T.J. Clark had tunnel vision.
Shakopee had let nearly the entire 17-point lead it built in the first half slip away. But the Sabers defense had just come up with a game-rescuing, fourth-down sack of Mounds View quarterback Jacob Sampson, giving Shakopee the ball at midfield with the chance to regain control of the game.
It was an opportunity Clark, a determined 5-9 running back, wasn’t about to let slip away.
He carried the ball on seven of eight plays on a drive that started at the 50-yard-line and scored a 6-yard touchdown that helped Shakopee rebuild its double-digit cushion and basically salt away a 24-17 victory over Mounds View. The Sabers earned a chance to play in the climate-controlled coziness of U.S. Bank Stadium next week in the Class 6A semifinals.
For more on the Sabers' victory, click here to read this story on startribune.com.