Fier's 5 TD's spark Vikings' rout
Winning by a lopsided score is not uncommon to Minneota football. But Thursday night's 43-12 victory over Canby featured some thrilling and unusual plays.
Zack Fier scored five of Vikings' six touchdowns, two on runs, two on receptions, and one on an interception. His previous high was three touchdowns in a game.
During a Canby punt deep in its own territory in the first quarter, Eli Gruenes broke through the Lancers' line and not only blocked the punt, he actually caught it right off the foot of the punter and waltzed 25 yards into the end zone for a score.
Field goals are rare in high school football, but a 43-yarder through the uprights with plenty to spare is almost non-existent. Peyton Gillund drilled it from that distance in the third quarter.
The Vikings' 256 total yards, far below their season average, is deceiving because of the great field position they had on most drives and the blocked punt and interception return for touchdowns kept their offense on the sideline.
After forcing Canby to punt on its first possession of the game, the Vikings needed only five plays to go 41 yards to paydirt. The drive, highlighted by a 28-yard pass from Isaac Pohlen to Peyton Gillund to the Lancers' eight, was capped off by Fier's touchdown into the right side of the end zone.
"Zack has continued to grow as a running back," said Minneota coach Chad Johnston. "He is one of the quicker guys on the team and once he gets into the open field, he is hard to catch."
Canby's ensuing possession was also limited to a three-and-out, this time with Gruenes smothering the punter and ending up with the ball in his midsection before scampering 25 yards for a score to make it 14-0.
Gillund, who has become masterful and onside kicks, surprised the Lancers with one and the Vikings recovered at the Canby 44. A holding penalty moved the ball back to the Vikings' 44. Pohlen then connected with Fier on a screen pass to the right flank and from there, the senior running back shed four tacklers before scoring on a 56-yard touchdowns.
"It was the play called in the huddle," said Fier. "It as all set up by our blocking 20 yards downfield and then I just had to make a couple of guys miss."
Canby got on the scoreboard on a 76-yard touchdown pass from Lincoln Fink to Trevor Gray on a second-and-10 play.
Minneota extended its lead to 28-6 early in the second quarter following an 11-play, 67-yard drive that ended with Pohlen again hitting for a 23-yard touchdown to make it 28-6.
In the second half, the Vikings marched down to Lancers' nine before Gray intercepted a pass in the end zone to thwart the drive.
Fier scored on a two-yard run in the third quarter and Gillund drilled his long field goal for a 38-6 advantage.
Fier's fifth score of the night came on the defensive side of the ball when he stepped inside a Lancer receiver to pick off Fink's pass and rambled 52 yards for the score.
"I knew that they run that route a lot and I just watched the quarterback's eyes and jumped the route," Fier explained. "On the way to the end zone Alex DePestel was blocking down field to help me get a touchdown."
Canby tacked on a late 48-yard TD pass, again from Fink to Gray.
Pohen completed 12 of 18 passes for 154 yards. Fier carried 13 times for 72 yards and caught two passes for 78 yards.
Gillund caught five passes for 27 yards and Ryan Dalager had two receptions for 37 yards.
The Vikings' defense limited Canby to minus-7 yards rushing in the game. Parker Bradley, the team's leading tackler, again paced the team with nine stops. Hudson Scholten hadseen tackles.
Scholtes had a sack and three tackles for loss for the Vikings. Sawyer DeSmet and Kaden Neyens also had sacks.
Minneota 43, Canby 12
Cany........................................................6 0 0 0 - 6
Minneota...............................................21 7 9 6 - 43
Scoring Plays
Min - Zack Fier 8 run (Peyton Gillund kick)
Min - Eli Gruenes 25 blocked punt return (Gillund kick)
Min - Z.Fier 56 pass from Isaac Pohlen (Gillund kick)
Can - Trevor Gray 76 pass from Lincoln Fink (run failed)
Min - Z.Fier 22 pass from Pohlen (Gillund kick)
Min - Z.Fier 3 run (kick failed)
Min - Gillund 43 field goal
Min - Z.Fier 51 interception return (kick failed)
Can - Gray 48 pass from Fink (pass failed)
Minneota Offensive Statistics
Total yards: Minneota 256, Canby 199 .... Passing yards: Minneota 154, Canby 206 ... Rushing yards: Minneota 102, Canby (-7) ... First Downs: Minneota 13, Canby 9 .... Turnovers: Minneota 1, Canby 2 .... Penalties: Minneota 4-60, Canby 6-60.
Minneota Individuals
Passing (com-att-yds-td-int): Isaac Pohlen 12-18-154-2-1
Rushing (att-yds): Zack Fier 13-72, Anthony Rybinski 4-16, Isaac Pohlen 5-6, Sawyer DeSmet 1-4, Andrew Lipinski 2-3, Lucas Rybinski 1-1
Receiving: Zack Fier 2-78, Ryan Dalager 2-37, Peyton Gillund 5-27, Anthony Rybinski 1-7, Lucas Rybinski 2-5
Minneota Defensive Statistics
Tackles (solo-assist-total): Parker Bradley 8-1-9, Hudson Scholten 6-1-7, Keaton Jurrens 4-0-4, Sawyer DeSmet 2-2-4, Eli Gruenes 1-3-4, Zack Fier 2-1-3, Brock Fier 1-1-2, Andrew Lipinski 1-0-1, Lucas Rybinski 1-0-1, Peyton Gillund 1-0-1, Alex DePestel 1-0-1, Kaden Neytens 1-0-1, Anthony Rybinski 0-1-1, Peyton Sheik 0-1-1, Joe Verschelde 0-1-1
Interceptions: Zack Fier 1, Brody Larson 1
Tackles for Loss: Hudson Scholten 3, Parker Bradley 2, Sawyer DeSmet 1, Alex DePestel 1, Kaden Neyens 1
Sacks: Sawyer DeSmet 1, Hudson Scholten 1, Kaden Neyens 1
Fumble recovery: None
Blocked punt: Eli Gruenes 1
Punting (no-avg.): Peyton Gillund 2-34.0