Jamiah Newell

First report from the game:

Senior Jamiah Newell ran for more than 200 yards and a touchdown, sophomore quarterback Drew Stewart threw for another score, and that was all the help the Panther defense needed to send Lakeville North back to the Class 6A state tournament with a 14-12 victory over Cretin-Derham Hall. 

Lakeville North forced three turnovers and stopped the Raiders on a two-point conversion attempt that would have tied the game with 6:51 remaining in the fourth quarter.

For a game in which neither team could find consistent offense, the Panthers made just enough big plays to top a mistake-prone Raider offense that scored just one touchdown on four trips to the red zone.

Cretin-Derham Hall jumped out to a 6-0 lead and, with just under two minutes remaining before halftime, had the ball first-and-10 at the Lakeville North 15-yard line. The Raiders fumbled the snap, the Panthers recovered, and Newell took the next play 82 yards to the Raiders' 3-yard line. Stewart hit Conner Flack on a fade route moments later, and Lakeville North took a lead it would never relinquish.

The Raiders had a chance to tie midway through the fourth, as they trailed 14-12 after a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Blake Banham. But quarterback Ricardo Johnson was hit as he threw, and his pass fell incomplete.

Banham, who is from Lakeville, rushed for 133 yards in the game.

Recap: Jamiah Newell ran for 202 yards and a touchdown and Drew Stewart threw for another score to lead the host Panthers (8-2) over the Raiders (7-3) and into the Class 6A state tournament. Lakeville North forced three turnovers and stopped Cretin-Derham Hall on a two-point conversion try that would have tied the score with 6:51 to go.

Key of the game: Up by six points late in the second quarter on the Lakeville North 15-yard line, Cretin-Derham Hall fumbled the ball on first down. The Panthers recovered, and Newell took the next play 82 yards to the Raiders 3-yard line. Lakeville North took the lead moments later on a touchdown pass from Stewart to Conner Flack.

Quote: “We’ve said all year, ‘All we want is one more shot [at a title].’ Now we have it.” — Newell

One thing to know: Despite 133 rushing yards from senior Blake Banham, the Raiders were only able to muster one touchdown in four trips to the red zone.

BRYCE EVANS