Recap: By the end of the game, Kyle Chromy was caked in mud and sweat, making it hard to see the No. 46 on his white Cambridge-Isanti jersey. But there was no hiding the impact the senior running back and linebacker had on the visiting Bluejackets’ exciting victory Tuesday in a Class 5A, Section 7 playoff game.

Chromy ran for 177 yards and scored three touchdowns, including the game-winner from 5 yards out with 4:15 remaining. The 220-pounder also spearheaded a defensive effort that forced two fourth-quarter St. Francis punts and got the ball back on downs with 2:17 remaining to seal the victory.

The Bluejackets (6-3) advance to face Brainerd on Saturday.

Key of the game: St. Francis was leading 31-22 early in the fourth quarter and seemingly in control. But the Bluejackets blocked a punt and Max Knowlton returned it 35 yards for a touchdown that swung momentum for good.

Quote: “I didn’t know if I was in or not. I thought I was down on my knee, but I just kept going. I put my head down and went,” Chromy said of his winning touchdown. “I was in shock. I had a hell of a game, I thought. I’m beat.”

One thing to know: St. Francis, which had defeated Cambridge-Isanti during the regular season, was without its second-leading rusher, John Santiago. He was suspended for the game after being flagged for two personal-foul penalties in the season finale. That put the burden on Max Gust, and the senior tailback responded by rushing for 266 yards and scoring two touchdowns. He was stopped on the crucial fourth-and-1 play by Matt Kuehn, however, enabling the Bluejackets to get the ball back and run out the clock.

MARK EMMERT

First report from the game

Kyle Chromy scored from 5 yards out, his third touchdown of Tuesday evening, as Cambridge-Isanti rallied in the fourth quarter to topple host St. Francis 37-31 in a Class 5A, Section 7 playoff game.

The key play for the Bluejackets came early in the fourth quarter when they blocked a Fighting Saints’ punt and Max Knowlton returned it 35 yards for a touchdown. St. Francis was leading 31-22 and seemingly in control at that point.

Max Gust ran for 266 yards and two touchdowns for the Saints, but was stopped by Matt Kuehn on a fourth-and-1 at midfield with 2:17 remaining. Cambridge-Isanti then ran out the clock.

The Bluejackets advance to play top seed Brainerd on Saturday.