Recap: St. Croix Lutheran hung on to defeat Glencoe-Silver Lake 38-35 in a wild Class 3A state quarterfinal game Friday at Macalester College in St. Paul. The Crusaders advance to the semifinal game against Proctor at 2 p.m. on Nov. 16 at the Metrodome.

A flurry of explosive scoring plays fueled the West St. Paul private school. The Crusaders, who averaged 50 points per game in their previous eight consecutive victories, got first half touchdown passes from quarterback David Ponath covering 80 and 50 yards. Running back Joe Werz got loose for scoring runs twice in the third quarter, the second good for 54 yards. Ponath finished the scoring with a 70-yard touchdown run.

Key of the game: Facing fourth-and-one from its own 30-yard line and holding just a three-point lead in the fourth quarter, St. Croix Lutheran called on Ponath to run. And run he did, ignoring leg cramps and leaving Glencoe-Silver Lake defenders in his wake for a 70-yard score and 38-28 lead.

Quote: “I was like, ‘Shoot.’ ” — St. Croix Lutheran quarterback David Ponath, seeing open field ahead on his 70-yard scoring run

One thing to know: Glencoe-Silver Lake rallied to score 21 fourth quarter points.

DAVID LA VAQUE