Vikings oust top-seed BOLD, 21-0

Minneota suffocated BOLD's high-powered offense, limiting the Warriors to just 140 total yards in a 21-0 whitewash in the Section 5A semifinals Saturday in Olivia.
On a mild late October day in which the mercury climbed to the mid-60s, Minneota (8-2) advanced to the section championship against neighboring Lakeview at 2 p.m. Friday at Southwest Minnesota State University. Lakeview topped Dawson-Boyd 38-32 in the other 5A semifinal game on Saturday.
This will be a revenge game of sorts for Minneota, which lost to Lakeview 30-13 on Sept. 22 in Cottonwood.
The Vikings, seeded No. 4, overcame eight penalties on an otherwise flawless showing against the top-seeded Warriors.
"We knew we needed to slow down their running game because that have always been a very good run-oriented team," said coach Chad Johnston. "We needed solid up-front play which is crucial to win the battle in the trenches."
BOLD was held to a season-low 39 yards on the ground by the Vikings.
The Vikings amassed 291 yards of total offense on a day in which the brisk wind either hindered or hampered passing, kicking and punting depending on the side of the field teams were on.
"Both teams went in with the same philosophy of grinding it out against the wind," said Johnston. "We wanted to try and use the wind to our advantage and not have to rely on passing or punting into it. The key part was we weathered the storm and didn't give up any points in the first quarter after we had to punt into the wind and gave them good field position."
After a scoreless first quarter, the Vikings got on the board in the second quarter following an 11-play, 84-yard drive capped by a one-yard touchdown run by Zack Fier. During the drive, Isaac Pohlen connected with Fier on a 37-yard pass play and hit Max Rost for 26 yards on another. The extra point kick was blocked, leaving Minneota with a 6-0 lead, which is how the first half ended.
BOLD had difficulty running the ball all day, averaging only two yards per carry. The Warriors then went to the air in an attempt to move the ball, although that route was just as hard. Owen Flann completed just 8 of 27 aerials for 101 yards.
Minneota scored twice more in the third quarter.
On their first possession of the second half, the Vikings marched 49 yards on 10 plays despite being flagged for three penalties in the drive. Facing first-and-goal from the 16, Pohlen tossed an outlet pass to Fier, who scampered untouched into the left side of the end zone. Max Rost ran in the two-point conversion to make it 14-0.
After holding BOLD to a three-and-out on the ensuing possession, a short punt into the wind gave Minneota excellent field position at the BOLD 32. Six plays later, Pohlen scored on a one-yard sneak and Peyton Gillund booted the conversion to cap the scoring.
The Warriors then put together a 67-yard drive to the Minneota 13 before turning the ball over on downs.
When kicking off with the wind to his back, the strong-legged Gillund boomed kickoffs well into the end zone, including on that bounced off the right goal post.
Fier ran for 84 yards in 17 carries to lead the Vikings' ground game. Ryan Meagher rushed for 33 yards, and Anthony Rybinski and Lucas Rybinski gained 26 yards each.
Pohlen completed 7 of 9 passes for 110 yards. Fier had two catches for 53 yards, Rost two for 35 and Gillund three for 22.
Parker Bradley had six tackles, Hudson Scholten five, and Anthony Rybinski, Alex DePestel and Eli Gruenes four apiece.
Minneota 21, BOLD 0
BOLD.............................................................................0 0 0 0 - 0
Minneota........................................................................0 6 15 0 - 21

Scoring Plays
Min - Zack Fier 1 run (kick blocked)
Min - Zack Fier 16 pass from Isaac Pohlen (Max Rost run)
Min - Pohlen 1 run (Peyton Gillund kick)

Minneota Offensive Statistics
Total yards: Minneota 291, BOLD 140 .... Passing yards: Minneota 110, BOLD 101 ... Rushing yards: Minneota 181, BOLD 39 ... First Downs: Minneota 14, BOLD 7 ... Turnovers: Minneota 0, BOLD 0 .... Penalties: Minneota 8-55, BOLD 2-5.

Minneota Individuals
Passing (com-att-yds-td-int): Isaac Pohlen 7-9-110-0-0

Rushing (att-yds): Zack Fier 17-84, Ryan Meagher 6-33, Anthony Rybinski 8-26, Lucas Rybinski 5-26, Isaac Pohlen 9-11, Max Rost 1-1

Receiving: Zack Fier 2-53, Max Rost 2-35, Peyton Gillund 3-22

Minneota Defensive Statistics
Tackles (solo-assist-total): Parker Bradley 3-3-6, Hudson Scholten 4-1-5, Anthony Rybinski 1-3-4, Alex DePestel 1-3-4, Eli Gruenes 1-3-4, Destin Fier 2-1-3, Zack Fier 1-2-3, Max Rot 2-0-2, Joe Verschelde 0-1-1, Sawyer DeSmet 0-1-1

Tackles for Loss: Hudson Scholten 1, Destin Fier 1, Anthony Rybinski 1

Punting (no-avg.): Peyton Gillund 3-23.0

SECTION 5A
Quarterfinals Oct. 25
(1) BOLD26, (8) Lac qui Parle Valley 6
(4) Minneota 56, (5) Yellow Medicine East 14
(2) Dawson-Boyd 66, (7) MACCRAY 20
(3) Lakeview 50, (6) Canby 12

Semifinals Saturday
Minneota 21, BOLD 0
Lakeview 38, Dawson-Boyd 32

Final Friday, Nov. 4
at SMSU