Rogers coach Marc Franz said he thought his team’s Class 5A, Section 6 semifinal game against Monticello on Saturday would be more of a defense battle than offensive shootout.

It was. At least after the first quarter.

The second-seeded Royals scored 22 first-quarter points against the third-seeded Magic, before holding on with physical defensive. They accrued more than 200 yards of offense in the quarter, scoring on drives of 78, 67 and 65 yards.

“For the kids to come out and get a fast start and match their physicality … I was very happy,” Franz said. “The kids were mentally ready to play. … We were sharp and firing off the ball.”

Senior Drew Sagehorn accounted for more than 130 yards of offense in the first quarter, 74 of them coming on a touchdown pass from Tanner Palm. He caught the ball near midfield on that play, before following a blocker into the end zone.

“We take catches like that for granted,” Franz said, “because he’s just that kind of playmaker.”

On offense and defense. With Monticello (8-1) driving late in the first quarter, Sagehorn stripped running back Ryder Beckman and recovered at the 2-yard line, helping Rogers maintain a two-score lead.

“He came in and got stood up,” Sagehorn said. “I just kind of looked at it and it fell right into my hands.”

Sagehorn scored on the long pass two plays later, and Palm added a 7-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter for a 29-14 lead at halftime.

Neither team scored in the third quarter. Rogers extended the lead in the fourth quarter on a 40-yard touchdown run by Blayne Kasper, his second of the day.

Kasper said the Royals added some new offensive plays this past week, after noticing that St. Cloud Tech had success spreading Monticello's defense out the prior week.

“I thought we played really physical,” he said.

Monticello, meanwhile, struggled to match that physicality on offense. Charlie Voller helped the Magic stay close with a 98-yard kickoff return touchdown in the first quarter. Beckman added a 47-yard touchdown run in the second, but Monticello didn’t score again until 4:05 remained in the game.

Rogers will face top-seeded St. Michael-Albertville in the section championship at 7 p.m. Friday at St. Cloud State's Husky Stadium.

Drew Sagehorn had a 74-yard touchdown reception and a fumble recovery on the 1-yard line and Blayne Kasper rushed for two scores as Rogers defeated Monticello 36-14 on Saturday in the Class 5A, Section 6 semifinals.

The Royals (8-1) scored 22 points in the first quarter, gaining 210 yards on drives of 78, 67 and 65 yards. They took an early 15-0 lead, after a  6-yard touchdown rush by Travis Limoseth and a 1-yard rush by Kasper.

Monticello's Charlie Voller returned the ensuing kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown that cut the lead to 15-7.

Sagehorn caught the long touchdown pass two plays later.

The Magic drove more than 60 yards on their next drive, but Sagehorn stripped Ryder Beckman on the 1 and recovered the ball.

Beckman rushed for a 47-yard touchdown rush on Monticello’s next drive. Rogers responded with a 65-yard drive, capped by a 5-yard touchdown rush by quarterback Tanner Palm.

The Royals took a three-score lead on a 40-yard touchdown rush by Kasper in the fourth quarter. Its defense, meanwhile, didn’t allow Monticello inside the 30 until late in the half. Monticello scored the game's final touchdown.

Check back later for more on the game.