Panthers Go From 1-8 to 10-1 To Win Section Title

Kody Karppinen intercepts a pass with 1:26 left in the game to stop what could have been a game tying drive.
Photo: Wes Vork-NSO

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Nov 2, 2012

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

DULUTH- Friday night the South Ridge Panthers playing in their first section Championship game proved that the Panthers were deserving of the section’s number one seed as South Ridge knocked off the Cromwell Cardinals by a score of 20-12 to advance to the State quarterfinals next Friday night.

“The team that wins the turnover battle will win tonight’s game.” Head Cromwell football coach Jeff Gronner told Northland Sports Online before Friday night’s Section 5 9-man championship contest at Public Schools Stadium. “Playoff games between two good teams comes down to that one key factor and that winner will win tonight’s game.”

How those words came true as the Cromwell Cardinals lost the turnover battle 5-3 Friday night and the Panthers, in only their second year of existence as the South Ridge Panthers will be playing in their first state tournament.

The Cardinals stopped the Panthers on their first drive of the game and following a South Ridge punt Cromwell drove down the field and was threatening to score when they fumble into the end zone. The loose ball was recovered by South Ridge and turned into seven points. The Panthers drove down the field and it was a Kody Karppinen’s four yard touchdown run and a 6-0 lead from South Ridge.

South Ridge used the momentum from that first touchdown to play solid defense, and after holding Cromwell on their next two offensive possessions Brody Wilton would break away from three Cromwell tacklers to scamper 45 yards into the end zone and give the Panthers 12-0 lead at halftime.

The Cardinals came alive in the second half after the Panthers misplayed a Cromwell punt. The Panthers miscue led to a Cardinal touchdown as Jared Hutar scored on a one yard touchdown run. That score cut the Panthers lead in half. Later in the third quarter, an interception by Cromwell led to their second touchdown and a tie score at 12-12, when Hutar connected with Josh Oliver on a 15 yard touchdown pass.

With the game tied and a huge defensive stop by the Cromwell defense; South Ridge linebacker Robby McQuade intercepted his first of two interceptions late in the game. This interception lead to the Panthers winning touchdown as Karppinen, who was under pressure on a fourth down and goal play threw a pass into the end zone and a Drew Janke reception turned out to be the winning margin for South Ridge.

“When the fourth quarter started, we told these kids defense is going to win the game. We have been in tight games all year, triple overtime games and out defense has got it done all year; just go out and do what we are capable of.” Panthers Head Coach Tony DeLeon explained to Northland Sports Online after the game.

A big part of the Panthers not panicking after the slew of miscues and turnovers was their leadership from players like Walker Kuhlman. “I seem to get the credit for the leadership, but it really is all of the seniors, guys like Tony Erickson and others who keep everyone positive,” explained Kuhlman. “I told everyone in the fourth quarter, this could be your last play as a senior, do you want it to end. Don’t be forty years old and have regrets, go out and make a play and we did. I love these guys and I love this team.”

“We told Cody we needed him to play defense also tonight; he is a playmaker and playmakers can’t make plays on the sidelines,” Deleon said of his quarterback turned corner.

Seeing his first action of the season at defense, other than one series in an earlier game, Karppinen made his coaches look like geniuses when he came through with an acrobatic interception at the Panthers three yard line. The pick stopped a Cromwell drive which could have tied the game with 1:26 remaining in regulation.

“I always said playing quarterback is great” mentioned Karppinen who did not play football last year but came back to the game this year because of a new coach. “I really love playing football this year, and after tonight, I really love playing defense also.”

The Cardinals held South Ridge after three plays, and using all three of their time outs, Cromwell got the ball back for one last try. That is when McQuade stepped up and made his second interception to seal the Panthers victory.

After winning one game in the past two years the Panthers are now 10-1 under first year head coach DeLeon and are headed to a state quarterfinal matchup with Nevis next Friday at 5:00 pm at St. Cloud State University.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com