Posted: 11/14/07
Itís back to the Dome for Warriors
CHS gridders top Norwood-Young America 16-13
 Warrior defenders Mitch Meiners (25), Casey Bauer (4) and Kevin Voight (84) stopped this NYA Raider run during the quarter-finals last Friday night. Photo by Reed Welch. |
By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
The old saying "Itís not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog," pretty much sums up the State Class AA quarterfinal game played between Caledonia and Norwood Young America last Friday night at Park High School in Cottage Grove.
While out-sized at nearly every position, sometimes by 60 to 80 pounds, the Warriors out-played the mammoth Raiders of Central High School and came away with a very hard-fought 16-13 win.
The quarterfinal win propels the CHS gridders to the HHH Metrodome for a Thursday evening match-up against undefeated Hawley in the state semi-finals. Game time is 5:45 p.m.
A good start
Things looked promising for the Warriors from the get-go, as they won the coin toss and immediately started moving the ball down the field. After racking up three straight first downs, senior tailback Zach Gran broke free for a 27-yard run to the 10 yard line. Two plays later, quarterback Kody Moore pushed in from the one. Ryan Goetzingerís kick was good and the Warriors had a 7-0 lead with 7:03 left in the first period.
The two teams moved the ball back and forth through the rest of the opening period, and the first verse came to a close with the Warriors leading 7-0.
Second quarter all NYA
The Raiders scored 13 unanswered points in the second period. It appeared as if the Warriors had a Raider drive stopped at their own 25 yard line with a fourth and long. NYA lined up in punt formation. The ball was snapped to the short man, quarterback Adam Esselman, who hit a wide open Clint Aretz for 25 yards. Four plays later, the Raiders pushed in from two yards out. The extra point kick was good and the scored was tied at 7-7 with five minutes left in the first half.
The Warriors got excellent field position when Gran took the ensuing kick-off and returned it 30 yards to the 44. Moore hit Andy Bauer for a 20-yard pass play for a first and 10 from the NYA 34. Two plays later, CHS had a third and one from the 25. Moore went back to pass, was sacked and fumbled the ball. The Radiers took over on the 35 with three minutes left in the first half.
NYA connected on several long pass plays and moved the ball down to the CHS 31. After two short running plays, Esselman connected with Aretz for a 26-yard scoring strike. The kick failed and the Raiders took a 13-7 lead into the halftime intermission.
Warriors take over
Caledonia kicked off to the Raiers to start the third period and it appeared as if NYA was picking up right where they had left off in the second period. They moved the ball down the field with three first downs and had a third and 10 from the CHS 35. A pass play from broken up by Gran and Andy Bauer, which Tyler Stemper intercepted at the 16 yard line.
Moore hit Gran for a 37-yard pass play, and following two more CHS first downs, Cody Petersen broke free for 22 yards to the NYA seven. Moore found Dustin King open for a seven-yard TD strike to tie the game at 13-13. The Goetzinger kick was plenty long, but hit the upright and bounced out, and the score remained 13-13.
The winning kick
The two teams moved the ball up and down the field during the remaining minutes of the third period and into the final frame. CHS had the ball and moved down to the NYA 20 following an interception by Andy Bauer. Three plays later, the Warriors were facing fourth and long from just inside the Raider 20. Coach Carl Fruechte called for the field goal unit. Goetzinger lined up and booted a 30-yard field goal for the 16-13 lead with 8:40 to go in the game.
Running out the clock
The Warriors were able to hold the Raiders on their next possession, and marched the ball down the field. After several first downs, it appeared as if Gran was going to ice the game, when he broke free inside the NYA 15 and raced for the goal line. He was upended inside the five yard line, fumbled the ball, which went through the endzone, giving the Raiders the ball back on their own 20 with 3:16 to go in the game.
The Raiders went to the air and completed one pass for 15 yards and a first down. On their next passing attempt, Isaac Fruechte stepped in front of the Raider receiver for the interception on the 39 yard line with 2:23 left in the game.
The Warriors were able to run out the clock and preserve the 16-13 win.
The stats
The Warriors racked up 400 yards of offense, 258 on the ground and 142 through the air. NYA had 237 total yards, 121 rushing and 116 passing.
Gran led the ground game with 157 yards on 22 carries. Petersen had 80 yards on 16 carries and Moore had 11 yards and one TD on three carries.
Moore passed for 142 yards on 23 attempts. He connected for one TD and was intercepted once.
Gran had two catches for 44 yards, Andy Bauer had three catches for 38 yards, Stemper had one catch for 17 yards, King had two catches for 13 yards and a TD, Kevin Voight had two catches for 12 yards, and Lee Burg had one catch for nine yards.
Gran also had a big night returning kicks. He had 82 yards on four returns. Andy Bauer had one return for 11 yards.
Goetzinger scored four points with his foot, with one field goal and one extra point.
Andy Bauer, Stemper and Fruechte each had an interception, Voight had a fumble recovery and Casey Bauer had a quarterback sack.
Up next
The Warriors will travel to Minneapolis and the HHH Metrodome Thursday, Nov. 15 to battle 12-0 Hawley in the Class AA semi-finals. The game will begin at 5:45 p.m.
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