Top-ranked Winona, after losing in the Class 4A championship last season, hasn’t lost since and now is going back to U.S. Bank Stadium.

The Winhawks ran their record to 11-0 by hanging on to defeat Fridley 17-14 on Friday in the Class 4A quarterfinals at Farmington.

Winona scored first when senior running back Robert Warren spun across the goal line for a 2-yard touchdown late in the first quarter. Warren sparked the next drive with a 24-yard run, setting up senior quarterback Riley Bosteter’s 23-yard touchdown throw to Dakota Matthees.

Warren sat out the second quarter because he was ill but came back in the third and helped set up Josh Bade’s 35-yard field goal that put the Winhawks in front 17-0. He finished with 135 yards on 15 carries.

“He’s an electric back with great vision,” Winona coach John Cassellius said. “It would be nice to get him back healthy and going again [in the semifinals] on Thursday.”

Without Warren, the Winona offense stalled and Fridley quickly climbed back into the game. Quarterback Noah Couwenhoven threw two long touchdown passes in the final four minutes of the third quarter to get the Tigers back within three with 12 minutes to go. Fridley (8-4) reached the Winona 26 in the final two minutes, but a fourth-down throw came up short.

The Tigers finished with a record of 8-4 after losing three of their first four.games.

“This team knows how to find something inside of them and keep going,” Fridley coach Justin Reese said. “They didn’t give up. That’s what this senior group brought to the program.”

Winona, which fell to Benilde-St. Margaret’s in the 2016 Prep Bowl, faces Holy Angels (10-1) in the semifinals Thursday.

First report

Top-ranked Winona, after losing in the Class 4A championship last season, hasn’t lost since and now is going back to U.S. Bank Stadium.

The Winhawks ran their winning streak to 11 games by defeating Fridley 17-14 on Friday in the Class 4A quarterfinals at Farmington.

Winona scored first when senior running back Robert Warren spun across the goal line for a 2-yard touchdown late in the first quarter. Warren sparked the next drive with a 24-yard run, setting up senior quarterback Riley Bosteter’s 23-yard touchdown throw to Dakota Matthees.

After rushing for 91 yards on 11 carries, Warren sat out the second quarter. He came back in the third quarter and rushed four times for 44 yards, which led to Josh Bade’s 35-yard field goal and a 17-0 lead.

Fridley quarterback Noah Couwenhoven got the Tigers back in the game late in the third quarter with two long touchdown passes in four minutes. Fridley reached the Winona 26 in the final two minutes, but a fourth-down throw came up short.

Winona, which fell to Benilde-St. Margaret’s in the 2016 Prep Bowl, faces eighth-ranked Holy Angels (10-1) in the semifinals Thursday.


Robert Warren