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SMB smashes through St. Paul Central into the section championship

By Drew Herron, SportsEngine, 10/29/16, 4:00PM CDT

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Siegel Howard rushed for two touchdowns and caught one in the first half to propel the Wolfpack to victory.



SMB's Siegel Howard (22) celebrates after scoring. In the first half, Howard rushed for two TD's and caught another to propel SMB to a 28-7 victory. Photo by Chris Juhn.

SMB's Siegel Howard (22) celebrates after scoring. In the first half, Howard rushed for two TD's and caught another to propel SMB to a 28-7 victory. Photo by Chris Juhn, SportsEngine



There was something familiar about the passing play as it developed in front of SMB linebacker Bennett Theisen.

The Wolfpack’s defensive coaches had simulated this scenario all week in practice.

“If there was not motion, then it would probably be a screen (pass),” Theisen said afterwards. “I ran right to that spot because I knew what was coming.”

That well-drilled anticipation led the sophomore to the right place at the right time, resulting in a 52-yard interception return for a touchdown that all but sealed the Wolfpack’s 28-7 victory over visiting St. Paul Central Saturday afternoon at Blake School in Hopkins.

It proved to be an emphatic victory for SMB, the co-op of St. Paul Academy, Minnehaha Academy, and Blake, as the Wolfpack tore through the Minutemen en route to advancing to next week’s Class 5A, Section 4 championship.

Ranked No. 9 in class 5A by the Associated Press' statewide poll, SMB (9-0) never trailed the Minutemen, putting together a 14-point lead at the end of the first quarter and beginning of the second that would give the defense enough cushion to keep the hosts in front.

Sophomore running back Siegel Howard scored the Wolfpack’s first two touchdowns on runs of two and one yards, then closed out the first half with a 17-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Jalen Suggs.

In the second half, SMB’s defense came up with a fumble recovery and two interceptions, the first of which came from Ian Mumdschenk, the second was Theisen’s pick-six.

“He is as instinctually as good a linebacker as we’ve seen,” SMB coach Collin Quinn said of Theisen. “Today, he made some awesome plays, and that was a big one.”

St. Paul Central (5-5), which at times effectively ran its misdirection and option offense, could not sustain a drive or consistently repel the Wolfpack’s penetration of the line of scrimmage.

Turnovers crippled the Minutemen squad that was also dealing with six injured starters watching from the sideline, the latest victims of the injury bug. St. Paul Central dressed less than 40 players Saturday, down from 65 in August, forcing new players into vital positions.

Coupled with turnovers, the odds against the Minutement became too much.

“That’s the story of our season,” said Central coach Scott Howell. “We do a lot of good things, and then we do something bad, at the wrong time, and it just kills us.”

The Minutemen’s only score came with 3:12 left before halftime when Opemipo Aghenu punched in a two-yard run that temporarily trimmed the Wolfpack’s lead to 14-7.

SMB will face top-seeded Mahtomedi in the section final to be played next Friday in Mahtomedi.

Mahtomedi, a seeded fifth last year, toppled top-seeded SMB 10-7 in the section semifinals, the Wolfpack’s only loss in the last two seasons.

"We know it's going to be a battle," Quinn says. "They do things the right way there, and we have a lot of respect for Mahtomedi."

St. Paul Central's Opemipo Aghenu (12) forces his way into the end zone, losing his helmet in the process. Aghenu scored Minutemen's only touchdown in the 28-7 loss. Photo by Chris Juhn, SportsEngine

St. Paul Central's Opemipo Aghenu (12) forces his way into the end zone, losing his helmet in the process. Aghenu scored Minutemen's only touchdown in the 28-7 loss. Photo by Chris Juhn, SportsEngine

First Report

SMB used a stifling defense to grind out a victory over St. Paul Central Saturday afternoon at Breck School in Hopkins, knocking off their guests 28-7 in the Class 5A, Section 4 semifinal.

The Wolfpack (9-0), ranked No. 9 in class 5A by the Associated Press' statewide poll, never trailed the Minutemen, putting together a 14-point lead at the end of the first quarter and beginning of the second that would give the defense enough cushion to keep the hosts in front. 

In the second half, SMB’s Ian Mundschenk and Bennett Theisen both came up with interceptions, Theisen’s returned for a touchdown midway through the third quarter that put the Wolfpack up by 21, effectively sealing the result. 

SMB sophomore running back Siegel Howard scored the game’s first two touchdowns on runs of two and one yards, then closed out the first half with a 17-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Jalen Suggs. 

St. Paul Central (5-5), which at times effectively ran its misdirection and option offense, could not sustain a drive or consistently repel the Wolfpack’s penetration of the line of scrimmage.

The Minutemen’s only score came with 3:12 left before halftime when Opemipo Aghenu punched in a two-yard run that temporarily trimmed the Wolfpack’s lead to 14-7.
 

SMB's Kaden Johnson (84) and St. Paul Central's Tyree Walker (34) go up for the ball thrown by SMB quarterback Jalen Suggs. The Wolfpack defeated the Minutemen 28-7 at home. Photo by Chris Juhn, SportsEngine

SMB's Kaden Johnson (84) and St. Paul Central's Tyree Walker (34) go up for the ball thrown by SMB quarterback Jalen Suggs. The Wolfpack defeated the Minutemen 28-7 at home. Photo by Chris Juhn, SportsEngine

Archie Jacob (14) of St. Paul is forced out of bounds by Emrik Mundschenk (21) of SMB on a run that scored his team a 1st down. St. Paul Central was defeated at SMB 28-7. Photo by Chris Juhn

Archie Jacob (14) of St. Paul Central is forced out of bounds by Emrik Mundschenk (21) of SMB. Photo by Chris Juhn, SportsEngine

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