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Hand grabs three picks in Totino-Grace's season finale win over Cretin-Derham Hall

By Matthew Davis, SportsEngine, 10/16/19, 7:15PM CDT

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Nick Hand, a junior defensive back for the Eagles, snatched away any chance at a Raiders' comeback on Wednesday.

Totino-Grace senior receiver Sam Quick runs in the flat after a second-quarter reception Wednesday night against Cretin-Derham Hall in St. Paul. Photo by Drew Herron, SportsEngine

Totino-Grace senior receiver Sam Quick runs in the flat after a second-quarter reception Wednesday night against Cretin-Derham Hall in St. Paul. Photo by Drew Herron, SportsEngine

Nick Hand made up for not snagging an interception all season going into Totino-Grace’s regular season finale with Cretin-Derham Hall.

The Eagles junior defensive back picked off three passes in a 26-20 win over the Raiders (4-4, 3-3) Wednesday at the University of St. Thomas. Hand’s picks included a 60-yard interception return in the third quarter.

“It was just our defense,” Hand said. “Great calls. Our coaches just put me in that position.”

His 60-yard return didn’t slam the door on the Raiders though. Raiders senior defensive lineman Jackson Peters recovered a fumble on the following drive after a sack by senior defensive end Joseph Akoh.

Cretin-Derham Hall receiver Tyson Schilling is hit by Totino-Grace cornerback Deezwin Cooper in the first quarter at the University of St. Thomas on Wednesday night. Photo by Drew Herron, SportsEngine

Cretin-Derham Hall receiver Tyson Schilling is hit by Totino-Grace cornerback Deezwin Cooper in the first quarter at the University of St. Thomas on Wednesday night. Photo by Drew Herron, SportsEngine

First report

Junior defensive back Nick Hand picked off three passes for Totino-Grace in a 26-20 win over Cretin-Derham Hall Wednesday at the University of St. Thomas.

Hand garnered two of his interceptions in the second half, preventing a Raiders' rally in their home finale. The Eagles, ranked No. 7 in the Class 6A Associate Press poll, came out throwing as junior quarterback Kristoff Kowalkowski found senior wide receiver Isaac Richards deep on a 49-yard connection that set up junior running back Luke Delzer to punch in a 1-yard touchdown run for a 6-0 lead.

Cretin-Derham Hall (4-4, 3-3) had its lone lead, 7-6, following a 44-yard TD pass from senior quarterback Preston Thelemann to senior wide receiver Chris Walsh. Totino-Grace (6-2, 5-1) jumped back ahead at the end of the first half on a 51-yard fake punt pass for a TD from senior punter Wolfe Glaeser to senior linebacker Andrew Christopherson.

The Eagles extended the lead to 18-7 in the third quarter on their opening drive, capped by a 3-yard TD run from junior running back Patrick Doran. Cretin-Derham Hall chipped away with a couple field goals by senior kicker Jimmy Reardon in the second half.

After Hand’s third interception of the game in the fourth quarter, the Eagles looked in control with a 48-yard TD run by sophomore running back Hunter Karlson. The Eagles led 26-13 with 2:51 left in the game.  

Theleman got the Raiders back into it with a 22-yard TD pass to Will Burke, but his team couldn’t get the ball back again. The Raiders suffered their fourth-straight loss. 

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