Vikings open with playoff win
Minneota steamrolled MACCRAY 34-8 to open the Section 3A playoffs Tuesday night at K.P. Kompelien Field in Minneota.
Minneota (7-0) advances to the semifinals at 3 p.m. Saturday at home against the winner of the Lac qui Parle Valley vs. Lakeview game. The championship will be held on Saturday, Nov. 28 at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall.
After a scoreless first quarter, Minneota exploded for a 17 point in the second quarter on a 43-yard run by AJ Josephson, a 9-yard run by Jacob Hennen and a 32-yard goal by Peyton Gillund.
The Vikings scored twice more in the third quarter on a 3-yard run by Josephson and a 1-yard run by Anthony Rybinski.
Gillund capped the Vikings' scoring with a 27-yard field goal. Those were his first two field goal attempts this season and he converted both of them.
MACCRAY got on the board in the final quarter on a 19-yard scoring pass from Isaac Strommer to Payton Kleinhuizen.
Conner Sik paced Minneota's ground attack by rushing for 90 yards. The Vikings outgained MACCRAY 307-18 on the ground. Josephson added 71 yards.
Hennen completed 7 of 19 passes for 79 yards. Joey Rybinski led the receiving corps with four receptions for 44 yards.
Jonah Grunes had six tackles for the Vikings. Hennen, Josephson and Cale Sorensen had five tackles each. Hennen also intercepted two passes.
Minneota 34, MACCRAY 8
MACCRAY...............................0 17 14 3 - 8
Minneota...............................0 0 0 0 - 34
Scoring
Min - AJ Josephson 43 run (Peyton Gillund kick)
Min - Jacob Hennen 9 run (Gillund run)
Min - Gillund 32 field goal
Min - Josephson 3 run (Gillund kick)
Min - Anthony Rybinski 1 run (Gillund kick)
Min - Gillund 27 field goal
MAC - Payton Kleinhuizen 19 pass from Isaac Strommer (conversion good)
TEAM STATISTICS
Total plays: Minneota 59, MACCRAY 66 ... Total yards: Minneota 386, MACCRAY 169 ... Passing yards: Minneota 79, MACCRAY 151 ... Rushing yards: Minneota 307, MACCRAY 18 ... First downs: Minneota 19, MACCRAY 13 ... Penalties: Minneota 4-35, MACCRAY 11-101.
MINNEOTA STATISTICS
Rushing (att-yds-td): Conner Sik 11-90, AJ Josephson 5-71, Anthony Rybinski 4-40, Jacob Hennen 6-37, Jonah Gruenes 3-37, Zack Fier 4-29, AJ Myhre 1-7, Max Rost 1-7, Joey Rybinski 1-2
Passing (att-com-yds-td-int): Hennen 7-19-79-0-1
Receiving (no-yds-td): J.Rybinski 4-44, Myhre 1-15, Cael Soresen 1-12, Gerardo Gutierrez 1-8
Tackles (solo-asst): Gruenes 4-2, Hennen 3-2, Josephson 3-2, AJ Myhre 3-0, J.Rybinski 3-1, Sorensen 3-2, Sik 2-0, Jacob Citterman 2-1, Gutierrez 1-2, Beau Banish 1-3, A.Rybinski 1-1, Fier 0-1, Kade Lozinski 0-2, Jayden Gamrak 0-2
Interceptions: Hennen 2
Sacks: Banish, J.Rybinski, A.Rybinski
Fumble Recoveries: Gruenes, Tucker Thooft
Punting (no-avg.): A.Rybinski 3-34.0
Kickoff returns (no-avg.): J.Rybinski 1-16, Gutierrez 1-12