Edgerton 00-14-00-08 = 22
MLA 14-08-06-13 = 41
The Mt. Lake Area football team got the rematch it wanted and saw a milestone eclipsed in the process, as the Wolverines defeated Edgerton 41-22 in the Section 3 Nine-Player semifinals Saturday in Mt. Lake.
The win made Head Coach Tim Kirk the career coaching wins leader in Mt. Lake/MLBO/MLA history with 144 victories. Kirk passed his former high school coach, Marty Skow, to become the career wins leader.
The Wolverines started fast, scoring on the first drive of the game on a 3-yard Evan Karschnik run for a 6-0 lead.
After forcing an Edgerton three-and-out, Wolverines Cooper Wenner blocked the Dutchmen punt, giving MLA the ball at the Edgerton 30. Five plays later, Jake Evers hit John Bergeman over the middle for a 16-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion gave MLA a 14-0 lead.
Edgerton didn’t go away quietly, taking the ensuing drive 70 yards in 18 plays, capped with a 1-yard Michael Gunnink touchdown run and two-point conversion to make the score 14-8.
Then, after a Wolverine punt, the Dutchmen evened the score, as Gunnink scored on a 7-yard run to tie the score at 14-14.
But the Wolverines struck quickly on the ensuing drive, as Evers hit Ethan Rahn over the middle for a 65-yard touchdown strike. Karschnik’s two-point conversion gave MLA a 22-14 lead at halftime.
The Wolverine defense then took over, stuffing Edgerton on a fourth-down play near midfield. The Wolverines cashed in the turnover on downs, as Karschnik raced for a 36-yard touchdown for a 28-14 lead.
Edgerton drove into Wolverine territory, but MLA’s defense again turned the Dutchmen over on downs. The Wolverines again cashed in, as Karschnik scored on a 45-yard run for a 34-14 lead.
On the ensuing drive, a mishandled snap on fourth down was recovered by MLA’s Jason Wright. The Wolverines converted with a seven-play, 31-yard drive, capped when Evers hit Karschnik for a 5-yard touchdown. Evers added the extra point kick for a 41-14 lead.
Edgerton capped the scoring with a 22-yard run by Gunnink.
Karschnik finished with 182 yards rushing on 24 carries. Evers completed 5-of-8 passes for 121 yards. Rahn had two catches for 62 yards.
The win puts MLA in the section finals on Friday, where it will face top-seeded Hills-Beaver Creek. HBC claimed a 20-8 win over the Wolverines in Week 7 of the regular season.
RRC 00-00-00-08 = 08
RCW 13-13-15-00 = 41
Renville County West scored on four straight first-half drives Saturday, setting the tone early in a 41-8 victory over Red Rock Central in the Section 2 Nine-Player semifinals at Danube.
The Falcon offense couldn’t sustain drives much of the day, as RRC had three drives stopped on downs. The Falcons also threw an interception and lost a fumble in the game.
Meanwhile, RCW capitalized on short fields much of the first half to build a commanding 26-0 lead. Quarterback Austin Rice scored on runs of 18 and 7 yards in the first quarter.
Then, in the second, Rice hit Joe Valdovinos for a 13-yard touchdown and Jacob Savig added a 9-yard touchdown run.
RCW then scored on its first two drives of the third quarter, as Savig scored on a 4-yard run and Rice scored on a 1-yard sneak for a 41-0 lead.
RRC got on the board in the fourth quarter, as a 12-play, 65-yard drive was capped by a Carter Therkilsen 1-yard touchdown run. Abe Stavnes hit Finn Batalden for the two-point conversion.
Therkilsen rushed 33 times for 135 yards in the loss.
As a team, RRC completed 5-of-10 passes for 27 yards.
Next games: Check for updates after each game.
MLA: vs. HBC (at SMSU, Marshall), Nov. 1
