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Class 2A semifinal: Third-quarter safety pushes West Central Area past Maple River 8-7

By Jim Paulsen, Star Tribune, 11/19/21, 12:00PM CST

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West Central Area stopped Maple River on fourth down four times in the second half, including with 73 seconds left.

After giving up a touchdown just 13 seconds before halftime, costing them the lead, the West Central Area/Ashby defense did a little self-talk.

“We had a plan coming out in the second half. We needed to get a stop right away,” said junior Cole Anderson. “To come out and get that stop, that was huge.”

It started a series of stops by West Central/Ashby that led to a close-to-the-vest 8-7 victory over Maple River, propelling the Knights into next week’s Prep Bowl, where they’ll play Chatfield for the Class 2A championship.

West Central (11-1) forced Maple River (11-2) to turn the ball over on downs four of the five times the Eagles had the ball the second half.  The other time, the Knights turned in the biggest defensive play of the game.

Maple River defensive back Skyler Jenkins intercepted a pass at the Eagles’ one-yard-line, forcing them to start a drive deep in their own end. West Central’s defense, which controlled the line of scrimmage for most of the game, responded. Defensive end Hunter Norby burst through the line and stone-walled Maple River running back Bodin Simon a yard deep in the end zone for a safety.

West Central (11-1) led 8-7 with 1:04 left in the third quarter. That’s the way the game would stay as the Knights defense came up big repeatedly, including a stop on 4th and 4 at their own 11 with 1:20 left in the game.

“We’d had pretty good success in the past finishing our drives,” said Simon. “West Central, they were able to shut us down inside the 30, 20 yard lines. Give them credit.”

“The speed and the quickness they play with, the blitzes and the different fronts, it’s a challenge when you’re run-happy team,” said Maple River coach Dusty Drager. “Hats off to them.”

West Central/Ashby coach Nate Woods said the performance of the Knights’ defense was just a continuation of the improvement they’ve shown as the year has gone on.

“Our defense has continued this whole season to play better and better,” Wood said. “Now, if it’s fourth and short, we’re getting stops. That’s been huge since the playoffs have started, to be able to get off the field. It wasn’t our greatest offensive day, but our defense really stepped up."

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