Scott Salfer found the end zone four times in the section championship game.
St. Mary’s flexed their muscles early and often and never looked back in their domination of the undefeated and defending state champions New Ulm Cathedral in the Section 2A championship game played Friday night in New Ulm. The Knights found the end zone on nearly every drive en route to a 44-18 win over the heavily favored Greyhounds. They will now advance to the quarterfinal round of the Class A State Tournament.
St. Mary’s took the opening kickoff 70-yards, methodically moving the ball on the ground. An 18-yard pass reception by Joe Meyer set up Scott Salfer for a two-yard run to paydirt. Sean Mathiowetz hauled in the two-point conversion to put the Knights up 8-0 at the 6:32 mark.
Cathedral looked rattled on their first drive. A fumble was recovered for a three-yard loss. Then the Hounds quarterback was tripped up by the turf on a 3rd-and-13 play. They lined up to punt the ball but the snap was muffed and they were never able to get the kick off.
St. Mary’s was knocking on the door again at the 26. Salfer once again found the end zone, this time on a four yard run. Adam Sellner caught the PAT to put the Knights up 16-0 with 2:05 to play in the first quarter.
Cathedral got a 43-yard run on their next drive, then a 17-yard pass play went for six on the first snap of the second quarter. The pass on the extra point was knocked away, allowing St. Mary’s to maintain a 16-6 advantage.
The Hounds stepped in front of a Knight would-be receiver to pick off a pass on St. Mary’s next drive. NUC gave the ball right back to the Knights when a halfback option floated its way into arms of Brady Hansen’s.
The Knights took over at their own nine yard line. The first dagger was put into Cathedral when St. Mary’s marched the length of the field including coverting a 4th-and-1 play with a 15-yard pass to Meyer. Salfer scored his third TD of the half when he pushed the pile over the goal line from two yards out. Mathiowetz came up with the two-point conversion and the rout was on with the Knights leading 24-6 with 4:57 to in the second quarter.
The defense came up big on Cathedral’s next drive. With a 4th-and-1 at the Knights 41 yard line, Kyle Krzmarzick rushed through the line untouched and flattened the Hounds back. St. Mary’s was back in business at the 38-yard line.
The Knights faced a 4th-and-6 with 20 second left on the clock. Anderson lobbed the pigskin to Mathiowetz who secured it against his helmet before falling out of bound. After a short discussion, the referees agreed he maintained control. Sellner with a pass on the PAT. St. Mary’s took a 32-6 lead into halftime.
Cathedral scored on their first drive of the second half and then forced the Knights to turn the ball over on downs at the 25-yard line. The Greyhounds were unable to move the ball and lined up to punt. It was an obvious fake and the Knights smelled it out.
St. Mary’s again took control deep in New Ulm’s territory. The Knights converted another fourth down play, this time 4th-and-4 from the four yard line on an Anderson to Meyer TD pass. One play into the fourth quarter, the score now stood 38-12.
Both teams would add one more touchdown in the fourth quarrter. St. Mary’s came on a 14-yard run by Salfer, his fourth of the game with 4:37 to play to put to rest any thought of a miracle come back.
St. Mary’s will now face off against Adrain Friday night at Southwest Minnesota State in Marshall for state quarterfinals. This is the Knights third trip to the elite tournament, their first since 1988. They also made an apperance in 1979.
