Knights Take Home AAAA

NSO – NEWS RELEASE

St. Michael-Albertville can finally exhale, pump their fists with delight and savor a piece of school history.
The Knights, an eight-time participant in the Minnesota State High School League’s football state tournament have come close to winning a championship just once, in 1999, but had to settle for a runner-up finish in Class AAA.
That all changed Saturday night, in the final game of the 2015 season, when the Knights ended their journey to a state championship with a 28-21 victory over St. Thomas Academy in the Class AAAA title game at TCF Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus.
Mitchell Kartes rushed for 127 yards and scored two touchdowns and Jacob Veire threw for 177 yards to spark the Knights (12-1), who advanced to the semifinals last season.
En route to their first championship, the Knights specialized in close finishes. They defeated Spring Lake Park 15-14 in the quarterfinals and then had a 31-28 victory over defending Class AAAAA champion Mankato West in the semifinals.
With a title at stake, St. Michael-Albertville turned to a timely defense that turned staunch in not allowing the Cadets to rally in the final minutes.
St. Thomas Academy (11-2) pulled to within 28-21 with 4:16 remaining when Tommy Dolan hit Woody Hubbell with a 7-yard scoring pass. The Cadets got the ball back again with 3:39 left, but the drive went backward quickly when St. Michael-Albertville’s John Zimmer recorded two consecutive sacks.
Kartes lifted St. Michael-Albertville to a 14-all deadlock at the half on a 1-yard run with 55 seconds left in the second quarter that capped a 10-play, 77-yard drive. His TD snapped a 14-point spree by St. Thomas Academy.
The Cadets grabbed their first lead on McFadden’s 4-yard run with 4:06 left in the second quarter. Late in the first quarter, St. Thomas Academy climbed into a 7-all tie after Mac Brown and quarterback Tommy Dolan hooked up for an 83-yard touchdown strike.
Kartes led all rushers in the first half with 68 yards on 10 carries. McFadden had 48 yards on seven attempts.

iok