Noah Thompson

First report from the game

Underdog Underwood (9-3) defeated Ely (12-0) 34-20 in the 9-Man state tournament semifinals Thursday at the Metrodome.

Ely opened the scoring on senior running back Mark Heiman’s 27-yard run. But Underwood junior running back Noah Thompson managed two second-quarter rushing touchdowns. His second came with 18 seconds remaining in the half and within 57 seconds of his team’s last touchdown -- by sophomore tight end Matt Biegler -- after Ely fumbled the kickoff at its 18-yard line.

In the second half, the Timberwolves responded with a 75-yard run for touchdown by senior fullback Louis Gerzin halfway through the third quarter. Thompson countered with his third touchdown later in the quarter.

Ely again came back with a 15-yard pass from senior quarterback Sean Jordan passes to sophomore tight end Michael Lah early in the fourth, but sophomore wide receiver Dylan Kalenze’s touchdown with less than a minute left in the game was Underwood’s final blow.

Recap: Underwood’s Rockets (10-3) were underdogs who rode a three-touchdown performance by junior running back Noah Thompson to top previously undefeated Ely (12-1), which returned from last year’s 9-Man state tournament. Ely scored first on a 27-yard run by Mark Heiman about three minutes into the game. Thompson tied it on a 6-yard touchdown run in the second quarter with the first of three touchdowns. His second, on a 13-yard run, came shortly before halftime after the Timberwolves fumbled a kickoff at their 18-yard line. The last, a 25-yard run, gave Underwood a two-possession lead heading into the fourth quarter and Ely never came closer than a touchdown after that.

Key of the game: Thompson, who scored three touchdowns on 31 carries for 183 total yards. He accounted for nearly half of his team’s 372 rushing yards.

Quote: “It feels so great. It’s almost indescribable. Just knowing that we’re going [to the final] is amazing. … Our game was just to get in front of them, wear them down and keep going.” —Noah Thompson, Underwood junior running back

One thing to know: Ely senior fullback Louis Gerzin led the Timberwolves with 157 rushing yards from 25 carries. His 75-yard touchdown run halfway through the third quarter brought his team within one score of the Rockets.

MEGAN RYAN