Photo by Sam Thiel Minneota’s AJ Josephson carries the ball during their game against Dawson-Boyd on Wednesday. Minneota defeated DB 29-6.

MINNEOTA — Both the No. 2-ranked Minneota and Dawson-Boyd football teams entered Wednesday’s regular-season finale looking to take another step forward with their strong play. Thanks to a solid first half on the offensive end and stifling defensive play throughout, Minneota earned a 29-6 victory and finished its regular season with a perfect 8-0 record.

Minneota jumped out to a quick start, marching down into Dawson-Boyd territory before AJ Josephson found the end zone to make it 7-0 with 10:22 left in the opening quarter. After a quick three-and-out by DB, Minneota took advantage of the short field position, as Isaac Pohlen connected with Anthony Rybinski on a pass for another score one play later to push its lead to 15-0 with 8:47 left in the quarter after the successful two-point conversion.

Dawson-Boyd used a strong kickoff return to start its next drive, but were backed up before an interception by Cale Sorensen gave the ball to Minneota. Both teams would trade empty possessions to end the quarter, but Minneota opened the second frame with another scoring drive, with Josephson reaching the end zone on a short run to make it 22-0 with 11:39 left in the first half.

Another huge return by Dawson-Boyd on the ensuing kickoff put them at the Minneota 43, but DB wasn’t able to capitalize and went three-and-out. But the DB defense answered right back, as Holt Larson got an interception and returned it 19 yards the other way for a touchdown to get them on the board at 22-6 after the two-point conversion was no good with 7:47 left in the first half. The pick-6 was the first points allowed by Minneota since Sept. 10 against Yellow Medicine East and snapped a 21-quarter shutout streak by the Vikings. Both teams then traded empty possessions the remainder of the half, with DB recovering a fumble in the final seconds of the frame to keep it at 22-6 going into the locker rooms.

After a scoreless third quarter, DB appeared to strike again on the defensive end in the early stages of the fourth when Braxton Hahn recorded another pick-6, but the scoring play was called back due to a holding penalty. The two teams then traded empty possessions until midway through the frame when Rybinski scored on a 26-yard touchdown run for Minneota to bring it to the 29-6 final.

Josephson led Minneota with 129 rushing yards on 22 carries and two touchdowns while Jonah Gruenes added 72 yards on the ground on eight carries, Conner Sik had 67 yards rushing on 13 carries and Rybinksi had 42 yards rushing on three carries and a score. Pohlen completed two of his six pass attempts for 28 yards and a touchdown while Rybinski led in receiving with a 22-yard touchdown reception.

Defensively, Jonah Gruenes led Minneota with six total tackles while Sik added three total tackles and Sorensen recorded an interception.

No stats for Dawson-Boyd were available at press time.

Up next

Both Minneota and Dawson-Boyd (6-2) will find out its section opponents later this week.

Minneota 29, DB 6

DB 0 6 0 0 – 6

Minneota 15 7 0 7 – 29

SCORING SUMMARY

First Quarter

Minneota: Josephson 19 yd run (Gillund kick).

Minneota: Rybinski 22 yd pass from Pohlen (Lipinski run).

Second Quarter

Minneota: Josephson 6 yd run (Gillund kick).

DB: Larson 19 yd interception return (2-pt. conversion no good).

Third Quarter

No scoring.

Fourth Quarter

Minneota: Rybinski 26 yd run (Gillund kick).

Individual statistics

Passing (Comp-Att-Yds-TD): Minneota (Pohlen 2-6-28-1); DB (NR).

Rushing (Att-Yds-TD): Minneota (Josephson 22-129-2; J. Gruenes 8-72; Sik 13-67; Rybinski 3-42-1); DB (NR).

Receiving (Rec-Yds-TD): Minneota (Rybinski 1-22-1; DeSmet 1-6); DB (NR).

Defense (Total tackles-Int): Minneota (J. Gruenes 6; Sik 3; Sorensen 1-1); DB (NR).