Photo by Paul Trende
The Section 1AA final will see #1 in Class AA Caledonia (9-0) take on Dover-Eyota (2-seed, 8-2).
R-P Squanders Lead, Rallies Past Cobras
In a Section 1AA quarterfinal, 4-seed Rushford-Peterson (6-2) jumped all over 5-seed Triton (3-5), only to have to rally for victory. Robbie Strand’s Trojans scored on their first three drives to lead 20-0. Creighton Hoiness twice hit Cole Thompson on touchdown passes (27 and 50 yards). But Triton then rallied with 27-unanswered points. Quarterback Graden Thomas accounted for three of those scores, the first on a 39-yard run, then on TD passes of 33 and 9 yards to Braxton Koss and Jackson Kraemer. After those TDs, and three offensive turnovers, R-P looked up at a 27-20 third quarter deficit. But the Trojans scored the next three touchdowns. Back-to-back Owen Lange TD runs (20 and 4-yards) put R-P ahead 32-27 early in the fourth. After a couple Triton chunk plays, R-P defensive lineman Chace Drazkowski stuffed a run for loss, then sacked Thomas on 4 and 13. It set up a 52-yard Trojan scoring drive, one capped by a Jaxon Johnson 18-yard TD run. R-P went ahead 40-27 (4:33 left). Thomas hit Koss for a 25-yard pitch and catch to make it 40-33 with 3:07 left. But R-P ground out a pair of first downs, including Lange getting five on 4th and 1 to clinch it. The Trojans prevailed 40-34. Lange (17-97, 3 TDs rushing), J-Johnson (16-139, TD rushing) and Carson Johnson (10-82) helped R-P rush for 314 yards. J-Johnson ran for 76 yards in the fourth quarter. Hoiness’ only completions (2 of 3, 77 yards, 2 TDs, INT) were to Thompson (2-77, 2 TDs receiving). Thomas (15 of 28, 218 yards, 3 TDs passing, 12-60, TD rushing), Koss (7-92, 2 TDs receiving; 7-36 rushing) and Kramer (4-78, TD receiving; 8-35, TD rushing) did the big work for Triton. R-P (4-seed, 7-2) moved on to face #1 and top-seeded Caledonia (8-0), which received a first-round bye.
#1 Caledonia Blanks R-P, Moves on to Face D-E in 1AA Finals
In the season opener, Caledonia rallied from down 18-10 in the fourth to beat Rushford-Peterson 25-18 in overtime. The matchup of the #1 in Class AA Warriors (1-seed, 8-0) and the Trojans (4-seed, 7-3) in a 1AA semifinal was decided far quicker. Carl Fruechte’s group took control early. The Warriors methodically scored on their first drive, an 11-play series capped by Bo Knutson 8-yard TD run. With Sean Walllin’s kick, Cal led 7-0. The ensuing kickoff was then squibbed, touched by a Trojan, and Warrior Chase Hauser recovered. One play later, Grant King hit Coby Hammell for a 30-yard TD pass, making it 14-0 with 5:57 left in the first. R-P struggled to sustain offense. Five of their first seven drives started inside the 15. The Warriors led 14-0 at the half, got a 42-yard King to Hammell TD-pass on a hitch route in the third, then a Hauser 8-yard TD run to start the fourth. Tyson Ginther capped things by returning an interception 25-yards for a score. It brought Cal’s defensive touchdown tally to six, equaling what they have given up. The Warriors prevailed 34-0. Knutson (16-119, TD rushing; 22-yard reception), Hammell (5-93, 2 TDs receiving), King (11 of 16, 166 yards, 2 TDs, INT passing), and Hauser (10-49, TD rushing, forced fumble, recovery) led the victors. Jacob Klug (3-37 receiving) snared his seventh interception. Jaxon Johnson (12-63 rushing) led R-P, which gained 151 yards on 36 carries (4.2 per). The Trojans threw for just five yards. Their season ends at 7-3. Caledonia (1-seed, 9-0) moves on to face D-E (2-seed, 8-2) in the 1AA final.
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