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Vikings Secure Dominant Victory to Advance in Playoffs
In a commanding performance, the Pelican Rapids football team surged to a 19-0 lead in the first quarter and extended it to 55-6 by halftime in the quarterfinal round of the Section 8AA football playoffs on Tuesday night against Roseau. The Vikings clinched a resounding 55-6 triumph. Next up, they are set to host Park Rapids Area in the semifinals, scheduled for 2:00 pm this Saturday. Meanwhile, top-seeded Barnesville will face off against Frazee in the other 8AA semifinal matchup.
The scoring spree commenced with Timmy Guler’s 7-yard TD run, followed by Jack Kapenga’s 2-yard touchdown run to give Pelican Rapids a 12-0 lead. A 47-yard run by Jack Paulson, combined with a successful Grady Larson PAT kick, left the Vikings firmly in control at 19-0 by the end of the first quarter.
Rockets Soar to Semifinals with Convincing Win Over Comets
The Underwood Rockets displayed a dominant performance in the Section 4 9-Player quarterfinals on Tuesday night, securing a 44-14 victory over Hillcrest Lutheran Academy. Noah Link was the star of the game, amassing three interceptions and scoring a touchdown on a 28-yard reception from Evan Lundgren. The Rockets seized an early 6-0 lead with Owen Harig’s 21-yard run, followed by Link’s touchdown reception. Kaleb Hammes then added to the lead with a 15-yard TD pass from Lundgren, and Soren Floden’s successful PAT kick made it 20-0.
Collin Lukken’s pair of second-quarter touchdown runs, spanning 30 and 3 yards, further extended the Rockets’ lead to 34-0 by halftime.
Eagles Surprise Knights with 35-20 Victory
In an unexpected turn of events, New York Mills took on West Central Area in the Section 6A quarterfinal round playoff game on Tuesday night in Barrett. Right from the start, they established their dominance. After forcing the Knights into a 3-and-out on the opening possession, sophomore Finn Roder kick-started the game with a 50-yard punt return for a touchdown, giving the Eagles an early 7-0 lead after Joseph Mann added the extra point kick. Roder’s influence continued as he threw a pair of touchdown passes, ran for a 55-yard gain, and intercepted two passes, one of them in the end zone, before leaving the game due to an injury in the third quarter.
The Knights’ fumble on their subsequent possession allowed the Eagles to start their drive from their own 24-yard line. Seven plays later, with just seven seconds left in the first quarter, Roder connected with Mann on a 14-yard TD pass, making it a 14-0 game at the end of the first quarter.
Otters Suffer Tough Loss to MACA in Quarterfinals
The Fergus Falls Otters secured a 12-0 halftime lead, but they couldn’t maintain it as Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta rallied with 15 straight points in the second half to eliminate the Otters 15-12 in the Section 8AAA quarterfinals at Big Cat Stadium on the UM-Morris campus on Tuesday night. The Tigers’ strong defense held the Otters to just 32 yards in the second half, aiding in their comeback victory.
Fergus Falls embarked on a 69-yard scoring drive, culminating in a 4-yard run by Griffin Babolian, giving them a 6-0 lead. The Otters extended their lead to 12-0 with a 4-yard run by Henry Bethel, set up by a 40-yard pass from Bethel to Isaiah Holmes during the drive.
Breckenridge Cowboys Secure Convincing Victory Over Pine River-Backus
The Breckenridge Cowboys kicked off their Section 6A quarterfinal playoff game against Pine River-Backus with a strong start, amassing a 28-0 halftime lead and ultimately securing a 35-14 victory. Breckenridge dominated with 381 yards of offense, of which 341 came from the ground game. They also notched 18 first downs and capitalized on three turnovers.
Battlers Triumph in Grueling 5-Set Match Against Rothsay
In a grueling five-set match, Battle Lake hosted Rothsay in a Section 6A pigtail game on Monday night, emerging victorious with scores of 25-16, 28-30, 25-20, 22-25, and 15-9. Battle Lake Assistant Coach Heather Akerman expressed her excitement about the team’s collective effort to defeat the much-improved Rothsay Tigers. The energy in the gym, fueled by passionate fans, played a pivotal role in their victory.
Gracie Morris Named Olson Oil Company Athlete of the Week
Sophomore Gracie Morris from the Perham Girls Cross Country Team has been recognized as the Olson Oil Company Athlete of the Week. Morris secured the girls’ individual title at the Heart O’ Lakes Conference meet in Pelican Rapids on Tuesday, October 17, with a time of 20:02.6. Her outstanding performance also led the Yellowjackets to their 20th consecutive HOL title with a winning team score of 17.