Rushford-Peterson (11-1) football’s state semifinal match-up with Browerville-Eagle Valley (9-3) can best be summarized by one event. The B-EV coach asked for running time for the entire second half because of how lopsided things already were after just 24 minutes of action. It has been awhile (2006 champs) since the proud Trojan football program has played for a state football title. Headed by a coaching staff littered with former state participants (Davin Thompson, Chris Drinkall, Tyler Drinkall, Cole Kingsley), state champions, R-P is back in a Prep Bowl. It was vintage Trojans for the decisive first two quarters. R-P ran the ball at will, got turnovers, scored in multiple phases of the game, didn’t make big mistakes, and made big plays. It was an exhibition.
The Trojans received the opening kick-off. They gave the ball to Noah Carlson and saw if B-EV could stop him. They couldn’t. Seven carries and 55 yards later, Carlson was in the end zone (4-yard TD run). R-P 7, B-EV 0. The Tigers got to R-P territory with their first possession, but punted on 4th and 2 at the 45. The Trojans went back to the ground. Five runs netted 77 yards, the last a Carlson 24-yard TD sprint. R-P 13, B-EV 0. After a Tiger three-and-out, Luke Rasmussen gave the running game a break. The 5’9” senior took a punt back 59 yards to the house, his second special teams TD in any many weeks. R-P 21, B-EV 0. On the Tigers next series, Rasmussen picked his 12th pass of the season, and added a 44-yard return. Four more Carlson runs, the last a 13-yard TD, made it R-P 28, B-EV 0. The news kept getting worse for Browerville-Eagle Valley. They fumbled on their next drive’s second play (Ethan Anderson recovery). Landon Skalet hit Jake Paulson for a 29-yard TD immediately. R-P 35, B-EV 0. The Tigers then had an eleven play drive. It ended on downs at the Trojan 13. Four more Carlson carries, the last an impressive sweep right, multiple-cut-back all the way against the grain to the left, 60-yard TD run, made it R-P 42, B-EV 0. And to add icing to the first half cake, the defense scored. In the waning ticks of the half, Paulson ripped the football out of Eagle QB Zack Irsfeld’s hands, and tipped toed the sidelines for a 42-yard return TD. R-P 49, B-EV 0 (halftime). Running time was used all second half. Everybody got the experience of playing at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Trojans romped 49-0!
R-P’s offensive line, not overly big (around 200-pound average), but quick and athletic, did what it’s done all season, getting hats on hats. Carlson got his game quota (18 carries, 236 yards, 4 TDs) in the first half. His shortest carry was three yards. The Trojans had 20 first half carries for 252 yards (12-plus per carry). Only one of 35 total Trojan totes went for negative yards. Rasmussen (59-yard PR TD, 45-INT return) and Paulson (29-yard TD catch, 41 yard FR TD, 5 of 6 PATs) made killer ancillary big plays. Sophomore QB Landon Skalet was 1 for 2 for 29 yards, a TD, and a 2-pointer. The Trojans won the turnover battle 3 to 0. They’ve won that battle every game (+24 for the season). They have committed just four TO’s the last nine weeks. B-EV was the underdog (5-3 in regular season). Coach Wayne Petermeier was happy to have made such a long play-off run with a relatively new group. The Trojans will play a familiar team, Minneapolis-North, in the Class A title game. The Polars defeated Wabasso 16-8 in the other state semifinal. The Polars were Class A state football runner-ups last season.
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