King to King Too Much For Gophers

In some other section, Chatfield football (3-seed, 8-2) would be the dominant force.  But in Minnesota Section 1AA, Caledonia (1-seed, 10-0) is the monolith, and the Gophers again fell in the section title game.  The difference was the Noah King to Eli King connection and first half ball security.  An interception on the Gophers first possession led to a King to King 35-yard TD (on 4th and 20) for a 6-0 lead.  Chatfield’s next drive made the red zone, but back-to-back fumbles on reverses (the last a Warrior recovery) ended that series.  Chatfield’s third drive resulted in a snap over punter Max Aug’s head, picked up by Ezra Dvorak and taken in for a 23-yard return TD.  Caledonia went up 13-0.  The Gophers had some success on the ground in the first half.  Frosh Sam Backer had five runs of 10-plus.  Following a Warrior fumble, Chatfield went 58-yards in eight plays, Sam B. scoring on a 10-yard draw play.  The Gophers pulled to down 13-7.  But the Warriors responded, going 56 yards in eight plays, King hitting King on a slant amidst double coverage for an 18-yard TD.  The Warriors went ahead 20-7 late (0:53).  They almost scored again seconds later.  A long interception return and 15-yard penalty got Cal in the red zone.  Noah King’s run with 0:07 left came up a yard short.  Amassing four turnovers and putting the ball on the ground seven times, Chatfield trailed 20-7 at the half.  In the second, Caledonia ran 35 offensive plays to Chatfield’s nine.  The Gophers went three-and-out thrice, not recording a first down.  A 29-yard King to King TD pass early in the fourth capped the scoring.  Caledonia ran its win streak to 66 via a 27-7 victory.  Noah (15-27, 177 yards, 3 TDs passing, 17-113 rushing) and Eli (12-168, 3 TDs receiving, 19 targets) carried near all the load.  Other Warriors accounted for 30 yards.  Ezra Dvorak had two sacks to go with his TD.  Sam Backer (21-102, TD rushing) did his damage in the first half.  The Gophers finished with 80 net total yards (having lost 76 yards).  The defensive became the second unit to hold Caledonia under 30 points this year.  Jeff Johnson’s guys (8-3) repeat as 1AA runner-up, behind seniors Chance Backer, Johnny Frank, Isaiah Froese, Sam Stevens, Nate Bernard, and Landon Bance.