Football: Gophers Get Big Season- Ending Win, Drop #8 Cannon Falls

Reeling off back-to-back losses following a 5-0 start, Chatfield (3-2, 5-2) ended their regular season with a big win. The Gophers trekked to Class AA #8 Cannon Falls (4-1, 6-1). The game saw both teams rip off 20-point scoring runs. Chatfield got two aerial TDs in their first two series. On a reverse pass, Ben Carrier hit Cole Novotny for a wide open 62-yard score on the game’s second play. A series later, Carson Rowland hit Caden Boyum on a 44-yard TD strike. The Gophers converted both conversions for a 16-0 lead. In the second quarter, Kail Schott ripped a fumble away and scored from 20-yards out. Chatfield jumped out 22-0 early in the second quarter. But the Bombers, with their methodical three back, tight running game, scored before half (Dylan Banks 1-yard TD run). Cannon then put together two third quarter scoring drives, each capped by Preston Schoenfelder long TD runs (44 and 54 yards). A Bomber two-point conversion on the latter tied the game 22-22 with 4:27 left in the third! But Jeff Johnson’s crew then went 60 yards in 10 plays. Junior QB Carson Rowland’s 10-yard scrambling TD on the first play of the fourth put the Gophers back in front, 28-22. A big defensive play then tipped Chatfield’s winning percentage. With 2:50 left, Gopher senior Nathan Allen stopped a Bomber 4th and 1 run at the CF 34. Chatfield then iced the game when Rowland scrambled for a 34-yard TD on 4th and 9 with 2:15 left. The conversion made it 36-22, which stood as the final. The Gophers got their first victory over a team with a winning record. The five previous wins were over teams that finished 2-6 or 3-5. Rowland (20-163, 2 TDs rushing, 2-5, 52 yards, TD passing) led the way. Kail Schott (14-60 rushing) helped on the ground. Two of Chatfield’s three completions went for scores. The Bombers did not complete a pass. Schoenfelder (12-147, 2 TDs rushing) had their big plays, but was one of four backs with 50 yards rushing. CF ran for over 300 yards and ran 62 plays to Chatfield’s 41. They had three turnovers to Chatfield’s one. The Gophers (4-2, 6-2) are 1AA’s 3-seed, will host 6-seed Cotter (1-7).