Hutchinson wins the line of scrimmage, wins the game

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thursday night's state quarter-final game between Section 2AAAA champion Hutchinson and 4AAAA champion Totino-Grace reminded me of a game I covered earlier this season. With much less on the line, <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/10/minneapolis-north-vs-fridley-football-can-be-a-simple-game/">Minneapolis North defeated Fridley</a> in a late regular season game. In that game, the Polars made things very simple – dominate at the line of scrimmage. That is precisely what Hutch did at Lakeville South High School – they took control of the line of scrimmage and moved to the state semi-finals with a 44-12 victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two plays into the game, Totino-Grace had a fumble recovery and started their first drive with excellent field position. However, Hutchinson defensive tackle <strong>Anton Kadlec</strong> made the first of many plays in the middle of the line, stuffing an inside run – eventually forcing a punt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After the early turnover, the Hutch offense went to work. [player_tooltip player_id='1204346' first='Nathan' last='Thode'] took a handoff off the right side of the offensive line – Kadlec and <strong>Bennet Neppl</strong> - for a forty-two-yard run. After two tough runs by <strong>Carter Verhasselt</strong>, Thode capped off the drive with a seven-yard touchdown run on third and four.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Highlighted by another great play on the inside by Kadlec, Hutch forced a three-and-out. Back on offense, Verhasselt ripped off another long run using a spin move and a broken tackle for twenty yards. He made a great cut on the next play behind <strong>Connor Wilde</strong>, <strong>Luke Radke</strong>, and <strong>Jakob Mezera</strong> to set up a first and goal. Thode scored on a five-yard run to make the score 14-0.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Totino would answer with their best drive of the night. Facing a fourth and three, <strong>Marquel Keten</strong> got loose and scored from 31 yards out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tigers would have a quick answer. Facing a fourth and short near midfield, Verhasselt picked up the first down and a lot more off the right side. He bounced off a tackle after picking up the first down for fifteen yards. A few plays later, Thode found space behind the left side of the line and ran – untouched - for a 31-yard touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Down 20-6, Totino-Grace threatened to get the game back to a one-score deficit but faced a fourth and short. The Eagles fumbled the center snap – ending the drive. Hutch nearly scored at the end of the half but went into the half with a 20-6 lead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Totino-Grace would convert on a fourth and five to move into Tigers' territory, but <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1207421' first='Larkun' last='Kurth']</strong> would make a tackle on the inside, and then <strong>Gunnar Bick</strong> – who would also make a highlight reel interception - made an open-field tackle that if he does not make the play, the Eagles might have scored. That would set up a fourth and long, and Hutch would make a play short of the first down, ending the Eagles' last chance to get back into the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was their last chance because Thode started the Hutch drive with a twenty-five-yard run. Then Verhasselt went to work. His tough running moved the ball inside the five and finished the drive with a short touchdown run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Up 28-6 late in the third quarter, the Tigers could put it on cruise control, but they continued to pile on. A quarterback sack by Kadlec would force another Eagles' punt. A few plays later, because of his blocking, Thode would basically walk into the end zone for another touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Each team would score one more touchdown – TG on the game's last play – to finish the scoring and give the Tigers a 44-12 victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->