Elk River wasn’t used to such a low-scoring affair. But a blocked extra point in the final minute gave the Elks the 14-13 victory over St. Cloud Tech for the Class 5A, Section 6 championship on a snowy Friday at Buffalo.

The No. 3-ranked Elks (9-1) nearly saw their 14-7 lead shrink when the Tigers (8-3) scored with 48 seconds left. Elks senior lineman Ronnie Audette blocked the extra-point attempt.

“All season I’ve been getting really close on those extra points,” said Audette, who will play for North Dakota State next year. “And I figured this is the time it really counts, so I’m going to really dig in.”

He was one of the difference-makers in the game, as Elks coach Steve Hamilton credited the defensive line controlling the line of scrimmage to shut down the Tigers’ running game.

“When we needed a play to be made, our best player made the play,” Hamilton said.

The Elks, defending Class 5A champions, were up 6-0 at halftime on a 19-yard touchdown run by senior running back Sherrod Kpahn. Late in the third quarter, senior quarterback Mitch Stroh ran it in from a yard out, capping an eight-play, 66-yard drive.

The Tigers narrowed the margin in the fourth quarter on two touchdown passes from sophomore quarterback Nate Trewick to senior Brevyn Spann-Ford.

The Elks have won four games in a row and 22 of their last 23 overall.