With how much everything else had worked, Apple Valley coach Chad Clendening figured he might as well pull out a call he’d been keeping hidden all postseason.

So in the second quarter of the Class 5A quarterfinal game Saturday, he decided to run what appeared to be a sweep to the left side. Only the ball was tossed to senior right tackle Spencer Rolland, who raced the opposite direction for the Eagles’ third touchdown in a 41-28 victory against Mankato West in a game at Shakopee West Junior High School.

“We put that in at the beginning of the playoffs and were just waiting for the right time to do it,” Rolland said. “Our coaches wanted to run it earlier in the playoffs, but I was like, ‘We don’t need it,’ so we withheld from doing that.”

It was part of a first half in which the Eagles scored on all four of their offensive possessions.

That trend continued until their final two drives of the game. It included an 85-yard kickoff return after Mankato West opened the second half with a 12-play touchdown drive to cut the lead to 28-16.

“It all starts up front,” Clendening said. “Our offensive line played a tremendous game, and I don’t even need to see the film to say that.”

Mankato West kept the final score closer than most against Apple Valley, which had been outscoring opponents by an average of 32.9 points a game. Mankato West’s offense was driven by senior Wesley Henderson, who finished with 123 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns.

That still wasn’t enough to keep pace with Apple Valley, which advanced into the state semifinals.

“We haven’t been to this position'' since Apple Valley won a Class 2A state title in 1993, Rolland said. “We’ve got this far, but we haven’t propelled ourselves to the next level so we’re excited to play those games and hopefully get to the state championship.”

First report

Apple Valley found little resistance offensively, scoring on all but its last two offensive possessions in a 41-28 victory against Mankato West in the Class 5A quarterfinals Saturday at Shakopee West Junior High School.

Apple Valley quarterback Tyler Cardella completed 10 of 12 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 95 yards and another score. 

Trey Kocher and Kellan McKeag added rushing touchdowns, while offensive lineman Spencer Rolland even got in on the action with a 13-yard touchdown in the second quarter after a reverse sent every defender for Mankato West (10-2) in the opposite direction.

For Mankato West, wide receiver Wesley Henderson ended with seven receptions for 123 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 66 yards on the ground. Quarterback Jack Foster rushed for a touchdown and tossed three more, including a 26-yard heave to Spencer Spaude as time expired.

Apple Valley (10-1) advances to the semifinals at U.S. Bank Stadium, where it will meet Elk River.

Check back later for more on the game.