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SMB rallies with three second-half touchdowns to defeat nemesis Orono

By JIM PAULSEN, Star Tribune, 10/27/18, 9:30PM CDT

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The Wolfpack's 19-15 victory avenges playoff losses to the Spartans in the last two seasons.


SMB Wolfpack wide receiver Brock Brumley (2) dived for the first down as Orono defensive back Nick Ruhland (9) looked to tackle in the second quarter. Photo: Aaron Lavinsky ¥ aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com

After two years of early playoff losses to Orono, the SMB Wolfpack was determined that this was its year. The team struggled early in the game Saturday, and trailed by as many as nine points in the third quarter, but rallied to defeat Orono 19-15.

Held scoreless in the first half, SMB — a cooperative of St. Paul Academy, Minnehaha Academy and Blake — regained a bit of swagger by scoring on its opening drive of the second half, a 1-yard run by quarterback Jalen Suggs.

The two-point conversion failed, but the Wolfpack, still trailing 8-6, showed it was determined to make a run.

“It’s a four-quarter game,” said Suggs, a junior. “We came out, got a TD and it gave us momentum. We kept it rolling.”

First report

SMB, held scoreless in the first half, rallied with three second-half touchdowns to defeat Orono 19-15 in the Class 4A, Section 5 playoffs.

The Wolfpack's Jalen Suggs rushed for a touchdown and threw a pass to Craig McDonald for a 65-yard touchdown. Siegel Howard’s 10-yard run with 7:57 left gave SMB (9-0) the lead for good.

Orono had defeated SMB, a cooperative of St. Paul Academy, Minnehaha Academy and Blake, in the playoffs in each of the past two seasons.

Check back later for more on the game.

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