ML-WR In State Championship Game

Paul Gregersen- For NSO

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Nov 20

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

MINNEAPOLIS – The Luverne Cardinals were seeking to make it back to the Class AA state championship game for the fourth straight season, but it was the Rebels of Moose Lake-Willow River who would advance for the first time in school history. The Rebels defeated the Cardinals 27-21 Friday night at Mall of America Field, better known as the Metrodome.

ML-WR came out on a mission, looking to advance to the state finals for the first time in school history. The Rebels kicked off to start the game and it was the defense their Rebels that stopped the Cardinals on their opening drive to help set up their first score. Following the Luverne punt,
Austin Jacobson took the handoff and dashed 52 yards for the Rebels touchdown. Michael Bennett added the extra point and the Rebels led 7-0, having run only one offensive play.

Again, Moose Lake-Willow River used great defense to shut down Luverne on theit next drive, forcing the Cardinals to punt. On the attempt, Spencer Clough charged through the Cardinals punt team to block the Luverne punt and set up the second Rebel score. The Rebels drove in close but were forced to settle for a field goal of 25-yards. After the field goal, ML-WR led by a score of 10-0.

The Cardinals answered back after the second Rebel score. They marched 62 yards on 11 plays and, with 2:13 left in the first quarter, Hayden Bauman scored on a 3-yard run. The extra point was no good and the score stayed at a 10-6 Rebel lead after one quarter. The Rebels would strike again very quickly when the second quarter began with Jacobson taking the pitch from Rejoin Carlson, allowing Jacobson to score untouched from three yards out and extend the Rebel lead to 16-6. Bennett again made the extra point and the Rebels led 17-6 going into halftime.

ML-WR took the second half’s opening kick and marched down the field with Michael Unzen scoring on a 22-yard touchdown run, putting the Rebels in front by a comfortable 24-6 margin. The Cardinals would not say die though, still strongly seeking their fourth straight championship appearance. They scored two touchdowns in the final fifteen minutes of the game to cut into the Rebels’ 18-point lead.

Collin Rohlus and Taylor Mulder each had touchdown runs of 4 yards and, with 2:08 remaining in the game, BG Xaisongkahm kicked a 29-yard field goal to cut the Rebels lead to six at 27-21. In between the two touchdown runs of the Cardinals, Bennett added his second 25-yard field goal of the game.

Following the Luverne field goal, the Rebels were forced to punt the ball back with just over two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Luverne would drive down the field. However, a pass attempt by Laverne’s Ryan Hoff was intercepted by Unzen at the 21-yard line to seal the victory and assure the first appearance in the title game for Moose Lake-Willow River.

“A big play by a big time player,” head coach Dave Louzek would say following the game. “We faced a good team tonight, but we made more plays in the end.” The Rebels improve to 13-0 on the season, setting a school record for most wins in a season.

The Rebels will face the winner of Eden Valley Watkins and Waterville-Elysian-Morristown who square off Saturday afternoon at the Mall of America Field. The championship game will be next Friday, November 27th at 4:00 pm.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com