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Apple Valley defeats Park of Cottage Grove to win Class 5A, Section 3 title

By Pete Winslow, SportsEngine, 11/04/16, 7:45AM CDT

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Noah Sanders ran for two touchdowns and threw for another to help send the Eagles to the state tournament.


Apple Valley quarterback Noah Sanders (12) rushed for the game's first and last touchdowns. Sanders' Eagles beat Park of Cottage Grove 42-35 to advance to the state tournament. Photo by Korey McDermott, SportsEngine


Apple Valley's Mario Lewis (4) evades defenders as he high steps into the end zone Friday night against Park Cottage Grove. Lewis had two rushing touchdowns on the night. Photo by Korey McDermott, SportsEngine

Apple Valley High School was packed Friday night for the Class 5A, Section 3 championship game.

The home crowd quickly filled the bleachers before kickoff, and after the final seconds ticked off the game clock, those same fans left their seats to rush the field and celebrate the Eagles' 42-35 victory over Park of Cottage Grove.

The roar of the crowd seemed to rally the home team, especially as the game came down to the wire with a state tournament bid hanging in the balance.

“This is what playoff football is supposed to look like, and games are supposed to go to the end,” Eagles coach Chad Clendening said.

The game was slow for the first few possessions, but the action picked up after Apple Valley senior Noah Sanders opened the scoring with a 6-yard touchdown run with 4:50 remaining to play in the first quarter.

The quarterback was sidelined for five games last year with a right knee injury, but his leg seemed fine Friday as he scored on a 1-yard run with 49 seconds to play to give the Eagles a seven-point lead.

“Noah knew his game plan wasn’t going to be throwing it around very much but to control the game and finish drives,” Clendening said.

Sanders also threw a TD pass, but he wasn't alone in carrying the scoring load as Eagles running back Mario Lewis rushed for two touchdowns.

However, it was Apple Valley's opportunistic defense that sealed the win as junior defensive back Josh Arnold picked off quarterback Brandon Alt on the Wolfpack's final possession. 

“This team has worked really hard to be here, and our motto this season has been 'Bank or bust,' ” Arnold said

Despite the interception, Alt had a strong showing, throwing one touchdown and rushing for three more.

 

Alt had the Wolfpack offense stretching the field in the first half, and his 8-yard TD run with 5:31 to play in the second quarter gave Park a 28-14 lead.

But the Eagles turned the momentum around with less than two minutes remaining before halftime. Shane Sande returned a Wolfpack fumble 20 yards to the end zone, helping Apple Valley trim the deficit to 28-21.

“We’ve been in tough games before and this was no different. We had to make stops and to create chances for ourselves, and we did tonight," Clendening said.

Sanders' 30-yard TD strike to Luke Martens early in the third quarter tied the game. Alt answered nearly five minutes later, connecting with Brendan Beaulieu on a 38-yard touchdown pass.

An 11-yard TD run from Lewis early in the fourth pulled the Eagles even at 35-35, and the game remained tied until Sanders scored with less than a minute to play.

First Report

Senior Noah Sanders led Apple Valley to a 42-35 victory in the Class 5A, Section 3 final against Park of Cottage Grove Friday night at Apple Valley High School.

Sanders had two rushing touchdowns and threw another. Running back Mario Lewis also contributed with two rushing TDs, helping power the Eagles to victory.

Park’s Brandon Alt had a strong showing, as he ran for three touchdowns and passed for another. The Wolfpack would not go down quietly and the game was back and forth for four quarters.

With the win, Apple Valley moves on to face the winner of Owatonna and Northfield in the state tournament quarterfinals.


Park Cottage Grove senior Brandon Alt glides in for one of his three rushing touchdowns on the night. The Wolfpack quarterback also threw for one touchdown in the loss. Photo by Korey McDermott, SportsEngine


Players from both Apple Valley and Park of Cottage Grove gather for a postgame prayer at midfield after a tough battle for a state tournament berth Nov. 4 in Apple Valley. Photo by Korey McDermott, SportsEngine

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