Kale Hoselton of St. Michael-Albertville ran for the end zone after intercepting a pass en route to a 50-yard touchdown. Photo: CARLOS GONZALEZ • cgonzalez@startribune.com
The play that St. Michael-Albertville’s Kale Hoselton made to tip the game in the Knights’ favor in their 27-6 victory over Maple Grove on Thursday was a perfect demonstration of why coaches love seniors.
The Knights were clinging to a 7-6 lead early in the fourth quarter. The game was moving along in fits and spurts. The next big play would likely give the team that made it a decided edge.
Hoselton, a 6-4 senior safety, made that play. Positioned in the right spot, he snatched a tipped pass in the air at top speed, then raced down the sideline for a 50-yard touchdown and a 13-6 lead. The Knights celebrated, the Crimson sagged.
“I always know, no matter how late in the game it is, that I’ll have an opportunity to make a play,” Hoselton said. “I was in the right place at the right time. I like to read the quarterback’s eyes and that’s what led me there.”
Hoselton’s play was no surprise to St. Michael-Albertville coach Jared Essler, who’s witnessed Hoselton’s talents often.
Photo gallery: Maple Grove vs. St. Michael-Albertville
“He’s an All-Metro-type player,” Essler said. “He had eight picks last year. He’s a difference maker and he made the difference tonight.”
St. Michael-Albertville, fully energized, added two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter — a 50-yard run by quarterback Kolby Gartner and a 21-yard interception return by Davis Moseng.
“We have a lot of things we have to clean up,” said Essler, whose team fumbled once and threw three interceptions. “But we had a lot of guys playing their first varsity game. Week one is usually ugly, and it’s better win ugly.”
Maple Grove scrapped its old pro-style offense for an option-style veer. The Crimson moved the ball, but struggled with consistency and mistakes often stalling promising drives.
Still, Crimson coach Matt Lombardi said he was encouraged.
“I said to my wife that I actually feel strangely uplifted,” Lombardi said. “I’ll have to become a good coach and teach them not to make mistakes, but they can do it. I think in long run, we can figure this out.”
First report
Three fourth-quarter touchdowns broke open a close game and lifted St. Michael-Albertville to a 27-6 victory over Maple Grove.
Leading 7-6, the Knights' safety Kale Haselton picked off a tipped pass and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown. Kolby Gartner scooted 50 yards for a score a few minutes later and Davis Moseng capped the scoring spree by bringing back an interception 21 yards for a touchdown.
The Knights had taken a first-half lead Thursday on a 7-yard scoring run by Ty Songstad in the second quarter.
Maple Grove closed to within a point, 7-6, on a 67-yard scoring pass from Nate Elmes to Owen Overlie soon after. But that was all the offense the Crimson could muster.
Check back later for more on the game.
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