Adam Sellner celebrates the game clinching touchdown in the fourth quarter.
St. Mary’s scored 22 second half points en route to 34-15 domination of Adrian in the State football quarterfinal round held at Mattke Field on the campus of Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall Friday night.
The Dragon got on the scoreboard first with a 52-yard drive on their second possession of the game to take a 7-0 lead.
The Knights answered the call, scoring on their next drive. Sean Mathiowetz caught a short pass then raced up the sideline for a 33-yard gain to set up the score. Jordan Anderson’s 3-yard run with 10:35 to play in the half capped off the 12-play, 63-yard march down the field. The two point conversion failed, St. Mary’s trailed 7-6.
Adrian increased their lead to 15-6 with a 16-yard touchdown pass with 5:56 to go in the second quarter.
St. Mary’s took advantage of a big kickoff return to midfield from Jake Lilleodden to set up their next scoring drive.
On a 4th-and-1 play, Anderson faked a run, stepped back and tossed the ball to Joe Meyer at the 25-yard line. Meyer did the rest, breaking a tackle then sprinting to end zone. The extra point pass was incomplete.
The Knights surprised the Dragon with the ensuing kickoff. Adam Sellner recovered the short kick at the 36-yard line. Adrian dodged a bullet when Anderson fumble the snap at the 12-yard line.
The two teams headed into the intermission with the Dragon holding a slim 15-12 advantage.
St. Mary’s turned the ball over on their first possession of the second half when Anderson threw an interception at the Dragons’ 27-yard line.
Adrian promptly marched the ball to the Knights 14-yard line before facing a 4th-and-11. The Dragons decided to go for it but Carter Krzmarzick came up big with a tackle for a loss.
The Knights took over on downs and Anderson took over on the ground, with a 71-yard jaunt to the 2-yard line. Mitch Neid finished things off with a run to paydirt. Scott Salfer went around end for the two-point conversion. St. Mary’s took their first lead of the contest, 20-15.
The Knights defense then forced a three-and-out. Following the punt, St. Mary’s offense took control at the 25-yard line. Anderson quickly moved the ball into Dragon territory with a 39-yard run. Anderson then connected with Adam Sellner at the goal line. Sellner bobbled the ball but managed to haul it in for a 19-yard score. Mathiowetz caught an over over-the-shoulder pass to put the local boys up 28-15 with 9:47 to play.
Nolan Helget made a nice tackle on the kickoff to pin Adrian deep at their own 17 yard line. Things only got worse for the Dragons. The Knights’ defense made the stops to force a punt. Adrian lined up to punt but passed instead. The ball fell incomplete. St. Mary’s was back in business, 17 yards from the goal line.
Adrian would get a reprieve, this time, with a pick off. It was short lived. The Dragons again faced a fourth down, this time they chose to punt.
St. Mary’s took over near the 50-yard line and 5:33 to kill. The Knights worked the clock with their running game until they faced a 4th-and-3 at the 14 yard line. Anderson stepped back and hit Mathiowetz in stride at the goal line with 1:18 left to play.
The celebration began.
The Knights will make their first ever appearance in the state tournament semi-final round. They will now travel to the Mall of America field at the Hubert H. Humphery Metrodome to face off against Mahnomen Friday morning at 10:15 a.m.
STATS
Passing
Jordan Anderson 12/20 223 yds 3 touchdowns
Receiving
Adam Sellner 2 receptions 38 yds 1 touchdown
Sean Mathiowetz 7 receptions 123 yds 1 touchdowns
Tanner Weiss 1 reception 19 yds
Joe Meyer 2 receptions 43 yds 1 touchdown
Rushing
Scott Salfer 13 carries 28 yds
Jordan Anderson 19 carries 139 yds 1 touchdown
Mitch Neid 3 carries 7 yds 1 touchdown
Jake Lilleodden 1 cary 5 yds
Defensive
Kyle Krzmarzick 10 solo tackles 1 assisted 1 sack
Brady Hansen 6 solo tackles
David Surprenant 5 solo tackles 1 assisted
Sean Mathiowetz 5 solo tackles
Josh Kopacek 3 solo tackles 2 assisted