Top performers - Chatfield vs. Triton

Chatfield and Triton opened the state tournament with one of the best games I had seen all year. The final lead change took place with less than two minutes to play. The game was still in doubt, with less than a minute to play. Chatfield was able to hang on with a late interception to preserve <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/11/chatfield-runs-to-a-one-point-win-in-quarter-final-thriller/">a 23-22 victory</a>.    Rowland did a great job running the offense. He didn't throw the ball much, but he was the engine that drove the Gophers' offense. Early, he ran off the right side for a first down. Then, he showed great feet with a cut in the open field for a first down. He showed his speed to the outside to get him around another corner. On fourth and one, his quarterback sneak behind center Westin Nolte for a two-yard touchdown. Speed to the corner picked up six yards, and then a scramble picked up a first down. He picked up a first down on a quarterback draw. Later, he bounced off multiple tacklers for a first down. He was penned in behind the line of scrimmage but broke a tackle to pick up a first down. Rowland made three jump cuts on the game-winning drive to get five yards inside the five-yard line. That run set up his final, short touchdown run.     Especially in the first half, Munnikhuysen was the best defensive player on the field. Early, he held the edge and made a tackle for a loss. He stayed home on an end-a-round to make a tackle for no gain. Later, he got off a block and made a tackle for a short gain. Against the pass, he broke on an out route and knocked the ball away. On offense, he ran up the middle for five yards. He was part of the biggest offensive play of the game for the Cobras. Munnikhuysen took a pitch on a hook and ladder on fourth down and ran for a twenty-yard gain and a first down.     Carrier kept an early drive alive when he picked up a fourth and six. Then, he made an excellent cut at the line of scrimmage and bounced off a tackle for ten yards. He showed quick feet in the hole, which got him into the secondary to pick up a first down. His ability to start and stop quickly allowed the senior to pick up eight yards in the middle. Later, he should have been stopped behind the line of scrimmage, but he made a series of moves to pick up six yards. On fourth and short, he was patient and broke a pair of tackles to pick up the first down and fifteen more yards. After a six-yard touchdown run, his kickoff return to the 40 set up the game-winning drive. Carrier broke a tackle on the game-winning drive and picked up a first down. Defensively, he read a screen and made a tackle for a loss. Later, he made a tackle on the inside for a short gain.     Petersohn has excellent size for the quarterback position and showed he will be a force for the Cobras next season as they try to get back to the state tournament. He made a pair of strong throws to the outside to pick up two first downs. He showed good mobility and ability to throw on the run when he rolled out to his right and threw a strike down the sidelines on fourth and five for 33 yards. His quick release on a slant picks up a first down to get the offense off their own goal line. Petersohn showed good arm strength when he hit a deep ball down the sidelines for 42 yards. He showed speed to the corner when he ran for a first down. After a short touchdown pass, he rolled out for another completion on the sidelines. He capped off his night with a fade into the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown. He is also the team's punter and uncorked a 48-yard punt.     The Cobras had little success on the ground. Miner was a big reason why. He stuffed two inside runs for short gains. Later, he all but stopped a drive on his own with two straight tackles near the line of scrimmage. On the second play, he was immediately in the backfield for a tackle for loss.     Thomas caught a deep out for a first down. Then, he caught a 42-yard bomb down the sidelines. Later, the sophomore caught a short touchdown pass before catching another ball on the sidelines. Defensively, he made a tackle in the open field for a two-yard gain. Then, he made a tackle on the outside for a short gain.     Johnston also played the run well for Chatfield. He stuffed an inside run. Then, the senior got down the line of scrimmage with good pursuit, tracking the quarterback all the way to the sidelines for a short gain. Later, he made a tackle for a short gain.     Valdez Miranda Jr caught a 33-yard pass on fourth and five. He took the handoff on an end-a-round for a two-yard touchdown.     Kirchner was a huge benefit in the field position game. He tallied two 42-yard punts – the first was downed at the one-yard line.     Holtet did a good job holding the edge and not allowing runners to the outside, often allowing his teammates to make a tackle. I don't think he registered many tackles on the stat sheet, but the junior set up teammates multiple times and stuffed at least one inside run on his own.     The Gophers' offensive line was solid all night. Stevens stood out with his size and his play. He put at least one defender on the ground with a pancake block. The senior blew open a big hole, resulting in a six-yard touchdown run. He moves well in space and has a good pad level despite his 6'5 frame.     Garness did a solid job against the run all night. He stuffed at least three inside runs at or behind the line of scrimmage.     Jensen caught a slant for a first down, which got the Cobras off their goal line. Later, he caught a fade for an 18-yard touchdown. On defense, Jensen held the edge, allowing a teammate to make a tackle. Then, he made an open-field tackle, preventing a first down.

Chatfield and Triton opened the state tournament with one of the best games I had seen all year. The final lead change took place with less than two minutes to play. The game was still in doubt, with less than a minute to play. Chatfield was able to hang on with a late interception to preserve a 23-22 victory.