When Chatfield starting quarterback Sam Backer, the focal point of the Gophers’ offense all year, was ejected after picking up his second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty of the game in the third quarter of their Class 2A semifinal against Barnesville, it would be easy to assume the team would take the loss hard and find it difficult to mov forward.

Not Chatfield. In fact, when the 2,400-yard rusher left the game, the rest of the team saw nothing but a challenge.

“All season, we’ve heard the talk that ‘You guys would not be a good team without Sam Backer’,” said defensive lineman Ethan Ruskell. “He’s a great player and makes our job really easy, but man, does this give us a chance to prove something. It put a chip on our shoulder.”

Chatfield, which trailed Barnesville for most of the game, got two touchdowns passes from backup QB Parker Delany to rally past the Trojans 22-18.

Barnesville, which took a quick 12-0 lead in the first quarter, made the scored 18-8 with a quick score after Backer left. But the Trojans offense sputtered against the Gophers’ fast and physical defense after that.

Delaney, a sophomore, wasn’t fazed by being asked to come to the rescue. He hit Isaac Erding with a 32-yard pass on Chatfield’s next drive, cutting the lead to 18-14.

With the defense having success stopping Barnesville’s Power-T running game, Chatfield kept the game close until the offense got the ball back with 3:06 left in the game. Less than a minute later, Delaney found receiver Luke Carrier behind the Barnesville defense for the go-ahead 47-yard touchdown pass.

“We were prepared to stop their quarterback,” said Barnesville linebacker Jonathan Robideau. “We weren’t ready for them to pass.”

“It was just that one play that we had a blown coverage,” Barnesville coach Bryan Strand said. “Other than that, I thought we defended them well.”

Delaney finished 6 for 14 for 155 yards and two touchdowns. He nearly added another score, running 48 yards the next time Chatfield got the ball back, but he fumbled while being tackled at the one-yard-line and Barnesville recovered with 1:04 left. But the Trojans threw a interception at midfield to end their chances.

“Resilience is the best word you can use,” said Chatfield coach Jeff Johnson. “Not only our offense, but our defense. That’s what kept us in is and gave us a shot to win that game.”

Even the ejection of its star quarterback couldn’t keep Chatfield from it’s 12th-straight victory and and a date in the Prep Bowl.

Sophomore quarterback Parker Delaney filled in for starter  Sam Backer, who was ejected from the game after pickingup his second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in the third quarter, and threw two touchdown passes, including a 46-yarder to Luke Carrier with 2:21 left, to give the Gophers a 22-18 victory over Barnesville.

Delaney finished with 155 yards passing and two touchdowns, all in the second half.