Football University Team of the Week Nominees: Week 5
Adam Rossow
Redwood Valley – W, 29-14 over No. 6 (2A) Pipestone Area
Trailing 6-0 after a quarter, the Cardinals outscored the host Arrows 29-8 the rest of the game to remain unbeaten. Quarterback Mitchell Irlbeck scored all four touchdowns for the Cardinals. His one-yard plunge early in the fourth quarter finished a 10-play, 97-yard drive and gave Redwood Valley a 15-point advantage.
Irlbeck also had an effective night through the air. The senior's favorite target was Cole Woodford, who caught 10 passes for 147 yards. Woodford added an interception and forced fumble for the Cardinals defense, which forced five Pipestone turnovers.
Redwood Valley, which has the inside track on the No. 1 seed in Section 3AA, hosts Jackson County Central in Week 6.
Totino-Grace – W, 12-7 over No. 3 (6A) St. Michael-Albertville
The Eagles saved their best for last, marching 80 yards for a score in the fourth quarter to upset the Knights on the road.
Totino-Grace was held without an offensive touchdown for almost the entire game. Charles Kamara capped the eight-play drive with a four-yard run with less than three minutes to play to put the defending Class 6A champions ahead by five.
The Eagles first touchdown was a 65-yard interception return by Isaac Richards that gave the visitors a 7-0 halftime lead. It was one of three turnovers forced by Jeff Ferguson's defense. Senior linebacker Joey Linders led the Eagles with 12 tackles, while Matt Kraemer finished with seven stops, two sacks and a forced fumble.
South St. Paul – W, 27-13 over No. 5 (5A) Mahtomedi
The Packers jumped to a 14-0 first-quarter lead and never looked back, knocking Mahtomedi from the ranks of the unbeaten with a 14-point victory at Ettinger Field. It was South St. Paul's third-straight win after its Week 2 loss to Holy Angels.
Chase Bentson rushed for 117 of South St. Paul's 288 yards on the ground, while quarterback Cade Sexauer gained 96 yards. Both Sexauer and Angel Rodriguez finished with two touchdowns.
Linebacker Joe Marlow forced a fumble in the opening 12 minutes that eventually led to a touchdown. The Packers defense also stopped a fourth-and-1 from its own eight-yard line to halt a potential Zephyrs scoring drive late in the second quarter.
Marshall – W, 34-13 over No. 7 (4A) Waseca
Terry Bahlmann's Tigers used a big opening half to pass their first test of the season by overwhelming previously-undefeated Waseca 34-13.
The Tigers led 27-6 at halftime. Trey Lance was a difference maker on both sides of the ball for Marshall. The NDSU-commit combined for 215 total yards (117 pass, 98 rush) and three total touchdowns (two rush, one pass) to spark the Tigers offense. Running back Jefferson Lee V found the end zone twice for the Tigers.
On the other side of the ball, Lance recorded 11 tackles, second only to Jake Hess who earned 13 for the contest. Hess was also on the receiving end of Lance's passing touchdown.
Blaine – W, 46-28 over Champlin Park
The Bengals got a little revenge against their northwest Metro rivals, downing the Rebels at home after losing a heartbreaker in 2016.
Byron Bynum Jr. led the Blaine offense. The senior rushed 37 times for 197 yards and three touchdowns. His eight-yard scoring jaunt pushed the Bengals lead back to two possessions in the fourth quarter.
Bynum also tallied four receptions for 41 yards receiving. Quarterback Connor Melton was efficient in the victory, connecting on 19-of-23 passes for 243 yards and two scores.
The Blaine defense recorded four interceptions, including Jack Hering's 32-yard pick-six that provided the game's final margin. Tyler Ososki led the Bengals unit with 12 tackles.
