Number one seed Lakeville South runs into State

Brian Jerzak

November 5, 2021 @ 11:37 PM

The number one seeded Lakeville South Cougars did what the number one team in the state should do. They took control of the game early – scoring four touchdowns in four drives - and once they had the Anoka Tornadoes down, they didn’t let them up. Running back scored three first-half touchdowns, and the defense pitched a second-half shutout leading to a 67-14 South victory and a spot in the 6A state tournament. After the South defense forced a three and out, the offense took just five plays to go 53 yards. Bigger and more physical than the Tornadoes defensive line and linebackers, the inside trap game was too much for the visiting defense. All on the ground, Josh Jacobson hit the big run on a 28-yard touchdown, right up the middle. After a sack on defense forced a third and long and an eventual punt, quarterback hit for a 40-yard reception. Then Hansen finished the drive with a 13-yard touchdown run around the left side. Anoka looked to have something going on their next drive. After a great pass by for Anoka, South forced a fumble on the reception and returned the fumble to the Anoka 20-yard line. After a pair of Cougars’ penalties, South faced a 1st and thirty. Three runs later – keyed by Dean’s run around the end - Hansen scored from 16 yards out. Deutschman and wide receiver Elijah Paulson found some chemistry on Anoka’s next drive, moving the ball across the South 40 before they faced a third and long. They converted but soon faced another fourth down. Flushed out of the pocket, Deutschman was brought down for a short gain – giving the ball back to Lakeville South. South didn’t waste time taking advantage of the turnover. On the second play of the second quarter, Hansen got loose right up the middle for a 65-yard touchdown. "It was a great game overall. The offensive line played great," Hansen said, "every one of them. Every day we come to practice, and we keep drilling and drilling – trying to get one percent better every day." Anoka would respond by putting together their best drive of the game by mixing the passing of Deutschman, the running of Logan LaChance, and the hands of Paulson. They converted two fourth downs and capped the drive off with a touchdown pass to Jovan Kennedy. The two-point conversion made the score 31-8. Anoka’s defense came up with its first big play of the game on the Cougars’ next possession. A fumble recovery gave the visiting team some life. The Tornadoes would take advantage of the mistake by mixing the run and pass until Deutschman found Colin McKay for a 49-yard touchdown. The quick passing game worked well for the Tornadoes until the Cougars started to take that part of their game away. Once that happened, South’s size along the defensive front seven could impose its will on the smaller Tornadoes’ offensive line. "I think our defense is the best in the state," Hansen said. "They create a lot of turnovers and give us the ball with a short field." Now just leading 31-14, South went to work on the ground. They moved the ball out to midfield on three running plays. Another run up the middle by Hansen gave South a first and goal from the eight. Three plays later, Jacobson rumbled across the goal line with 12 seconds to play in the half. Anoka tried an onside kick to open the second half, but it could not have gone worse for the Tornadoes. Lakeville South’s offensive lineman Owen McCloud caught the onside kick and had nothing but green turf in front of him – scoring the second big man kickoff return I have seen this season. With the lead bumped up to over thirty points, the Cougars would sub down on offense shortly afterward. The defense would too, but the first and second-teamers played well enough to pitch a shutout in the second half. Anoka had a remarkable turnaround season, winning more games this season than they had in almost the last six seasons combined. Still, Lakeville South’s 67-14 victory sent the Cougars to the state tournament and a date with Shakopee.