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Relling rallies Mounds View in upset of Cretin-Derham Hall

By Trevor Squire, SportsEngine, 10/19/16, 3:15PM CDT

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Alex Relling scored three touchdowns in his first varsity start to lead the underdog Mustangs to the victory.


Mounds View's Alex Relling (28) drags Cretin-Derham Hall tacklers into the end zone while scoring the first of three touchdowns in the second half to lead the Mustangs to a 21-7 victory Wednesday at the University of St. Thomas. Photo by Korey McDermott,

Mounds View’s backup fullback Alex Relling had as many carries as fingers on one of his hands heading into Wednesday’s regular-season finale against Cretin-Derham Hall.

Though he had plenty of game experience as the leading rusher on the Mustangs junior varsity team, Relling still had little time to prepare for his first varsity start on a short week.

His new role was a result of an injury to starting fullback and leading rusher Xavier Miles in last week’s win against Woodbury, but Relling looked like a veteran with an impressive performance that helped catapult the Mustangs to a 21-7 upset over the Raiders at the University of St. Thomas.

“A lot of guys got banged up last week, and to see Alex Relling step up like that, it was amazing,” senior linebacker Ross Indlecoffer said.

After his team went scoreless in the first half, Relling carried Mounds View in the second, scoring three touchdowns to fuel the comeback and secure another passionate win for the Mustangs, who are ranked No. 12 in the Associated Press Class 6A state high school football poll.

It was on the final TD run that Relling really showed his mettle. With his team facing a fourth-and-2 and a little over a minute left in the game, Relling broke off a 16-yard run into the end zone.

Relling felt something take over him as he stiff-armed a defender and broke another tackle on his final and longest run of the night that capped a 25-carry, 122-yard outing for the junior.

“I thought I was going out of bounds and not going to get the first down, but I just stiff-armed (a defender) and saw I was an inch away from the end zone and just plowed through,” Relling said. 

Relling’s earlier touchdowns didn’t come easy, either, as the junior twice punched through goal-line stands to record scoring runs from 3 and 1 yards out.

On his first TD run, Relling was met at the line and pushed back before taking a second stab at the wall and busting through while carrying a defender on his back.

“I got smashed back but didn’t give up. I was just looking for the end zone,” he said.

Adding an upset over the No. 6-6A Raiders (6-2, 5-2) may have clinched home-field advantage for the Mustangs in at least one game of next week's Class 6A, Section 4 playoffs.

“It’s an incredible win,” coach Jim Galvin said. “We’ve seen (Cretin-Derham Hall) on video and they’re a very good football team. Our kids kind of hung in there. It wasn’t anything pretty.”

Stillwater handed Mounds View a 20-7 loss on Oct. 7, and the Mustangs responded by closing out the regular season with victories over two teams in the top half of the East Metro District Blue Division standings and cracking the Class 6A rankings. 

Galvin said Mounds View's recent surge isn't a result of scheme changes or switches at any position. Instead, it is due to the kids playing hard.

That was evident early in the game, as the Mustangs held a potent Cretin-Derham Hall offense without a first down until four minutes remained in the first half. The Raiders scored their only TD of the night on the drive.

Prior to that scoring drive, Mounds View's defense controlled the play behind Indlecoffer, who had back-to-back tackles for losses to force a turnover on downs after the Mustangs recorded a trio of three-and-outs.

“The defense came together as a brotherhood,” Indlecoffer said. “We had a great game against Woodbury and excelled and put together a better game this week.”

Charlie Etucko had two interceptions on the night, and his crucial fumble recovery on the opening drive of the second half ended a Cretin-Derham Hall possession that could have the Raiders take at least a 10-point lead.

Relling and the offensive line reciprocated that effort into bruising scoring drives to fuel the comeback.

"It’s really encouraging and we have a lot of motivation heading into next week," Indlecoffer said of his team's overall performance.

The Mustangs will now enjoy a long weekend to recover and prepare for the new season upcoming.

“So much to look forward to and so much energy," Indlecoffer said. "We’re ready.”

First Report

Alex Relling’s three second-half touchdowns carried Mounds View to a 21-7 victory over Cretin-Derham Hall in the regular-season finale Wednesday night at the University of St. Thomas.

Relling's most impressive TD was his last, a 16-yard scamper on fourth down that he broke by shedding a tackle and stiff-arming a defender before running free to the end zone with 1:09 left in the game. It capped a 122-yard rushing performance for the junior running back.

The Mustangs (6-2, 5-2) ranked No. 12 in the Associated Press Class 6A state high school football poll, forced three turnovers and held the No. 6-6A Raiders (6-2, 5-2) scoreless in the second half.

Cretin-Derham Hall quarterback Jackson Crawford completed 12 of 27 passes for 96 yards and scored the Raiders only TD on a 1-yard run late in the second quarter.


Cretin-Derham Hall quarterback Jackson Crawford with a completion during play against Mounds View on Oct. 19. Jackson ran for the Raiders' only touchdown in a 21-7 loss. Photo by Korey McDermott, SportsEngine


Mounds View quarterback Ryan Nickel (5) with a scramble Wednesday night. Photo by Korey McDermott, SportsEngine

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