Vikings roll past LQPV, 61-0

Seven different players scored touchdowns, including two each by Jonah Gruenes and Max Rost, and Minneota steamrolled Lac qui Parle Valley 61-0 in a Camden Conference game Friday night at K.P. Kompelien Field.
"We have a lot of kids doing good things," said coach Chad Johnston. "Some of those things are just not as visible as others. You will always have kids whose play will stand out in individual games, but in order to be hugely successful, we need the team to play well (based on) each individual's responsibility for the better of the team."
The Vikings (3-0) have now outscored their three opponents 139-6 this season.
Minneota amassed 529 total yards in this contest, while limiting the Eagles to only 67 total yards and just three first downs.
"I felt the (offensive) line played very well," said coach Chad Johnston. "I thought we were more physical than we had been in previous games. Coach (Matt) Myrvik put an emphasis on that last week in practice and I feel the kids responded well to that."
It was also the first game the original projected offensive was all together this season.
The Vikings scored often and quickly. Of the nine touchdowns Minneota scored, seven plays were the most needed in any one of them.
The opening touchdown took just one play as the offensive line opened up a gaping hole and AJ Josephson scampered 76 yards for a score.
Following a short punt by LQPV, the Vikings started the ensuing drive on the Eagles' 38. Two plays later, Gruenes got a great block from Jackson Esping and scored from 21 yards away.
The Vikings' massive line dominated the line of scrimmage and allowed the team to rush for 380 yards.
"Our line has been playing together for a few years, so we've got a connection," said Esping, who had a solid game as a tackle on both sides of the ball. "Our offense is really clicking now. Our defense is playing very well and so is our special teams."
The Vikings boosted the score to 21-0 with 2:37 still remaining in the opening quarter when Max Rost intercepted a pass and raced 65 yards for a touchdown.
In the second quarter, the Vikings needed only three plays to travel 68 yards. Gruenes took a handoff and gained 35 yards and Zack Fier followed with a 14-yard run to put the ball at the LQPV 19. From there, Isaac Pohlen connected with Anthony Rybinski for a 19-yard touchdown.
The Vikings went into the locker room holding a 33-0 advantage following a six-play, 53-yard drive with Pohlen completing 3 of 4 passes for 40 yards. Gruenes capped the drive with a three-yard run.
Just prior to halftime, LQPV called a timeout with :01 left at their own 38, hoping for one big play that might put some points on the board. But Esping had other ideas and burst through the line for a sack.
"I was hoping to make a big play for the team and give it all I've got," Esping said. "We didn't want them to score. We always want to get a shutout and show that we are the best defense in the state."
The dominance continued in the second half with touchdowns coming from Conner Sik scoring on a 13-yard run, Pohlen connecting with Fier for a 30-yard scoring strike, Rost catching a nine-yard pass from backup quarterback Ryan Dalager, and Lucas Rybinski scoring on a five-yard run.
Josephson finished with his second 100-yard rushing day game of the season, gaining 146 yards in only five carries. Pohlen completed 8 of 15 passes for 140 yards and two TDs.
"I think our defensive line does a great job of controlling the line of scrimmage," said Johnston. "That allows our linebackers to fill and male plays, and they are doing that well. I was also happy with our secondary play in this game. That is an area that we need to continue to grow."
Peyton Gillund continued to display his solid kicking, converting seven of eight times on extra points. He has now made 17 of 18 extra points.
On defense, Tucker Thooft had 12 tackles, Jonah Gruenes nine, and Esping and Gillund seven apiece.
Minneota plays Lakeview in another conference game Friday night in Cottonwood.
"We knew going in that Lakeview was going to have a very competitive season, so I think it should be easy to convince the players to take the good things we have done in the previous games," Johnston said. "We need to continue to get better to prepare against teams that are going to provide better competition. We have several quality teams left on the schedule for the remainder of the season and we need to stay focused on a week-by-week basis."

Minneota 61, LQPV 0
LQPV.........................................................0 0 0 0 - 0
Minneota.............................................. 21 12 21 7 - 61

Scoring Plays
Min - AJ Josephson 76 run (Peyton Gillund kick)
Min - Jonah Gruenes 21 run (Gillund kick)
Min - Max Rost 65 interception return (Gillund kick)
Min - Anthony Rybinski 19 pass from Isaac Pohlen (run failed)
Min - Gruenes 3 run (kick failed)
Min - Conner Sik 13 run (Gillund kick)
Min - Zack Fier 30 pass from Pohlen (Gillund kick)
Min - Rost 9 pass from Ryan Dalager (Gillund kick)
Min - Lucas Rybinski 5 run (Gillund kick)

Team Totals
Total Plays: Minneota 53, LQPV 48. Total Yards: Minneota 529, LQPV 67. Passing Yards: Minneota 149, LQPV 52. Rushing Yards: Minneota 380, LQPV 15. First Downs: Minneota 18, LQPV 3. Turnovers: Minneota 0, LQPV 2. Penalties: Minneota 5-40, LQPV 4-19.

Minneota Statistics
RUSHING (att-yds): AJ Josephson 5-146, Zack Fier 8-86, Jonah Gruenes 3-59, Lucas Rybinski 2-22, Anthony Rybinski 1-18, Connor Sik 2-14, Andrew Lipinski 2-12, Ryan Meagher 3-17, Parker Bradley 1-3, Destin Fier 1-10.

PASSING (com-att-yds-td-int): Isaac Pohlen 8-15-140-2-0, Dalager 1-1-9-1-0

RECEIVING (rec-yds): Rost 3-51, A.Rybinski 2-33, Z.Fier 1-30, Josephson 1-14, Gruenes 1-17, Peyton Gillund 1-3.

TACKLES (solo-assists): Tucker Thooft 1-11, Gruenes 0-9, Jackson Esping 1-6, Gillund 2-5, Josephson 1-2, Bradley 2-1, Destin Fier 1-1, Alex DePestel 2-1, A.Rybinski 1-3, Bradley 1-1, Rost 1-3, Z.Fier 0-5, Sik 0-2, Lane Loyson 0-1, Jayden Gamrak 0-1, Hudson Scholten 0-2, B.Schimdt 0-1, Jack Lacek 0-2, Branden Johnson 0-1, Peyton Sheik 0-1, T.Schmidt 0-1.

SACKS: Esping 1

TACKLES FOR LOSS: Esping 2, Josephson 2, Thooft 1

INTERCEPTIONS: Rost 1

FUMBLE RECOVERY: Hudson Scholten 1

PUNTING (no-avg.): Gillund 3-27.0