Sports Wrap: Sartell, Albany, Annandale Win Opening Round Football Tilts, Volleyball Regular Season Ends

(KNSI) –

High School Football

8AAAAA

#4 Sartell 33, #5 Bemidji 21: The Sabres get their second win in less than a week against the visiting Lumberjacks. Tuesday’s contest was a very different kind of football game. Dominated by running early on, Bemidji got on the board first after a 7:34 opening drive. Quinten Young punched it in from two yards out after it looked like Sartell had gotten off the field with a blocked field goal. A personal foul penalty gave the Lumberjacks a second chance.

Sartell answered back late in the first frame with a short quarterback sneak from Cole Hentges. The Sabres leaned on running back Donovan Lund for most of the opening half, including a five-yard touchdown run about halfway through the second quarter. After a turnover on downs around the Sabre 40-yard-line, Sartell went into their two minute offense. Hentges found Dylan Simones for a 9-yard pass with only 10 seconds remaining before half, making it 20-7.

The Sabres got the opening kickoff after the break and it was Kelechi Nwachukwu’s time to shine. The six-foot senior took it 91 yards angling left for a return touchdown. Nwachukwu also forced a fumble and had an interception after the break.

#3 Alexandria 35, #6 St. Cloud Tech 6: Tech’s lone touchdown came on an interception return in the third quarter.

8AAAA

#4 Little Falls 13, #5 St. Cloud Apollo 12: The Eagles almost pulled the mild upset. Little Falls advances to a Saturday matchup with ROCORI that will be broadcast on KNSI.

6AAA

#2 Albany 59, #7 Minnewaska 12: Huskies quarterback Carter Voss was efficient, going 4-5 for 79 yards and two touchdowns. Albany did most of its damage on the ground. Twelve different players combined for over 400 yards rushing. The leader was Cole Panek, who carried six times for 121 yards and two scores.

#4 Pierz 27, #5 Melrose 14: The Pioneers advance to face New London-Spicer, who had a bye.

5AAA

#4 Annandale 35, #5 St. Cloud Cathedral 18: The Cardinals soar past the Crusaders thanks to a potent rushing attack. Quarterback Nick Walter went in on the ground from 19 yards out in the first quarter and he had a one-yard touchdown carry in the third frame. Running back Connor Lampi also found the endzone twice for Annandale. Crusader quarterback Trevor Fleege had two touchdown completions, one to Jacob Eickhoff and the other targeting Emanuel Kutzera.

#7 Foley 38, #2 Spectrum 12: The Falcons took the sting out of Spectrum and sprung the upset. Foley led 25-7 at halftime thanks to two touchdown runs by Derek Dahmen. It’s only fitting that the Falcons would do some damage through the air as well. Quarterback Evan Miller delivered a pass to Bryce Gapinski that went 85 yards to pay dirt.

5AA

#4 Paynesville 40, #5 Holdingford 22: Husker quarterback Drew Lange completed half his passes, racking up 176 yards and a touchdown. Luke Bieniek paced Holdingford in the run game. He had 13 carries for 128 yards. Ryder Petersen and Connor Patrick each had one rushing touchdown.

High School Volleyball

Becker 3, Apollo 0 (12-25, 17-25, 15-25): The Eagles have wrapped up their regular season. They are the eighth seed in the 8AAA sectional. Their first match is Thursday against #1 Detroit Lakes. Becker is on the other side of the bracket as the seven-seed. They visit #2 ROCORI in a match set to be broadcast on KNSI.

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