Proctor tops Virginia

Kerry Rodd – NSO

The Proctor Rails secured a berth in the Section 7AAA semifinals by taking a 30-15 win over Virginia. Thanks to a strong second half the Rails overcame a first half deficit in earning a date with the Two Harbors Agates on Saturday.

Jake Malec, Proctor’s quarterback, raced 61 yards to pay dirt in the first quarter to give his team a 7-0 edge after the extra point kick by Luke Hannan. However, the Blue Devils responded with a pair of scores to take a 9-7 halftime lead. The first Virginia score was a 35-yard touchdown pass from Jared Dahl to Bo Zupetz and after Conner Cusick booted the extra point the game was even at 7-7. Before the first quarter ended the Blue Devils defense scored by tackling Proctor in the end zone for a safety and the first half ended with Virginia up 9-7.

The Rails came out in the second half and dominated the line of scrimmage and Jack Chalstrom was the recipient with a 79-yard touchdown run to make it 15-9 after a Malec conversion run.

In the fourth quarter the Rails got a five-yard touchdown run from Tanner Haedrich which was followed by another two-point conversion run by Malec as Proctor went up 23-9. Virginia followed with a touchdown of their own from Parker Davis, but Chase Urie nabbed a pass from Malec and raced 19-yards for a touchdown for Proctor to close out the scoring after the extra point kick by Hannan.

The win moves the Rails into a 2 p.m. game on Saturday at Two Harbors. Proctor got 209 rushing yards from Chalstrom and Malec added 82 yards on the ground.

Kerry Rodd can be reached at kerry@norhtlandsportsonline.com