Cromwell Wins Section Title

Wes Vork-NSO

Click Here For Additional Game Photos

Click Here To View Post-Game And Fan Photos

Nov 6

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

CROMWELL – The Cromwell Cardinals have once again proved why they are consistently one of the strongest football programs in northern Minnesota. This will be the Cardinals 14th state football appearance in the last 22 years.

The Cardinals used their dominating defense to shut out the Floodwood Polar Bears for their second straight playoff shutout, downing the Polar Bears 22-0. Last week the Cardinals shut out AlBrook 62-0 in the section semi-finals. Friday night the Cardinals continued to show why they are a team to watch in the state quarterfinals next Friday night.

The first quarter held scoreless until the final play of the quarter when Cromwell quarterback Jordan Suhonen scrambled through the Floodwood defensive line, broke the tackle of one defensive back and exploding for a 79-yard touchdown run. Suhonen then hit Ryan Hutar for the two point conversion, and the Cardinals led 8-0 after one quarter.

Defense would prove dominant in the second quarter because neither team could find an offensive rhythm. Cromwell shut down the Floodwood passing game with pressure on quarterback Zach Heggedahl every time he dropped back to pass. Cromwell defensive tackles recorded four sacks on the evening along with two passes batted down. Floodwood also played well defensively in the second quarter, controlling the Cromwell running game with good solid defense.

Floodwood’s opening drive of the second half stalled and Cromwell capitalized with a 6-yard touchdown run by Mike Hedin. Jordan Suhonen ran in the two point conversion and the Cardinals led 16-0. Floodwood, trailing with time quickly running out in the 3rd quarter, tried to utilize passing to come back after the Cardinal touchdown. However, a Heggedahl pass was intercepted by Dustin Byer and the Cardinals would be in position to strike again before the end of the third quarter.

Mike Hedin scored his second touchdown of the game with less than two minutes remaining in the third quarter. Hedin ran for a 7-yard touchdown and the Cardinals led 22-0. The two point conversion failed because the pass from Suhonen was intercepted in the end zone.

The fourth quarter was played the same as the first with no scoring. Strong Cardinal defense shut down every threat the Polar Bears tried to muster, awarding the Cardinals the Section 5A championship title. Cromwell returns to the state tournament for the first time in three years.
Assisting Cromwell in its efforts, the two -time defending champion McGregor fell to Floodwood in the section semi-finals.

The last Cardinal appearance was in 2006, which ended in a state semi-final loss to the Wheaton Warriors by a score of 22-7. The Cardinals have been the state champions three times in school history 1995, 1996, and 1998. They were also the 9-man state champion runners-up on four occasions in 1992, 1997, 2000, and 2005.

Cromwell finished the game Friday with 338 yards rushing against Floodwood. Jordan Suhonen led the way with 192 yards overall. Jordan Smith finished with 55 and Dylan Mattson racked up 43 yards in the fourth quarter alone. Cromwell completed three passes for 53 yards. Smith caught two passes for 39 yards.

Offensively, Floodwood had little to cheer about. Amos Blanton led the Polar Bears in rushing with 64 yards. Alex Taray, who was converted from tight end to fullback, finished with 30 yards rushing. Floodwood finished with only 135 total yards of offense on the night.

With the win, Cromwell improves to 10-1 on the season and will face Ada-Borup, who defeated Waubun 50-6 in the Section 6 9-man finals Friday afternoon in Grand Forks. The Cougars are making their second straight state football appearance.
Last season they lost in the state semi-finals to the state champion, the Houston Hurricanes. Houston will not be back to defend their state title after losing to Grand Meadow Friday night.

Cromwell and Ada-Borup will square off Friday night at Public School Stadium in Duluth at 7:00 pm. The winner will advance to the state semi-finals at the Metrodome on Saturday, November 21st at 8:00 am.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com