Football (9/29)

Football: Johnson’s Takedown Leads to #2 Gopher Victory over Triton

It is always good to have a good wrestler on your football team. They know how to tackle and will get physical. Kaisen Johnson is a multi-time state qualifier on the mat. But the senior authored maybe his best gridiron takedown to ensure #2 in AA Chatfield (3-0, 3-0) a key Southeast-Central “Yellow” win over Triton (2-0, 2-1). In the contest’s second overtime, after Cobra QB Pierce Petersohn made it a 24-23 with a 5-yard TD run, Johnson got to Petersohn’s hips on the ensuing two-point conversion. The 5’9”, 150-pounder stopped the super athletic 6’5” 200-pounder, preserving the Gophers 24-23 double overtime win! Chatfield had to have some late regulation heroics to get to that point. Triton broke a 7-7 tie with a Christian Valdez-Miranda 22-yard field goal with 7:20 to go. The Cobras then stopped the Gophers and had the ball. On a Cobra outside run, Gophers Mitchel Hinckley and Logan Pearson conspired to force a fumble recovered by teammate Eli Manahan at the Triton 27. Chatfield later faced a 4th and goal at the 13, choosing junior Ross Stoehr’s right foot. Stoehr notably kicked a key field goal and the game-winning PAT in the last year’s 23-22 state quarterfinal win. Stoehr’s leg was again (just) reliable. He ricochetted a 30-yard game-tying field goal off the left upright but through! The game went to overtime tied 10-10! With each team getting the ball first and goal at the 10, Chatfield scored first on a 3rd down, 5-yard Carter Ask to Keyan Danninger pass play. Stoehr added the PAT for a 17-10 game. Triton answered. Petersohn hit Graden Thomas on a 10-yard TD pass. Valdez-Miranda added the PAT to make it 17-17. On Chatfield’s second play of double overtime, D’Andre Williams reached the ball across for a 5-yard TD run. Stoehr’s PAT was again true. Triton then answered on a Petersohn 5-yard run, but Johnson clutchly denied the conversion. The game’s two regulation touchdowns came in the second quarter. Ask hit Johnson on a 45-yard pass play. Petersohn answered a series later throwing a 50-yard score to Garet Jensen. Triton held down Gopher lead-back Williams (26-75, TD rushing). Johnson (3-39, rushing, 5-76, TD receiving) was Chatfield’s most explosive player. Ask (9 of 15, 131 yards passing) threw two scores. Danninger added a key red zone interception to his overtime TD-catch. Petersohn (13 of 24, 208 yards, 2 TDs, INT passing; 18-68, TD rushing), a Penn State “athlete” commit, led the Cobras. Graden Thomas (8-92, TD receiving) was his top target. Chatfield was out-gained 301 to 239 but Triton had more than twice the penalty yardage. The Gophers (3-0, 4-0) now are the only unbeaten team in their sub-district (and 1AA) ahead of Lourdes (2-1, 3-1), Triton (2-1, 2-2), Caledonia (2-2, 2-2), R-P (1-2, 2-2), D-E (1-3, 1-3), and St. Charles (1-3, 1-3). No team in said competitive sub-district is averaging more than 25 points per nor giving up more than 25 points per game.

Football: #2 Knights And Cardinals Get Dramatic Deep into the Night

Collin Stuart hit Kaaleem Reiland on a tailback wheel route 40-yard TD pass, and Reiland added the two-point run, to put Kingsland ahead of LeRoy-Ostrander/Lyle/Pacelli 40-32 with 0:32 seconds left. The Cardinals then quickly moved to the Knight 15-yard-line in just 26-seconds, including getting a Reid Hungerholt to Carson Roe 27-yard yard pass play, but Knight Michael Johnson ended the game with an end zone interception as time expired. The wild finish was fitting to a wild game that was postponed over an hour per (miles away) lightning. Ending around 11:30, Matt Kolling’s #2 in 9-Man Knights (4-0, 4-0) picked up a key South-East win over the Cardinals (2-2, 2-2). Kingsland avenged two losses a year ago (35-26, 38-27), including in the 9-Man section final. The contest started with L-O/L/P’s Talan Lewison returning the opening kickoff 81 yards to paydirt. Trevor Carrier’s Cardinals led 18-8 in the first quarter. But Kingsland then reeled off 24 unanswered. Reiland ripped a shifty 88-yard TD run in the second quarter. Said run put Kingsland up 24-18, despite each team scoring three touchdowns; conversions were 3 to 0 Knights. After a delay, Reiland capped an 80-yard drive with a 33-yard TD run late in the first half to send the Knights to an abbreviated break up 32-18. Kingsland then started the second half making the Cardinal 12, but turned the ball over on downs. After watching the senior Reiland run for 200-plus yards in the first half, L-O/L/P’s best defense was to keep him off the field. A Hungerholt to Logan Diemer 17-yard pass play (plus Hungerholt conversion) capped a 10-play, 88-yard drive to narrow the margin to 32-26. Kingsland then had a 90-yard Nathaniel Drees kickoff return touchdown annulled by penalty. A punt later ensued. L-O/L/P then went 65 yards in 12 plays. A 28-yard pass play from Hungerholt to Lewison on 4th an 8 was either a great diving catch, or trapped, depending on what sideline you stood on. Officials ruled it a completion (it looked like a trap). It was key in setting up a Hungerholt 1-yard TD run that tied the game. L-O/L/P failed to convert, leaving the score 32-32 with 7:07 left. The Knights then made the Cardinal red zone in the final 1:30, but lost a fumble. L-O/L/P punted, but it went a mere seven yards. On Kingsland’s first play, L-O/L/P’s defender slipped and Stuart hit Reiland for the game-winning score. Johnson’s game ending pick on a ball intended for Lewison was redemption, as Lewison had a big night receiving (9-123 yards). Kaaleem R. looked the part of a Minnesota-Duluth signee (27-257 yards, 2 TDs rushing; 40-yard TD reception, 4 of 9, 24 yards passing), often leaving Cardinal defenders in his wake. Brother KD Reiland (13-130, 2 TDs rushing) ran in the Knights’ first two scores. Kingsland was without starting tailback Bently Wiersma (injury). Hungerholt (17 of 32, 213 yards, TD, INT passing; 18-141, 3 TDs rushing) put up comparable numbers to his brother Camden, last year’s Mr. Football for Minnesota. Reid’s first two carries went for 50 yards (TD) and 42 yards. He then threw for 174 yards in the second half. Lewison and Roe (5-53 receiving), who was also a defensive stand-out too (17 tackles), were hit top targets. L-O/L/P had 370 yards total offense, Kingsland 463. The Knights (4-0, 4-0), M-C (4-0, 4-0), Houston (3-1, 3-1), Spring Grove (3-1, 3-1), AC/G-E (2-2, 2-2), and L-O/L/P (2-2, 2-2) are the top six teams in the 10-team South-East sub-district. 

Football: Trojans Deny Super-Short Conversion, Top Randolph 21-20

With Randolph less than a yard away from a victory, Tristan Zingler fumbled a two-point run just short of the goal line and Rushford-Peterson recovered with 0:17 left. The Trojans then recovered the ensuing onside-kick to enable a 21-20 to-the-wire win! The game, played on Saturday after lightening postponement, had each team with 13 first downs. The one-point final score was the third one-point lead. Randolph opened the scoring in the first quarter, but R-P replied in the second to lead 7-6. The Rockets led 14-7 at the half, scoring and converting in the final minute. In the third quarter, Trojan Creighton Hoiness hit Jaxson Meldahl for back-to-back 41- and 25-yard pass plays, the later going for six. The conversion failed, leaving Randolph up 14-13. Each team had the ball once in the last quarter. Each scored. R-P went 72 yards in nine plays. On 3rd and 11, Hoiness hit Cole Thompson for a 24-yard TD. The two then hooked up for the conversion putting R-P back ahead at 21-14. Randolph then went 75 yards in 13 plays. A 3rd and 9, 27-yard Colton Ford to Carter Olson pass, got the Rockets into the red zone. On 3rd and goal from the one, Olson scored to pull Randolph within one (21-20). Two R-P penalties moved the conversion try within inches of the zone. But the Rocket outside run was held up just long enough. Zingler got close, but not close enough. Hoiness, playing for starter Carson Johnson (hand injury), contributed to all three R-P scores (5 of 6, 99 yards, 2 TDs passing; 7-74, TD rushing). Meldahl (2-66, TD receiving; 7-44 rushing) was the other big Trojans yardage getter. Zingler (16-78 rushing; 52-yard pass), Ford (13 of 21, 145 yards, TD passing, 11-yard TD run), and Jameson Exley (3-101 receiving) led Randolph. R-P improved to 1-2 in sub-district, 2-2 overall. 

Football: Bahl Throws #4 FC Past USC 

Fillmore Central QB Bridon Bahl averaged 30 yards per completion, hitting three different receivers for touchdowns. The Falcons had no problem topping United South Central 37-6 in a Mid-South “Green” matchup. FC built a 30-0 third quarter lead. Bahl (6 of 10, 199 yards, 3 TDs passing) hit Kane Larson (66-yard TD reception), Rylan Ristau (2-47, TD reception), and Davis Penhollow (30-yard TD reception) for scores. Larson (12-96 rushing) added two scores on the ground while Quinci Kaase (7-84 rushing, 39-yard reception) also went over 100 yards total offense. FC outgained USC 388 to 208. The fourth-ranked Falcons are averaging 422 yards and 40 points per game. FC (2-0, 4-0) leads L-A (1-0, 2-2), USC (1-1, 2-2), and Southland (1-1, 1-3) atop their sub-district. 

Football: Five Turnovers Help Houston Down AC/G-E

Houston intercepted Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons quarterback Jacob Dulitz four times and harvested five total turnovers (without one give-away). Hurricane Lucas Burt’s pick with under two minutes to go, iced the game. Houston improved to 3-1 in the sub-district and overall, via a 32-28 win. Cody Hungerholt’s group trailed 14-12 at the half. The teams traded fourth quarter touchdowns. But by virtue of Houston posting the only third quarter score, and striking first in the final stanza, they led 26-14. After AC/G-E answered to trail 26-22, Hector Steinfeldt hit Axel Vix on a perfect corner route on 4th and 4 for a 14-yard TD connection. AC/G-E again answered, got a stop, but their first offensive play late (1:58) was Burt’s interception deep in the Knight end. Houston then knelt out the clock. One of Houston’s interceptions was a Vix 38-yard pick six in the first half. Lee Klunder (16-177 rushing) ran for two second half scores. Steinfeldt (4 of 9, 101 yards, 2 TDs, INT) hit Elliot Frauenkron on a 69-yard TD pass also in the first half. Dulitz (11 of 24, 191 yards, TD, 4 INTs passing; 12-119, 2 TDs rushing) accounted for three of the Knights’ scores. Darin Linn (12-60, TD rushing; 3-93, TD receiving) was their other big asset. AC/G-E may have been a few feet from victory. A Hail Mary to end the first half was caught at the one-yard line. 

Southeast Central Football (9/19)

Caledonia 18, Dover-Eyota 0 (C: W. Allen 8 of 17, 147 yards, 3 TDs passing, 7-48 rushing; C. Hammell 4-109, TD receiving; Grant King 2-11, 2 TDS receiving; Noah Schroeder 9-44, rushing. D-E was credited with having just three first downs. Jacob Klug and Jack Schmitz harvested interceptions for the Warriors. Caledonia is 2-2 in the sub-district and overall) 

9-Man South-East Football (9/19 & 9/20) 

Lanesboro 7, Grand Meadow 26 (GM: Carter Glynn 13-84, 2 TDs rushing; Parker Armagost 22-73 rushing; Jackson Soltau 49-yard TD run; Brady Hyrkas 26-yard TD reception from Blake Hubbard. L: David Harvey 14-45 rushing; Mason Gilbertson 5 of 13, 53 yards passing, 10-31, TD rushing; Quadyn Kettner 3-23 receiving, defensive interception and fumble recovery. Lanesboro led 7-6 until a Glynn 13-yard TD run in the third quarter (3:54). Glynn also had a 64-yard TD with just nine seconds left in the first half. Early in the fourth, Blake Hubbard hit Hyrkas on a 4th and 8, 25-yard half-back TD pass to expand the Lark lead to 20-7. Larks > 1-3 in the sub-district and overall. Burros > 0-4, 0-4) 

#9 in 9-Man Mabel-Canton 62, Faribault B.A. 19 (M-C: Isaac Underbakke 6 of 6, 109 yards, TD passing, 6-67, 2 TDs rushing; Kale Tollefsrud 10-156, 2 TDs rushing, 15-yard reception; Kale Eiken 16-110, 2 TDs rushing, 3-79, TD receiving; Hunter Kelly 3-43, TD rushing; Carter Hershberger 5-yard TD run. M-C ran for a whopping 461 yards on 54 carries with 8 TDs.) 

Spring Grove 26, Wabasha-Kellogg 14 (SG: Caden Gerard 3-85, TD receiving (67-yd TD catch); Ezra Konkel 2 interceptions, 2 pass breakups, 6 tackles (hand in a cast); Ricardo Reynolds 2 TDs rushing, 2 PATs, interception, 7 tackles; Dylan Halverson 8 of 16, 107 yards, TD, 2 INT passing. The Lions, with their only sustained drive of the game, scored the winning TD with two minutes to play. SG led 7-6 at half, but trailed 14-13 for 20 of the 24 minutes after halftime.)