By David Heiller

Argus News Editor

You could have heard the proverbial pin drop in Caledoniaís locker room after the state Class AA finals on November 25.

Players sat hunched over, exhausted and dejected. Their season had just ended, and not the way they wanted or expected, with a 21-7 loss to a determined Eden Valley-Watkins team.

ìIím proud of you guys,î coach Carl Fruechte said as the assistant coaches and managers looked on. ìYouíre great kids. You definitely left your mark on Caledonia football.î

Those last two sentences are what many people will take from the 2005 football season. Fans watched a talented group of kids ó and good kids, too ó play football like it hadnít been played in Caledonia for 29 years, the last time the team went to the finals.

That team won it all, and the game last Friday in the Metrodome showed just how hard it is to achieve that honor.

Eden Valley-Watkins (12-2) had upset two unbeaten teams in their previous two games. Perhaps that fact combined with their second place finish last year fired them up more than the Warriors. They pounded the ball on the ground, gaining 203 yards, and passed for 74 more. They tackled hard, and stopped Caledonia when they had to.

Caledonia coach Carl Fruechte had a lot of praise for EV-Wís players. ìThey did a great job. Their kids were quick and fast and strong. They made plays,î he said.

The linebackers flowed hard, Fruechte added. ìWe just werenít able to pick them up as well as we hoped. We just werenít able to run through them as well as we hoped.î

Caledonia (13-1) couldnít seem to get on track. They didnít sustain drives and rarely got into the red zone. Runners got tackled for short gains as linebackers like Raymond Rice quickly filled the gaps in the line.

Eagles score first

The Eagles took the lead on their third possession. Adam Hiltner took a hand-off on the 41 yard line and broke through the right side. He shook off a couple tacklers and scored on a beautiful run with three minutes left in the first quarter. Caledonia players and fans saw a lot of number 20 all day. He ended up with 118 yards and scored the game-winning touchdown in the third quarter.

Caledonia looked like it would tie the game on the next possession. Kevin Klug brought the kickoff back 24 yards to his own 44 yard line, then one play later, took a hand-off and broke through the right side and into the open. The crowd roared as a another spectacular touchdown run spread out before them, something they had seen many times this season.

But this time was different, and it might have been a precursor for the rest of the day. Klug didnít make it in ó EV-Wís Nick Schoenecker caught up to him and made a diving tackle 50 yards downfield on the four yard line.

OK, no problem, right? Not last Friday. Two runs by Karl Klug lost three yards, and a third down bootleg pass went awry when receiver Kevin Klug was tripped up. The pass ended up caught by center Chris Summers, which was an illegal touch penalty and a loss of downs. Suddenly it was fourth and goal at the 18 yard line. Luke Nelsonís 35 yard field goal attempt missed to the right. No points.

Fruechte said his team needed a score on that series, either a touchdown or a field goal, when they had the ball on the Eaglesí three yard line in the second quarter. ìThey made the plays and I guess we didnít,î he said.

Caledonia put another promising drive together in the first half, moving from their own 35 to the EV-W 34 behind some big gains by Karl Klug. But on fourth down and six yards to go, Jeff Haag picked off a Messner pass that was tipped at the line. He might have returned it all the way if Messner hadnít pulled him down. The half ended 7-0.

Promising start

The second half started with Caledoniaís biggest and most inspiring play. Karl Klug took a hand off on the first play from scrimmage, plunged through the left side, cut right, and went 71 yards untouched for a touchdown. Nelsonís kick tied it, and fourteen seconds into the second half, it was a brand new 7-7 game.

But EV-Wís next series earned them the win. They moved the length of the field, with long runs by Hiltner and Schoenecker on a five-play drive. Hiltner rammed in from the four yard line, and in less than two minutes, EV-W had the lead again.

Then EV-Wís defense took over. Caledonia drove to the Eagles 40 on its next possession, but was stopped and had to punt. Caledonia got the ball back with great field position on its own 48, but again had to punt.

The team couldnít even catch a break. When Hiltner fumbled the ball after EV-W got the ball back, it bounced right back into his hands. The play came at the start of a 78 yard drive that had a couple big third down pass completions. Caledonia got a break of its own when Schoenecker dropped a sure touchdown pass as he streaked down the right side line.

But Huschle went right back to number 88 for a big third down completion, then hit him going down the right sideline again. It was the same play as the one he muffed earlier, but this time Schoenecker held on for a 32 yard touchdown.

Caledonia had a couple more chances. The gold and black team moved the ball to the Eagles 35 before Schoenecker came up with another huge play, battling Lucas Nelson for a pass and coming down with an interception. Caledonia got the ball back on a punt on the EV-W 46, but lost the ball on downs.

By that time the defense was worn down and couldnít stop the Eagles or the clock. Caledonia called its last time out at 1:18. EV-W fans sent up a big cheer, knowing the game was won, and Caledonia fans answered with one of their own. It was a thank you of sorts as the game came to an unfamiliar end, the first loss of a season that dated back more than three months.

Players shook hands and quietly accepted a second place trophy. Then they walked into the somber locker room.

Many highlights of season

Asked about the highlights of the season, Fruechte said beating Plainview was big. Winning the conference was important too, he said, and is always a goal because the Three Rivers South conference is so good. ìI think sometimes it gets over looked,î Fruechte said.

Caledonia didnít lose a game until the state finals, and most of those wins were blow-outs. They outscored their opponents by an average score of 38-11.

The playoffs brought some very exciting games. Caledonia came from behind to beat Cotter in Winona in the Section 1 finals. ìThat was a big step for our program,î Fruechte said.

That win put the Warriors in the state tournament, and brought what many people called one of the best football games ever seen anywhere, a 20-19 overtime win against Minnesota Valley Lutheran on November 11. It was played in Caledonia before a huge crowd, and went down to the final play of the game, when MVL missed a two point conversion.

ìI was just so impressed with our fans, our community, our alumni,î Fruechte said of that game. ìIt was just really awesome to have all those people at the game.î

The win sent the Warriors to the Dome for the first time ever, and the following week, they convincingly beat Hawley 30-14.

ìWeíre really proud of all of our seniors,î Fruechte said. ìThey all brought something to the football program. Weíre just proud of their leadership. I think they set the bar high for Caledonia football. Weíre just pleased and happy for them.î

The team was also the named the Section 1AA All-Academic Team for having the highest team grade point average.

Statistics

Rushing: Hudson 7, 27; Karl Klug 16, 118; Kevin Klug 9, 69; Steele 3, 14; Messner 1, minus 11. Passing: Messner, 3 for 14, 42 yards, 4 interceptions. Receptions: Karl Klug 1, 7; Nelson 1, 19; Brandon Skifton 1, 16. Scoring: Karl Klug 1 TD, Nelson 1 PAT. Punts: Augedahl 4, 101. Punt returns: Gran 1. Kickoff returns: Gran 1, 11; Kevin Klug 2, 42; Steele 1, 19. Sacks: Hudson 1 11. Interceptions: Gran 1, 35 yard return. Take-aways: 2. Give-aways: 4. Team offense: rushing 217 yards; passing 42 yards; total 252 yards. Team defense: 203 rushing yards allowed, 74 passing yards allowed, 277 total yards allowed.

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