Minneota zips past MACCRAY; advances to play Dawson
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MINNEOTA -- Minneota coach Chad Johnson wanted his team to set the tone right away against the MACCRAY Wolverines during Saturday's section 4A semi-finals at Gerhard Meidt Stadium.
On their first drive in the first quarter, the Vikings took possession at midfield after a MACCRAY punt with 9 minutes on the clock and topped off a quick scoring drive on a 17-yard pass from quarterback Tristen Sussner to Landon Espring in the end zone for 7-0.
Minnesota's top-ranked Class A football team never looked back on its way to a 43-13 win to remain unbeaten and advance to play Dawson next Friday in the third round in Class A playoffs.
Tristin Sussner passed for two other touchdowns in the game. He connected with Owen Myrvik on a 64-yard touchdown pass and a 19-yard touchdown pass to Ian Myhre. Both scores came in the second quarter.
" I thought we did a nice job in the first half. We came out, did a lot of things we wanted to do," Johnston said after the game. "A little sloppy with penalties, and that was kind of throughout the game. But again, we set the tone. I thought in the first half did a lot of good things."
Two first-quarter scores came on a 2-yard rushing touchdown by Randy Sorenson and 1-yard rushing touchdown by Kaden Christensen. Quinton Anderson scored a 7-yard run in the second quarter.
Tristen Sussner finished the game completing eight passes out of 10 attempts for 194 yards. Sorenson rushed for 88 yards on eight attempts Gage Johnston rushed for 48 yards on three carries. Esping was the leading receiver for the Vikings with three receptions for 52 yards.
Minneota built up a 43-0 lead going into the fourth quarter. Johnston took out some of his starters and MACCRAY was able to move the ball. MCCRAY quarterback Lucas Janssen connected with receiver Jonah Janssen for a 25-yard pass that set up the Wolverines with a first-and-goal at the 5-yard line. That set up a rushing touchdown by Lucas Janssen for the Wolverines first score. The extra point was no good and it was 43-6 at that point.
With less than 2 minutes left in the game, Mario Gradillas took the hand off and rushed toward the Minneota sidelines and trotted into the end zone for another MACCRAY score. This time the extra point kicks was good.
While Minneota took some of the starters out, MACCRAY Coach Trent Carlson was pleased with the fourth-quarter effort.
"I thought we played pretty well. We made a few errors -- they capitalized. We got a bunch of young guys. And yo know we love to continue to grow and develop. Really excited for what's coming here in the future," Carlson said after the game. "Hopefully we will build on this season into next and get where Minneota has been for the last, now by you know, forever it feels."
MACCRAY's Jonah Janssen finished the game completing 10 passes on 18 attempts for 59 yards.