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Fridley caps undefeated regular season with win over Minneapolis Southwest

By NATE GOTLIEB, Special to the Star Tribune, 10/16/19, 7:45PM CDT

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The Tigers ran for four touchdowns, including a 54-yarder by quarterback Kaleb Blaha, en route to a 34-7 victory.

Fridley's Michael Ude (33) sprints to the outside on a sweep against Minneapolis Southwest. Ude had one rushing TD in the Tigers’ 34-7 victory over the Lakers in Fridley. Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine

Fridley's Michael Ude (33) sprints to the outside on a sweep against Minneapolis Southwest. Ude had one rushing TD in the Tigers’ 34-7 victory over the Lakers in Fridley. Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine

Fridley rushed for four touchdowns, including a 54-yarder by quarterback Kaleb Blaha, as it completed an undefeated regular season Wednesday by defeating Minneapolis Southwest 34-7 at Fridley.

The Tigers, 8-0 and ranked sixth in Class 4A, amassed 332 yards from scrimmage, led by running back Michael Ude, who had 23 carries for 115 yards and a touchdown. Blaha, a senior, rushed 11 times for 90 yards and one score and also threw a touchdown to Eli Paton.

Jalen Shaw added two rushing touchdowns, and the Tigers defense limited visiting Southwest, 6-2 and ranked 10th in Class 5A, to 118 yards of offense.

“Everybody did their job, so it turned out well for us,” Blaha said.


Blaha

Blaha’s long touchdown run capped a 20-point first quarter in which Fridley scored on all three of its drives. Neither team scored in the game’s second and third quarters before Ude and Shaw scored in the fourth.

The victory capped a regular season in which the Tigers outscored opponents 354-33 and didn’t allow more than seven points in any game.

“Our guys have just been focused,” fifth-year Fridley coach Justin Reese said. “They set standards for each other. We got a great senior class, and they hold our guys accountable.”

First report

Fridley rushed for four touchdowns, including a 54-yarder by senior Kaleb Blaha, as it completed an undefeated regular season by topping Minneapolis Southwest 34-7 at Fridley High School.

The Tigers, 8-0 and ranked sixth in Class 4A, amassed 332 yards, led by Michael Ude, who had 23 carries for 115 yards and a touchdown. The Tigers held Southwest, with a 6-2 record and ranked 10th in Class 5A, to 118 yards.

Jalen Shaw rushed for two scores and Eli Paton caught a touchdown pass from Blaha.

Southwest senior running back TK Marshall, who has committed to North Dakota State, had a 61-yard kickoff return in the first half that set up quarterback a Will Chopin  touchdown pass to wide receiver Jaden Reed late in the first quarter.

Check back later for more on the game.

Fridley's Kaleb Blaha (7) drops back to pass in the first quarter against Minneapolis Southwest. Blaha had a touchdown pass and a 54-yd TD run for the Tigers in their 34-7 victory over the Lakers. Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine

Fridley's Kaleb Blaha (7) drops back to pass in the first quarter against Minneapolis Southwest. Blaha had a touchdown pass and a 54-yd TD run for the Tigers in their 34-7 victory over the Lakers. Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine

Minneapolis Southwest's TK Marshall (4) drags a Fridley defender on a second quarter rush Friday night. The Lakers fell to the Tigers 34-7 in Fridley. Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine

Minneapolis Southwest's TK Marshall (4) drags a Fridley defender on a second quarter rush Friday night. The Lakers fell to the Tigers 34-7 in Fridley. Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine

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