Hutchinson wins the line of scrimmage, wins the game
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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, Minneapolis North defeated Fridley in a late regular season game.…
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Continue ReadingThursday 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, Minneapolis North defeated Fridley 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.
Two plays into the game, Totino-Grace had a fumble recovery and started their first drive with excellent field position. However, Hutchinson defensive tackle Anton Kadlec made the first of many plays in the middle of the line, stuffing an inside run – eventually forcing a punt.
After the early turnover, the Hutch offense went to work. Nathan Thode Nathan Thode 6'2" | 180 lbs | ATH Hutchinson | 2025 State MN took a handoff off the right side of the offensive line – Kadlec and Bennet Neppl – for a forty-two-yard run. After two tough runs by Carter Verhasselt, Thode capped off the drive with a seven-yard touchdown run on third and four.
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 Connor Wilde, Luke Radke, and Jakob Mezera to set up a first and goal. Thode scored on a five-yard run to make the score 14-0.
Totino would answer with their best drive of the night. Facing a fourth and three, Marquel Keten got loose and scored from 31 yards out.
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.
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.
Totino-Grace would convert on a fourth and five to move into Tigers’ territory, but Larkun Kurth Larkun Kurth 6'3" | 205 lbs | DL Hutchinson | 2025 MN would make a tackle on the inside, and then Gunnar Bick – 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.
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.
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.
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.