Blue collar, predictable and not the least bit flashy. That’s the successful blueprint to victory followed by South St. Paul.

On the road Friday night, the Packers rolled past East Metro District Red Division rival North St. Paul 42-6 in an offensive performance that was ultra-efficient with a steady directive to capitalize on the chances afforded.

In scoring the game’s first four touchdowns and enacting the continuous clock after an uncharacteristic 50-yard touchdown strike through the air to go ahead 42-6, South St. Paul left little doubt that they were ready to pick up where they left off last year…a 11-2 record and a state tournament appearance.

“The message was there all week,” Packers quarterback Ryan Duffy said. “Play South St. Paul Packers football and come out right away and hit them in the mouth. Set the tempo and don’t let up on the gas pedal. We’re a blue collar bunch…we’re are going to run the football, and you know it. It’s up to you to stop it, or we are going to keep doing it until we break their will.”

Duffy finished with 195 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns in helping lead the Packers to a fiery start at 1-0, emboldened by a thumping of a quality team that went 8-3 and reached the state tournament a season ago.

The senior signal-caller completed 3 of 5 pass attempts for 135 yards and a one touchdown. He also carried the ball 10 times for 60 yards and three more TDs (a pair of goal-line sneaks, and the third on a 10-yard option keeper) to help keep the Packers in control throughout.

“We handled the ebbs and flows,” South St. Paul coach Chad Sexauer said. “On fourth downs, we got off the field, and there were other times when a play needed to be made, somebody was able to step up and make it. That allowed us to keep a bit of momentum going all the way throughout the game.”

The Packers opened the scoring when senior running back Nathan Gallegos rushed for a 2-yard touchdown with 1:43 remaining in the first quarter, igniting the rout. 

Meanwhile, North St. Paul spun its wheels, slowed by seven penalties, two lost fumbles and three turnovers on downs in the first half. 

South St. Paul controlled the ball, amassing more than 50 rushing attempts while four backs with gained more than 50 yards each.

Duffy credits the offensive line as the spark that lit the prairie fire on the team's back.

“When our line allows us to play fast and get off the ball like we were able to today, then I think it really gives everyone a lot of confidence,” he said. 

As the game wore on and the lead became firmly in the Packers’ hands, the offense opened a little, or enough to provide a 50-yard touchdown strike from Duffy to end Nathan Brandecker for the nail in the coffin just two minutes into the fourth quarter. Brandecker finished with two of Duffy’s three completions, hauling in 95 yards.

“We played a little bit tight early on, trying to maintain our identity,” Sexauer says of the run-first approach.

“But in the second half, we were able to open things up. Part of that was taking what their defense was giving us, and part of was Ryan stepping up.”

Polars running back Ken Kamoga carried the ball 20 times for 80 yards while quarterback Josh Steckler was 5-of-13 passing for 77 yards and one touchdown.

On the shoulders of a steady rushing attack, South St. Paul raced out of the blocks and began the new season Friday night with a thorough 42-6 thumping of host North St. Paul.

The Packers scored the game's first four touchdowns, including three in the second quarter when the South St. Paul offense found its rhythm while North St. Paul struggled to find workable solutions to the challenges brought by its East Metro District Red Division rival. 

The Packers opened the scoring when Nathan Gallegos rushed for a 2-yard touchdown with 1:43 remaining in the first quarter.

South St. Paul expanded its lead in the second quarter with three rushing TDs, two of them on 1-yard keepers from quarterback Ryan Duffy.

The senior finished the game with 60 yards and three touchdowns on 10 carries while completing 3 of 5 pass attempts for 135 yards and a TD.

North St. Paul was slowed by seven penalties, two lost fumbles and had three turnovers on downs in the first half. 

Polars running back Ken Kamoga carried the ball 20 times for 80 yards while quarterback Josh Steckler was 5-of-13 passing for 77 yards and one touchdown.