Staples-Motley Outlasts Barnesville in a Double OT Thriller

ST. CLOUD-- We have had the luxury of covering a lot of great games across the state of Minnesota, but by far my favorite and best one in the five plus years I have been with Prep Redzone Minnesota happened tonight at St. Cloud Tech, between the Staples Motley Cardinals and the #1 ranked powerhouse Barnesville Trojans. It started off like Barnesville was going to take the cake to The Bank after the first quarter, but those feisty Cardinals from Staples-Motley kicked this one into a high gear and made this game an absolute thriller to cover from my scouting lenses. Tonight, we start off with my game recap below and tomorrow morning/early afternoon we will kick the tires into who were my Big Dogs of the Game in this 2A State Quarterfinal barn-burner.

1st Quarter

Barnesville

It was the rushing attack of RB Cameron Halverson (2026) that got the ball rolling in this one as he scooted 81 yards for the Trojans first touchdown of the night and I will tell you right now, it sure wasn't his last one.

Barnesville 6, Staples-Motley 0

Barnesville

The Trojans got up to a two touchdown lead early in this one, as again 2026 RB Cameron Halverson got loose again in the red zone and took it in for a 15-yard rushing touchdown to put Barnesville up two scores.

Barnesville 14, Staples-Motley 0. End of the 1st quarter

2nd Quarter

Staples-Motley

The Cardinals got their first out of several rushing touchdowns of the night from 2026 RB Colbe Tappe Colbe Tappe 5'8" | 174 lbs | RB/DB Staples-Motley | 2026 State MN who was a workhorse for yards in this one. Staples Motley got the 2 point conversion in this one.

Barnesville 14, Staples-Motley 8

Barnesville

The third touchdown came in early for Barnesville 2026 RB Cameron Halverson as this touchdown came from 55 yards out.

Barnesville 22, Staples-Motley 8

Staples-Motley

It was a game for the backfields as Cardinals 2026 RB Colbe Tappe Colbe Tappe 5'8" | 174 lbs | RB/DB Staples-Motley | 2026 State MN got his second touchdown of the half to put Staples Motley within one score of the Trojans heading into halftime.

Barnesville 22, Staples-Motley 14, Halftime

3rd Quarter

Staples-Motley

We got our first tie of the ballgame with just under 5 minutes left in the 3rd quarter as it was yet again Colbe Tappe Colbe Tappe 5'8" | 174 lbs | RB/DB Staples-Motley | 2026 State MN getting in from 8 yards out this time to make this game a barnburner for the final three quarters of action.

Barnesville 22, Staples-Motley 22. End of the 3rd Quarter

4th Quarter

Barnesville

The Trojans stormed down the field of the Cardinals defense and it was another intriguing prospect in 2026 athlete Major Ness Major Ness 6'0" | 180 lbs | ATH/DB Barnesville | 2026 State MN who punched it up the A-Gap for a 1-yard rushing touchdown giving the Trojans back the lead, but not for long.

Barnesville 30, Staples-Motley 22

Staples-Motley

My tweeting fingers could barely keep up with the next touchdown from the Cardinals, as they executed quickly in the pass game as 2025 QB Eli Rutten Eli Rutten 6'2" | 170 lbs | QB Staples-Motley | 2026 State MN found my favorite wide receiver of the evening in 2025 Alex Schultz Alex Schultz 6'3" | 180 lbs | WR Staples-Motley | 2025 State MN for a 55-yard receiving touchdown tieing this one back up very quickly.

Barnesville 30, Staples-Motley 30.

End of the 4th quarter, we get my first overtime game I have ever covered with Prep Redzone!

First Overtime

MN Overtime Rules: Each team starts at their opponent's 10 yard line. Each team gets one try to punch it in for a score.

Staples-Motley

As Barnesville elected to be on defense first, the Staples-Motley Cardinals were able to get their first lead of the game as no one other than 2026 RB Colbe Tappe Colbe Tappe 5'8" | 174 lbs | RB/DB Staples-Motley | 2026 State MN got his fourth touchdown of this 2A state quarterfinal battle as he caught the outside edge right in front of me from 4 yards out. A crucial pass interference penalty for the Trojans set the Cardinals up for great momentum on a drive that was stalling a bit before the damage of Colbe Tappe Colbe Tappe 5'8" | 174 lbs | RB/DB Staples-Motley | 2026 State MN finished the job. Staples-Motley also got their two point conversion to put them up 8.

Staples-Motley 38, Barnesville 30

Barnesville

It was Barnesville's turn, and they answered the call with their major weapon at tailback as Cameron Halverson found the end zone for his fourth touchdown from 2 yards out. It was Halverson yet again that by an inch or two, found the endzone on the two point conversion as well getting us into double overtime in St. Cloud.

Staples-Motley 38, Barnesville 38, start of the second overtime

Second Overtime

Barnesville

After Staples-Motley got the ball first in the first overtime, Barnesville got dibs on the ball first in the second overtime and they wasted no time with their opportunity. Throughout the game I was becoming impressed with the poise and skillets of 2028 quarterback Jacob Strand as he slipped and confused the Cardinals defense with a 10-yard rushing touchdown. Unfortunately this time, the Trojans were unable to cash in on the 2 point conversion as their run into the end zone was just barely short of the goal line.

Barneville 44, Staples-Motley 38

Staples-Motley

It all came down to a score and a successful two point conversion for the Staples-Motley Cardinals and you can take one guess on who got the job done. Colbe Tappe Colbe Tappe 5'8" | 174 lbs | RB/DB Staples-Motley | 2026 State MN got his 5th touchdown of the evening into the outside edge right in front of me from 10 yards out. To finish it and send Staples-Motley to US Bank Stadium it was 2025 QB Eli Rutten Eli Rutten 6'2" | 170 lbs | QB Staples-Motley | 2026 State MN who got in with the QB sneak with just enough to close the deal for the Cardinals and although they last were to state in 2004, it is there first trip to state at US Bank Stadium.