The Hurricanes entered the game 0-2. But like last year, Cody Hungerholt’s crew took it to the Cougars, particularly after intermission. Hurricane senior running back Maddox Rodriguez was literally unstoppable. The game was tight for a half, as the home ‘Canes led 22-20 at intermission. But the Hurricane offense was also nearly unstoppable, scoring seven touchdowns on nine total drives. They out-scored M-C 38 to 0 in the second half for the 60-20 victory. Rodriguez had a mere eight carries but they went for 336 yards and four TDs! He had TD runs of 95, 78, 81 and 58. The first opened the scoring and the later three came in succession in the second half. Rodriguez averaged 42 yards per carry for the game. Lee Klunder also ran for 106 yards on just six carries. He scored on runs of 13 and 85 yards. Morgan Rohweder returned at quarterback after getting injured in week one and was efficient (6-7, 119 yards, TD, INT passing). His TD went to Zach Olson and it covered 57 yards. Olson (4-90, TD receiving) finished as Houston’s top ball catcher. Owen Sobotta capped Houston’s scoring with a 63-yard fourth quarter punt return TD. Down two-way starter Tyler Larson to injury, M-C quarterback Isaac Underbakke (11-24, 132 yards, TD, 2 INTs passing; 17-95, TD rushing) accounted for two scores. Kale Tollefsrud (15-125 rushing) led the Cougar ground game. Brevyn Tollefsrud (4-83, TD receiving) was M-C’s top receiver and he also had a 5-yard TD run. Houston ran for a whopping 452 yards and compiled 571 yards of total offense. M-C ran for 257 yards and had 389 yards of total offense. The teams thus combined for over 900 yards. M-C had three turnovers to Houston’s one. Houston won last year’s matchup 46-6. M-C fell to 2-1 in the South-East and overall. Houston improved to 1-2, 1-2.
South-East District Football (9/13)
Kingsland 67, Lanesboro 7 (K: K. Reiland 5-135, 3 TDs rushing, 20-yard fumble return TD; Zach Reiland 4-97, 2 TDs rushing; Bently Wiersma 5-69, TD rushing; Trenton Aarsvold 3-73, TD rushing; Parker Johnson 30-yard TD run; Blake Swenson 35-yard fumble return TD; Caden Reiter 7-7 PATs. L: David Harvey 12-95 rushing; Mason Gilbertson 16-81 rushing; Cole Sass 16-46, TD rushing. Kingsland improved to 2-1 in the South-East and overall. Lanesboro fell to 0-2, 0-3)
Mid-Southeast-Blue District Football (9/13)
Faribault-Bethlehem Academy 16, Fillmore Central 54 (FC: Josh Haugerud 4-92, TD rushing; Cody Serfling 5-91, TD rushing; Anthony Kiehne 4-64, 2 TDs rushing; Kane Larson 4-49, TD rushing; Greg Kennedy 15-yard TD reception from Bridon Bahl, 75-yard punt return TD; Quinci Kaase 12-yard TD run. FC scored on its first seven possessions. They led 54-8 at halftime. The Falcons ran for 331 yards on 26 carries (12.8 per carry) and only attempted one pass, a touchdown)
#4 in A Goodhue 31, Rushford-Peterson 6 (RP: Caden Johnson 11-23, 102 yards, TD, INT passing; Jonah Bunke 7-41 rushing; Owen Lange 3-38 rushing; Carson Johnson 22-yard TD reception. Goodhue progressively built a 31-0 lead. Total yards were not lopsided with Goodhue gaining 237 and R-P 162. Goodhue scored four TDs, kicked a field goal, and had a safety on a botched punt snap. R-P is now 1-2 in the MSE-Blue, 1-2 overall.)
Leave a Reply