The Crusaders win the turnover battle and win first state title

Brian Jerzak November 26, 2021 @ 05:17 PM

Winning the turnover battle is always critical when two good teams meet. With two of the best defenses in Class A going head-to-head, the Mayer Lutheran Crusaders’ defense won that battle. It was perfect in the second half – leading the Section 2AA champions to a 20-14 state championship victory. Things did not start well for the Crusaders’ defense. After going three and out the first time they touched the ball, the Minneota Vikings’ running game found traction the second time they got an opportunity. Running back Conner Sik got most of the tough yards, and the big play came off play-action, a catch on a crossing pattern to tight end Anthony Rybinski for 30 yards. The Vikings’ offense drove the ball 75 yards and finished the drive with a short touchdown run by Rybinski. The Crusaders rolled the dice early by picking up a fourth and short inside their forty-yard line. But the Minneota defense did what it has done all year – forced the offense backward. Great coverage downfield led to a sack by the Vikings’ Alex Depestel, forcing a punt. Pinned deep after the punt, Mayer Lutheran quarterback hit a deep shot to . Later in the drive, Mayer Lutheran converted its second fourth down of the game. On 4th and six, Hoese threw into the flat to for a 40-yard touchdown. It was the initial first-half touchdown given up by Minneota this season. After missing the extra point, Mayer Lutheran would quickly take the lead. forced a fumble, and the once-beaten Crusaders got the ball right back at the 30-yard line. With a sweep to the outside for 15 yards, set up to run right up the middle for a 15-yard touchdown. In two plays, the Crusaders grabbed the lead. Another Minneota fumble gave the ball back to Mayer Lutheran at their own 40. A pass from Hoese to tight end picked up a first down, but then Minneota defense stepped up. A Hudson Scholten tackle for loss, a Zack Fier tackle in the open field, and a Jayden Gamrak stuffed run on third down stopped the drive. Minneota was putting a drive together late in the first half, but Jopp stuffed a screen pass, forcing a punt on third down. Minneota got a huge break when the punt was muffed, giving the Vikings the ball back at the 21. One play later, Jonah Gruenes caught a short pass, broke a tackle, and drove his way for ten yards for the touchdown. Minneota would take the 14-13 lead into the half. Mayer Lutheran answered the late touchdown by going right down the field to open the second half. A one-handed catch by tight end Martin picked up a big first down and then on fourth and one. not only moved the sticks, but he also finished his run in the end zone. blew up an inside hand-off on the next defensive possession that forced a fumble. It didn’t result in a turnover, but it resulted in a punt. The offense put together a drive that nearly put the game away. Hoese used his legs on a designed run for twenty yards and then his arm with a throw to Jopp. Jopp caught the ball despite his arm being grabbed before making the catch. However, the Minneota defense would not relent and forced an incompletion on fourth and goal. The next Minneota threat ended when Hoese knocked away a deep pass, forcing a punt. Trying to put the game away, a reverse to Jopp picked up twenty yards and a first down, but the Vikings’ defense stepped up yet again with an interception by Fier. The Mayer Lutheran defense – who would not give up a point in the second half - continued to make plays. Jopp continued his stellar second half with a sack. Then a deflected pass by Caden Robbins on fourth down gave the ball back to the offense. Although the offense could not run out the clock, a punt pinned the Vikings back at their two-yard line with less than 30 seconds to play in the game. Two plays later, the clock ran out, giving Mayer Lutheran a 20-14 win and its first football state championship.