Vikings open playoffs with rout of YME
Zack Fier scored three times, Isaac Pohlen hurled two TD passes, and Parker Bradley’s 10 tackles led a ferocious defense as Minneota opened its title defense of Section 5A with a convincing 56-14 drubbing of Yellow Medicine East on Tuesday night.
The Vikings (7-2) now face top-seeded BOLD, a 26-6 winner over Lac qui Parle Valley, in the semifinals at 3 p.m. on Saturday in Olivia. Lakeview and Dawson-Boyd square off in the other semifinal game.
Minneota, which outgained YME 456-241 in total yards, scored four times in the first half for a 29-0 cushion at intermission.
It was the Vikings’ defense that set the tone in the first half, limiting the Sting to just two total yards over their first six possessions, all three-and-outs.
The Vikings scored on their first possession of the game when Anthony Rybinski scored from 11 yards out.
Minneota then took a 22-0 lead when Zack Fier scored on runs of 8 and 16 yards. Pohlen connected with Max Rost on a 42-yard scoring strike to cap the first half scoring.
On their first possession of the second half, the Vikings scored when Fier outraced three defenders for a 65-yard TD run to make it 36-0.
The Vikings tacked on one more score in the third quarter on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Pohlen to Peyton Gillund, and two more in the fourth quarter on a six-yard run by Ryan Meagher and a 59-yard run by Brock Fier.
YME scored in the third quarter on a 66-yard TD pass from Cody Dahlager to Andrew Flaten, and one in the final stanza on a 49-yard run by Dahlager.
Zack Fier gained 123 yards in 13 carries. Brock Fier finished with 73 yards in three carries. Ryan Meagher rushed for 36 yards, Anthony Rybinski 35 and Lucas Rybinski 30.
Pohlen completed 8 of 11 passes for 120 yards and two scores. Rost had two catches for 55 yards and Gillund had four receptions for 44 yards.
Bradley had seven solo and three assisted tackles. Sawyer DeSmet had three tackles for losses, including two sacks. Alex DePestel and Destin Fier each had two tackles for losses.
SECTION 5A
Results Tuesday
(1) BOLD 26, (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 at BOLD, 3 p.m.
Lakeview at Dwsn-Byd, 3 p.m.
Final Friday, Nov. 4
at SMSU
Semifinal winners, 2 p.m.
Minneota 56, YME 14
YME............0 0 6 8 - 14
Minneota.....7 22 14 13 - 56
Scoring Plays
Min - Anthony Rybinski 11 run (Peyton Gillund kick)
Min - Zack Fier 8 run (Z.Fier pass from Isaac Pohlen)
Min - Z.Fier 16 run (Gillund kick)
Min - Max Rost 42 pass from Pohlen (Gillund kick)
Min - Z.Fier 65 run (Gillund kick)
YME - Andrew Flaten 66 pass from Cody Dahlager (pass failed)
Min - Gillund 18 pass from Pohlen (Gillund kick)
Min - Ryan Meagher 6 run (Gillund kick)
YME - Dahlager 49 run (Owen Cherveny run)
Min - Brock Fier 59 run (pass failed)
Offensive Statistics
Total yards: Minneota 456, YME 241 .... Passing yards: Minneota 148, YME 150 ... Rushing yards: Minneota 308, YME 91 ... First Downs: Minneota 19, YME 9 .... Turnovers: Minneota 0, YME 0 .... Penalties: Minneota 3-38, YME 1-15.
Minneota Individuals
Passing (com-att-yds-td-int): Isaac Pohlen 8-11-120-2-0, Ryan Dalager 1-2-28-0-0
Rushing (att-yds): Zack Fier 13-123, Brock Fier 3-73, Ryan Meagher 7-36, Anthony Rybin ski 2-35, Lucas Rybinski 3-30, Max Rost 2-15, Isaac Pohlen 1-0, Andrew Lipinski 1-(-4)
Receiving: Max Rost 2-55, Peyton Gillund 4-44, Peyton Sheik 1-28, Anthony Rybinski 1-12, Lucas Rybinski 1-9
Defensive Statistics
Tackles (solo-assist-total): Parker Bradley 7-3-10, Sawyer DeSmet 3-1-4, Alex DePestel 3-0-3, Keaton Jurrens 2-1-3, Anthony Rybinski 0-3-3, Joe Verschelde 1-2-3, Peyton Gillund 2-0-2, Hudson Scholten 2-0-2, Destin Fier 2-0-2, Joey Jerzak 2-0-2, Jack Lacek 2-0-2, Zack Fier 1-1-2, Eli Gruenes 1-1-2, Andrew Lipinski 1-1-2, Max Rost 1-0-1, Hunter Carstensen 1-0-1, Lucas Rybinski 0-1-1, Brody Larson 0-1-1, Tate Peterson 0-1-1
Tackles for Loss: Sawyer DeSmet 3, Alex DePestel 2, Destin Fier 2, Parker Bradley 1, Hudson Scholten 1
Sacks: Sawyer DeSmet 2
Punting (no-avg.): Peyton Gillund
2-28.0