Pipestone 14-00-06-14 = 34
Windom 02-18-00-06 = 26
The Windom Eagle football team gave the state’s second-ranked Class AA team all it could handle Wednesday night, but a touchdown by Kellen Johnson with 3:15 left in regulation lifted unbeaten Pipestone to a 34-26 victory over the Eagles Wednesday at Island Park.
The Eagles rallied for three second quarter touchdowns, eventually giving the Arrows their first halftime deficit of the season. But Pipestone’s defense shut the Eagle offense down in the second half, while the Arrow offense made key adjustments to eventually claim the win.
Things started well for the Eagles. On the first drive of the game, Pipestone had a bad snap to set up fourth down deep in its own end. The Arrows then snapped the ball over the head of their punter out of the end zone for a safety, giving the Eagles a quick 2-0 lead.
Pipestone was able to answer. After holding the Eagles on fourth down on the ensuing drive, Pipestone marched the length of the field for a touchdown. After forcing an Eagle punt, the Arrows added another score for a 14-2 lead after one quarter.
But Windom’s offense came to life in the second quarter, as the Eagles put together three straight scoring drives. Wyatt Haugen capped the first with a 9-yard touchdown run. The Eagles mishandled the snap on the extra-point kick attempt, leaving the score 14-8.
Windom then scored on a 44-yard Tucker Renquist run. The extra point was blocked, leaving the score tied 14-14.
Then, after holding the Arrows short on fourth down, the Eagles were able to move downfield in the closing minutes of the half, scoring on a 25-yard Abe McKibbin run. The extra-point kick sailed wide left, but the Eagles took a 20-14 lead into halftime.
Pipestone quickly tied the game in the third quarter, scoring on a touchdown pass to tie the game at 20-20.
Then, in the fourth, the Arrows churned away at the Eagles on the ground, scoring on a Maddox Biever touchdown run for a 26-20 lead.
But the Eagles answered moments later, when Henry Erickson fielded the kickoff and raced 70 yards untouched for a touchdown. The snap on the extra point kick was again mishandled, leaving the score 26-26.
Pipestone took the ensuing kickoff and methodically marched downfield, eventually scoring with 3:15 left on the clock on a 3-yard sneak by quarterback Kellen Johnson. The Arrows completed the two-point conversion pass for a 34-26 lead.
Windom was able to move into Arrow territory on its last drive before an interception ended the threat, allowing Pipestone to run out the clock.
McKibbin rushed 11 times for 98 yards for the Eagles. Renquist had 45 yards on three carries.
Greyson Elder completed 5-of-10 passes for 72 yards. Erickson had three catches for 42 yards.
Pairings for Section 3AA will be announced Thursday. However, it seems likely the Eagles will be seeded seventh and would play at Redwood Valley Tuesday in the playoff opener.
Nicollet 00-00-00-06 = 06
MLA 36-07-00-08 = 51
Mt. Lake Area took advantage of two short punts and one fumble recovery to put up 36 first quarter points Wednesday night on its way to a 51-6 victory over Nicollet at Mt. Lake.
The Wolverines marched the length of the field on the opening drive of the game, scoring on an 8-yard Marcos DeLeon run. MLA then forced a pair of quick three-and-out series by Nicollet, which shanked back-to-back punts. The Wolverines turned those into a 5-yard touchdown from Kolby Kremmin and a 15-yard touchdown by Tanner Koetzle, giving MLA a 22-0 lead four minutes into the game.
MLA then recovered a fumble on Nicollet’s next drive and scored on a 36-yard Micah Holmberg run. MLA closed out the quarter with a 15-yard touchdown pass from DeLeon to Koetzle for a 36-0 lead.
The Wolverines added a 53-yard touchdown by DeLeon in the second quarter to lead 43-0 at halftime.
MLA made the lead 51-0 on a 2-yard Evan Karschnik touchdown run in the fourth quarter before Nicollet scored its lone touchdown of the game.
Holmberg rushed 12 times for 165 yards in the win. DeLeon had four rushes for 80 yards and completed 3-of-6 passes for 46 yards.
With the win, MLA clinched the top seed in Section 3 Nine-Man and will likely host Madelia in Tuesday’s opening round. The playoff pairings will officially be announced Thursday.
HLOF 00-00-00-00 = 00
RRC 08-14-06-00 = 28
With starting quarterback Isaac Simonson out with an injury, the Red Rock Central Falcons turned to their ground game Wednesday night and senior Mason Strom came up big.
Strom rushed for 240 yards and four touchdowns as the Falcons rolled to a 28-0 shutout win over Heron Lake-Okabena-Fulda at Lamberton.
The Falcons started the game strong with a long kickoff return to open the game. Four plays later, Strom scored on a 3-yard run.
The Falcon defense was effective at slowing down the Coyote offense, which came into the game as one of the best in the sub-district. Meanwhile, Strom did more damage in the second quarter, scoring on runs of 23 and 54 yards to give the Falcons a 22-0 halftime lead.
Strom then had his best run of the night in the third quarter, scoring on a 67-yard dash to give the Falcons a 28-0 lead.
Strom had 240 yards on 21 carries in the win. Jacob Amsden rushed 10 times for 63 yards. RRC did not complete a pass in the game.
Pairings for the Section 3 Nine-Man Tournament will be announced Thursday.
CM 06-00-00-00-06 = 12
WWG 00-00-06-00-00 = 06
Missed opportunities early loomed large and a potential tying run came up inches short for Westbrook-Walnut Grove Wednesday night, as the Chargers lost to Cedar Mountain 12-6 in overtime at Westbrook.
Cedar Mountain scored early in the first quarter on a 1-yard Matt Zeug run, but the Charger defense held the Cougar offense in check the rest of the way.
Meanwhile, the Charger offense was moving the ball between the 20s much of the night but stalled out on drives once they reached the red zone.
WWG ended up tying the game in the third quarter when Brady Ross hit Kole Curry with a 35-yard scoring strike. The two-point conversion try failed, leaving the game tied 6-6. It stayed that way through the end of regulation time.
Cedar Mountain scored on its first play of overtime, as Zeug scored on a 10-yard run. The Chargers held the Cougars short on their two-point conversion attempt.
WWG was able to work down to the Cougar 1 yard line and had fourth-and-goal from there, but a running play was stuffed inches shy of the goal line, ending the game.
Ross completed 17-of-41 passes for 245 yards. David Lee rushed 16 times for 55 yards. Curry had nine catches for 168 yards.
Pairings for the Section 3 Nine-Man Tournament will be announced Thursday.
