By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
Caledonia moved to within a game of its second-ever state football championship with a 30-14 win over Hawley on November 19.
It was a huge win in front of a huge crowd of Caledonia fans in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis.
The Warriors (13-0) will play Eden Valley-Watkins (11-2) this Friday at 1:15 p.m. at the Metrodome for the Class AA title. The Eagles upset top-ranked Pierz in their semi-final game, 26-7.
Last weekís game brought out the best of Caledoniaís powerful football team. The Big Four in the backfield ó Karl and Kevin Klug, Travis Steele, and Andrell Hudson ó kept the ball moving, gaining a total of 358 yards.
The short and consistent runs were punctuated by three long runs by the Klug Brothers, two for touchdowns by Karl. They sent roars through the gold and black section of the Dome. Hawley couldnít stop Caledoniaís run, and the Nuggetís quick, running offense had problems sustaining drives against the hard-hitting Warriors. Hawley didnít get a first down until nearly 10 minutes into the game, and didnít score until halfway through the third quarter.
Caledonia built a 9-0 first half lead on a safety from a high punt snap, and the first of Karl Klugís two touchdown runs, a 36-yarder with 6:43 left in the first half.
The Warriors scored to start the second half too, running down the field behind big runs by Karl Klug and Andrell Hudson. Kevin Klug got the TD a fourth-and-one plunge.
But Hawley immediately answered with a play that hushed the Caledonia fans. Cory Mattson took a handoff at the 20, went through a crease in the left side of the line, and outraced everyone for a spectacular 80-yard score. Their 2-point conversion on a pass made it 16-8.
They got the ball back on Caledoniaís next possession after Hudson fumbled at the end of a 12-yard run. Hawley started moving the ball upfield from their own 31, getting a first down on a third-and-one play, and it looked like the game was going to tighten up.
Instead it was Caledoniaís defense that tightened. Karl Klug sacked Hawley QB Brady Harms on second down, forcing a third and 26 play that failed. Hawley had to punt.
Caledonia got the ball back on its 34, and cemented the victory with a beautiful drive. Karl Klug put on the exclamation point on the first play of the fourth quarter. He took the handoff at the 40, waited a split second for a hold to open, then galloped like a draft horse untouched into the end zone. Luke Nelsonís third extra point made it 23-8.
ìEleven minutes to go to a state championship!î defensive coordinator Brent Schroeder told Klug when he got to the sidelines. Everybody in the stadium was smelling the waterhole by then.
Hawley must have felt it too. They were stopped once again on three downs, and this time they faked a punt. But quarterback Harms didnít get close to the first down on his left side scramble. That gave Caledonia a ball just 37 yards from the end zone. Kevin Klug carved out 30 of those yards on one play, breaking two tackles and diving to the one yard line. Messner took it the final yard, giving Caledonia a 30-8 lead.
Hawley did score again on a 80 yard drive, and even got the ball back on a successful on-side kick. They moved the ball to the Caledonia five before Wyatt Hammell tackled Mattson to end the drive and any chance of a miracle comeback.
ìOne more to goî
Caledonia players hugged and smiled in joy and maybe a little disbelief as they mingled on the field for about a minute after the game. The jubilant celebration of a week earlier was replaced by an air of calm confidence at what they had done and perhaps what they intended to do one more time. Then they ran off the field, waving to the thousands of fans who cheered and applauded.
Super fan Brian Flick followed the players and coaches as they trudged up the ramp toward their locker room. Flick had watched the game from the sidelines, as he usually does at Caledonia.
ìRoger, weíre number one!î he hollered to assistant coach Roger Knutson.
ìWe did it, buddy,î Knutson said back.
Flick paused a few seconds, then called out, ìOne more to go.î
Players in the locker room gave a lot of credit to the offensive line for keeping the Caledonia ground game going. The line is Chris ìTeddyî Summers at center, Brent Knutson and Wyatt Hammell at guard, Josh Wynn and Paul Bulman at tackle, and Jason Corcoran at end.
ìOur line did awesome,î Messner said. ìOur line opened up huge holes.î
The linemen didnít boast about that. Thatís not their style. ìThey were a good team,î center Chris ìTeddyî Summers said of the Nuggets. ìThey had a good defensive line. I guess we were better than them that day.î
ìTheir defensive tackles werenít big but they were fast,î lineman Josh Wynn elaborated. ìWe just had to use technique more than power.î
Linebacker Kevin Klug said the defense had good pursuit. He thought Mattson would do more cut back plays. ìWe did a pretty good job stopping their option,î Klug said.
ìWe just pounded it down their throat and they couldnít do anything about it,î defensive end Simon Augedahl said.
When you get three or four yards every run, you are going to get first downs and move the ball, Augedahl said. Then he added, ìKarl [Klug], he runs so hard, heís one of the hardest runners Iíve ever seen.î
Andrell Hudson, a junior, sat quietly on a chair. ìIím just happy that we won,î he said. ìThose seniors worked so hard to get here.î
More physical than Hawley
Caledonia coach Carl Fruechte felt the key to the win was Caledonia being more physical than Hawley.
He said the ìscout offenseî that the defense played against during practice the week before the game did a great job. Karl Klug and Wynn mentioned that at a team meeting on Sunday as well, Fruechte said. ìPeople donít realize how important that is.î
The Caledonia backs ran hard, and the line opened great holes, Fruechte said. ìYouíve got to do what youíre best at and thatís what weíre best at,î he said.
All that running offense kept the ball out of Mattsonís hands, which was another goal of the team.
The coaches were happy with the defense except for a few plays, Fruechte said.. ìA couple times it was communication,î he said. ìItís very hard to hear down there.î
On one play some players were out of position, Fruechte added. ìWeíll watch that tape. Our kids will learn from that.î
Simon Augedahl had his best game of the season, Fruechte felt. ìSimon punted the ball extremely well,î Fruechte said. Former Caledonia standout kicker Pat Hurley came to practice last week and helped the kickers and punters. All but one of Nelsonís kick-offs went into the end zone and could not be returned. Augedahl punted three times for 112 yards.
Augedahl also moved around on defense, at end, tackle, and inside and outside linebacker. ìHe did a great job,î the coach said.
Fruechte also thanked the fans. ìI thought our fans were just tremendous.î
The Plainview coaches and players were outstanding too, Fruechte said. They encouraged the players and pumped them up in the hallway of the Dome. ìIt was a lot of class there,î Fruechte said.
Plainview/Elgin-Millville played Albany after the Caledonia-Hawley game and lost 56-13.
Statistics
Rushing: Hudson 5, 32; Karl Klug 19, 162; Kevin Klug 13, 97; Steele 9, 54; Messner 6, 13. Passing: Messner, 1 for 6, 5 yards. Scoring: Karl Klug 2 TDs, Kevin Klug, 1 TD, Messner 1 TD; Nelson 4 PAT. Punts: Augedahl 3, 112; Nelson 1, 17. Punt returns: Steele 1,17; Gran 2, 5; Kevin Klug 1, 31. Sacks: Kevin Klug 1, 11; Karl Klug 1, 12; Wynn 2, 9. Take-aways: 4. Give-aways: 3. Team offense: rushing 358 yards; passing 5 yards; total 363 yards. Team defense: 148 rushing yards allowed, 133 passing yards allowed, 281 total yards allowed.
Game on TV
Ace will be broadcasting the Minnesota State High School League football finals on Friday, November 25 starting at 8:00 a.m. and running to completion. Ace Digital TV customers can tune to Channel 81 to watch the Caledonia High School game.

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