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Elk River hangs on to defeat St. Francis in high-octane offensive battle

By Drew Herron, SportsEngine, 09/13/19, 7:30PM CDT

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Junior running back Carter Otto finished with 125 yards and two TDs for the Elks, who fended off a late push from the Fighting Saints.

The Elks’ Carter Otto scores on a 13-yard run giving the Elks a 42 -  29 lead over the Fighting Saints in the fourth quarter. The Elks beat their rival at home Friday night 42-36. Photo by Earl J. Ebensteiner, SportsEngine

The Elks Carter Otto scores on a 13-yard run giving the Elks a 42-29 lead over the Fighting Saints in the fourth quarter. The Elks beat their rival at home Friday night 42-36. Photo by Earl J. Ebensteiner, SportsEngine

Last week it was one running back who delivered the knockout punches for Elk River. This week, it was another.

The Elks, doling out one of the state’s most efficient ground attacks, have options, and they demonstrated it with steely resolve Friday night by carving out a tense 42-36 victory at home against a relentless St. Francis team. 

Elk River senior running back Joe Nordstrom carries the ball in from the 1-yard line near the end of the first half. Elk River defeated St. Francis at home Friday night 42-36. Photo by Earl J. Ebensteiner, SportsEngine

Elk River senior running back Joe Nordstrom carries the ball in from the 1-yard line near the end of the first half. Elk River defeated St. Francis at home Friday night 42-36. Photo by Earl J. Ebensteiner, SportsEngine

First report

Elk River carved out a tense 42-36 victory at home Friday night over a relentless rival, St. Francis.

Running back tandem Joe Nordstrom ran the ball 20 times for 136 yards and two TDs, while junior Carter Otto finished with 125 yards on 18 carries and two TDs, as the Elks, ranked No. 3 in the Class 5A Associated Press statewide poll, ground out a hard-fought victory that was persistently threatened in the second half.

In contrasting style, St, Francis moved the ball through the air with increasing efficiency in the second half. Twice in the fourth quarter, the Fighting Saints had the Elks within reach of a score or less, only to have Elk River (3-0, 2-0) score again and fend off the looming upset.

St. Francis (1-2, 1-1) quarterback Trevor Patterson finished with 303 yards passing and four TDs while completing 21 of 35 attempts. Wyatt Schroeder hauled in nine catches for 126 yards and Austin Walvatne had 85 yards on nine catches. Both ended with a pair of TD receptions. 

St. Francis quarterback Trevor Patterson spots an open receiver near the end zone. Patterson had four touchdowns with 21 of 35 attempts but his Fighting Saints still fell to the Elks 42-36 Friday night. Photo by Earl J. Ebensteiner, SportsEngine

St. Francis quarterback Trevor Patterson spots an open receiver near the end zone. Patterson had four touchdowns with 21 of 35 attempts but his Fighting Saints still fell to the Elks 42-36 Friday night. Photo by Earl J. Ebensteiner, SportsEngine

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