RRC 00-00-00-14 = 14
HBC 16-16-12-00 = 44
Hills-Beaver Creek’s high-powered offense was matched only by its high-powered defense Thursday, as the Patriots shut down Red Rock Central for a 44-14 victory in the Class Nine-Player quarterfinals, played at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall.
The Patriots scored on six of their first seven offensive possessions while holding the Falcon offense under wraps until the fourth quarter.
After forcing RRC to a three-and-out on the opening possession, the Patriots needed just four plays to find the end zone, as Jamin Metzger hit Brodie Metzger with a 61-yard touchdown pass. The two-point conversion gave HBC an 8-0 lead.
After another Falcon three-and-out, the Patriots again needed just four plays to score, as Brodie Metzger scored on a 45-yard touchdown run for a 16-0 lead.
HBC forced the Falcons into an interception on the next possession, but RRC returned the favor, as Jordan Therkilsen intercepted a pass in the end zone for a turnover. But the Patriots forced another three-and-out and converted on a 3-yard run by Jamin Metzger early in the second quarter for a 24-0 lead.
RRC mounted its best drive of the opening half on its next possession, aided by a pair of Patriot penalties. The Falcons picked up a fourth down conversion on a pass from Abe Stavnes to Carter Therkilsen, but the drive stalled following a tackle for loss and a bad snap, creating a long-yardage situation.
HBC capitalized, moving quickly up the field and eventually scoring on a 1-yard Jamin Metzger run with just one second left in the first half. The two-point conversion gave HBC a 32-0 lead.
HBC then needed just two plays to start the second half with a touchdown, as Jamin Metzger found Micah Bush for a 44-yard touchdown pass.
RRC was unable to convert a fourth down try, turning the ball over on downs in its own territory. HBC capped its scoring shortly later on a 4-yard Bush touchdown run.
The Falcon defense forced a Patriot punt late in the third quarter, with the Falcons snapping the shutout on the first play of the fourth quarter on a 77-yard Carter Therkilsen touchdown run, making the score 44-6.
Following another Patriot punt, the Falcons went 97 yards in nine plays. A 56-yard Carter Therkilsen run set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Stavnes. Stavnes hit Finn Batalden for the two-point conversion, making the final score 44-14.
Carter Therkilsen finished the game with 25 carries for 193 yards. He finishes his career in second place on the state’s career rushing yardage list with over 7,300 yards.
Stavnes rushed 10 times for 21 yards and completed 5-of-11 passes for 22 yards.
