Posted: 11/21/07
Warriors top Hawley 35-20, in state championship game Friday
 Warrior quarterback Kody Moore had receiver Andy Bauer in his sights. Moore hooked up with Bauer for two TDs during Caledoniaís 35-20 win over the Hawley Nuggets last Thursday in the Class AA State semi-finals. Photo by Reed Welch |
By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
The Caledonia Warrior football team is in the State Class AA championship game for the second time in three years. The 12-1 Warriors will meet 12-1 Luverne this Friday at the HHH Metrodome in Minneapolis for a 4 p.m. kick-off.
The Warriors topped previously undefeated Hawley 35-20 last Thursday in the semi-finals in a game that, at least during the first half, resembled a track meet more than a football game.
Because the four previous semi-final games played last Thursday were completed ahead of time, the Warrior-Nugget contest started 20 minutes earlier than scheduled. And it didnít take long for the two teams to put some points on the board.
Rapid-fire scoring
The Warriors won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kick. On the first play from scrimmage, CHS quarterback Kody Moore hit Andy Bauer on a post pattern. Bauer turned on the burners and scorched Hawley for a 58-yard TD before many of the spectators had even found their seats. Ryan Goetzinger was a perfect 5 for 5 on extra point kicks on the day, and the Warriors had a 7-0 lead less than 20 seconds into the game.
The Hawley Nuggets promptly returned the favor on their second play from scrimmage when sophomore Nathan Mattson broke off tackle and raced 72 yards for a TD. A host of CHS defenders blocked the extra point, and the CHS lead was 7-6.
The Warriors came storming right back with a long drive that was capped by a two-yard plunge by Moore. The kick was good and the CHS lead was 14-6 with 8:25 left in the first quarter.
Hawley picked up a first down and then it was deja vu time, as Mattson went off tackle, found an opening to the outside and ran 65 yards for his second touch of the game. The Nuggets went for two and the tie, but the CHS defense stuffed the play and the Warrior lead was 14-12 with 6:21 left in the opening period.
Big goal line stand
The two teams traded punts, and the CHS defense stopped the Nuggets on their 35 yard line. Senior Zach Gran went back for the punt, which slipped through his hands, as he attempted the punt return. Hawley took over on the 15 and moved the ball inside the five for a first and goal.
The Nuggets attempted two running plays up the middle, a third off tackle, and facing fourth and a foot, sent Mattson outside on a sweep. The CHS defense strung the play out, and sophomore Isaac Fruechte knocked the Hawley running back out of bounds at the six-inch line.
It appeared as if the goal line stand brought the momentum back Caledoniaís way. But a penalty killed their drive out from under their own goalpost and Goetzinger was forced to punt from deep in his own endzone.
The Nuggets took over from midfield and moved down the field. Facing a fourth and long from the Caledonia 30, the Nuggets went to the air and scored on a 30 yard pass play. The attempt for the two-point conversion was good, and with 6:41 left in the first half, Hawley had a 20-14 lead.
Caledonia took a short kick and set up in Hawley territory. Gran picked up 25 yards on a run to give CHS a first and 10 from the 15. Following a three-yard loss, Moore connected with Andy Bauer for an 18-yard TD pass. The Goetzinger kick was good, and the Warriors took a slim 21-20 lead into the halftime intermission.
Second half, all CHS
While the two teams scored 41 points and racked up 461 yards in the first half, the Warriors took control of the game in the second half. Following a defensive stop, Moore hit Andy Bauer on a swing pass. Bauer broke several tackles and romped down the sidelines for an apparent TD. The ref ruled that Bauer was knocked out of bounds at the one-yard line, after a 50-yard run.
A quarterback sneak on the next play and a Goetzinger kick gave CHS a 28-20 lead with 4:24 left in the third period.
The CHS defense was able to stifle the Nugget offense in the second half, as they turned the ball over three times, and were forced to punt five times.
Once CHS had the eight-point lead, they played grind-out football, with Gran and Cody Petersen getting most of the calls.
Following a Casey Bauer interception at the 39, Gran was called on four straight times and responded with two first downs and a two-yard TD run. The extra point kick was good and the CHS lead was 35-20 with 1:22 remaining in the game.
It appeared as if the Warriors had scored their sixth TD of the game when Tyler Stemper stepped in front of a Hawley pass, pulled the ball in and raced 36 yards into the endzone. An illegal block to the back negated the TD, but the Warriors had the ball with a 15-point lead and ran out the clock.
The stats
Moore had a stellar night passing, as the senior QB completed 12 of 18 passes for 231 yards and two TDs. He was picked off once.
Andy Bauer caught six passes for 165 yards and two TDs. Gran had two catches for 22 yards, Stemper had two catches for 21 yards, Lee Burg had one catch for 21 yards and Dustin King had one catch for two yards.
Gran led the CHS ground game with 102 yards and a TD on 17 carries. Petersen had 40 yards on 11 carries, and Moore had five yards and two TDs on seven carries.
Goetzinger had a busy night kicking the ball. He was 5 for 5 for extra points, had four punts for 134 yards, six kick-offs, two that were touchbacks, and had a fieldgoal attempt sail wide from 38 yards out.
Andy Bauer had three kick-off returns for 82 yards and Fruechte had one for 11 yards.
Casey Bauer and Stemper each had INTs, and Fruechte and Mitch Meiners each had QB sacks.
The Warriors had 147 yards rushing and 231 passing for a 378 total. The Nuggets had 228 yards rushing (over 150 yards in the first half) and just 26 yards passing for 254 yards.
Fridayís championship game
The Warriors will play Luverne this Friday, Nov. 23 at the HHH Metrodome at 4 p.m. The MSHSL urges all fans to arrive at the Dome 45 minutes before the scheduled kick-off time. If the previous games are completed ahead of schedule the game between Caledonia and Luverne will begin earlier as well. (Last Thursdayís game against Hawley started 20 minutes early).
Tickets were available for Fridayís game at the Caledonia High School office Monday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and Tuesday from 8 a.m. until noon. Ticket prices are $12 for adults and $8 for students. Tickets for student fan buses can also be purchased at CHS for $12 each. The student buses will leave the CHS parking lot at 11:30 a.m. Friday. Tickets can also be purchased Friday at the Dome.
Adult motor coach buses will also be available. Persons wishing to ride on the adult buses must sign up by noon Wednesday at Merchants Bank. The motor coach buses will also leave from the CHS parking lot at 11:30 a.m. Friday.
The Caledonia Touchdown Club is sponsoring a "Support Your Warriors Window Display" contest for all area businesses. Please show your support by dressing up your business windows. The winning businesses will receive Warrior sweatshirts
Caledonia Argus
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E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com