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South St. Paul blows out Holy Angels

By DAVID LA VAQUE, Star Tribune, 10/29/11, 8:00PM CDT

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Two big plays by the Packers' special teams thwarted would-be challenges by the Stars.

South St. Paul coach Chad Sexauer’s emphasis on special teams is not lip service. Among the Packers on the kick return or kick coverage teams Saturday at Holy Angels was star running back Sam Sura.

“We said coming in that special teams would be a big deal for us,” Sexauer said. “We put a few more of our athletes out there this time of year. We were trying to tilt the field.”

Two special teams standbys tilted the field, all right, sparking the Packers’ 50-20 romp of the Stars in the Class 4A, Section 3 semifinals. Reid Bjorklund’s first-quarter 64-yard kickoff return and Mitch Fitzgerald’s recovery of a fumbled Stars kick return in the third quarter allowed the Packers to tighten the vise.

Both plays came right after South St. Paul scores and served as the second punches in two devastating 1-2 combinations.

“It was a big momentum thing both times,” Sexauer said.
Strong special teams play supplemented solid days from Sura and quarterback Harrison Rund. Sura ran for four touchdowns and Rund passed for two scores.

Trailing 23-14 at halftime, Holy Angels appeared ready to get back in the game. The Stars stopped South St. Paul deep in its own end, and a short punt gave them the ball on the Packers 43-yard line. But the Stars lost a fumble on the first play.

“At halftime we felt like we just had to stop them once and come back because we didn’t think they could stop our offense every time,” Stars coach Ray Betton said. “But then, as they say, the wheels came off.”

A few plays later, Sura ran untouched for a 44-yard touchdown. Fitzgerald recovered a Stars fumble on the ensuing kickoff and Sura scored from 4 yards out to build a 36-14 lead.

The game started in much different fashion. Holy Angels scored on its first possession. And when quarterback Sam Keis hit Will Pagel for a 26-yard touchdown pass on fourth down in the second quarter, the Stars trailed 16-14.

South St. Paul had built a 16-7 lead in the first quarter behind Sura’s first touchdown, a safety and Bjorklund’s ensuing kickoff return for a touchdown.

 

PACKERS LOOK AHEAD TO REMATCH

Standout South St. Paul running back Sam Sura prefers to let his game do the talking – and his numbers are loud.

He came into Saturday’s game at Holy Angels with 1,182 yards and 13 touchdowns rushing this season and added a four-touchdown performance.

After the game, he took a measured approach to answering the inevitable question: What are your thoughts about Friday’s section final rematch at St. Thomas Academy?

The answer was pure Sura.

“We just have to practice like we have for every other team, prepare for what they have for us and do what we can do,” he said.

But wait a second, Sam. We're talking about a Cadets team that trampled all over your previously undefeated season with a 35-7 blowout that wasn’t even that close. You sure you don’t have something extra special in mind for St. Thomas Academy?

“I can’t answer that right now,” Sura said through a smile.

Fair enough. Underdogs are better served being understated. But Packers coach Chad Sexauer elaborated on the challenge facing his team. St. Thomas Academy has been an elite team in Class 4A all season long, trailing only Mankato West for the top ranking.

“They’re the measuring stick within our conference,” Sexauer said of the Cadets. “I’ve watched enough of them on film to know what they do but it’s just a matter of changing our mindset.”

Sexauer said a more challenging season has helped. The Packers lost at Mahtomedi and were forced to play Saturday’s section semifinal game on the road. Both games tested the players' resolve.

“We don’t have as many holes as maybe we’ve had the past couple seasons with these seniors and the junior class behind them,” Sexauer said. “It’s going to be a matter of being able to settle in and play a football game.

“Hopefully we can get them into a situation where we force them to play four quarters of football,” he said.

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