Stewartville defeats Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton with strong second half in Class 3A semifinals
MINNEAPOLIS — The Stewartville Tigers (12-0) defeated the Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton Rebels (10-1) 28-7 in the Minnesota high school football Class 3A semifinals at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Th Tigers took a 6-0 lead on a nine play, 50-yard drive that ended with a 4-yard touchdown run by Carter Miller in the first quarter.
A drive for each team stalled before Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton dominated the second quarter. The Rebels went on a 21 play, 10-minute drive to take the lead with seconds remaining in the half. Caleb Johnson finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown rush, and the Rebels converted the PAT for a 7-6 lead at halftime.
Stewartville's defense responded in the second quarter. Mikhail Heydt intercepted a reverse pass from the Rebels and he returned it 32 yards for a touchdown. The Tigers converted a 2-point conversion for a 14-7 lead.
"In the first half they were hitting that screen on us over and over and over, and he was chasing and chasing," senior linebacker Caleb Jaansen said. "He got pulled out and our coaches talked to him and just set him straight."
It was exactly what the Tigers needed.
"I would definitely say the biggest momentum play was that pick six," Henry Tschetter said. "We had all the momentum and never looked back."
The Tigers' defense stopped the Rebels on fourth down on the next drive, and the Tigers' offense drove the ball 56-yards for a touchdown. Helder threw a touchdown pass to Wangen for a 21-7 lead.
Helder threw his second touchdown pass of the day to Wangen at the start of the fourth quarter. He hit Wangen down the left sideline for a 50-yard touchdown and a 28-7 lead.
"[Wangen is] super athletic," Helder said. "One of the quietest kids on the team. He doesn't talk a lot, make any speeches, but he goes out there and does his job to the best of his level every week."
The Tigers will play the winner of Dassel-Cokato vs. Annandale in the Class 3A Prep Bowl on November 25 at 1 p.m. at U.S. Bank Stadium.
