Magic runs out: West Fargo claims state title on Magi's second-half collapse

Minot Daily News

Photo after semifinal victory against Bismarck Century.

FARGO — An onside kick, three unanswered touchdowns and a state championship slipped away from the Minot High School football team Friday night at Fargodome. West Fargo (12-0) wrapped up a perfect season and captured the program’s first Class 11AAA state championship since 2003 with a third-quarter outburst to outlast the Magicians, 56-28. Minot (8-4) has now lost its last seven state championship games, with the 1980 championship holding firm as the program’s only state title. “A disappointing third quarter, but our kids fought hard,” MHS coach Barry Holmen said. “We got heart on this team and I’m proud of this team. We played the underdog role for a while now and we came up short in the second half. That was quite a ride and these kids are special. I’m proud to be their coach.” That said, losing a state championship cuts deep. Especially after Minot led 21-20 at halftime. “No question it stings,” Holmen said. “You don’t want that, but in the end these kids had a great experience, they will learn from this and have great memories.” MHS senior quarterback Creighton Rudolph added: “There is obviously disappointment, but I’m really proud of the way the guys fought and the effort. We just didn’t have some things work out for us.” The opening drive by West Fargo fell into the hands of Minot senior defensive back Peyton Lamoureux on a deep throw by Packers senior quarterback Andy Gravdahl. The Magi couldn’t do anything back up against their own zone and punted the ball back. West Fargo then struck first. Following a 31-yard run by senior Alexander Sell, the Packers punched the ball into the end zone on a two-yard sweep run from senior Jared Franek. The extra point was missed, 6-0, with 7:08 left in the first quarter. Minot responded with a promising drive, but it ended in a turnover on downs in West Fargo’s territory. On the next play, however, Lamoureux swooped in for his second interception of the first quarter. “It felt good to help the team out there and get a big drive going,” Lamoureux said. A 14-yard pass from Rudolph to senior running back Dylan Danielson got Minot inside the Packers 10-yard line before the first quarter came to an end. On the seventh play of the drive, Rudolph rolled to his right and found senior tight end Lofton Klabunde from six yards out to get the Magi on the scoreboard. Junior kicker Kyler Stenberg booted through the extra point to give Minot a 7-6 lead 41 seconds into the second quarter. Minot was back into the end zone three minutes later to take a 14-6 lead. After a West Fargo turnover on downs was forced by the pressure of junior linebacker Hunter Danelson, Rudolph aired out the football to Klabunde for a 50-yard gain down to the Packers 4-yard line. Danielson finished off the quick strike, three-play scoring drive with a touchdown. The Packers countered with a five-play, 57-yard touchdown drive in which Gravdahl rushed for 35 yards and then hit senior receiver Tanner Zepeda in the back of the end zone from 19 yards out. Zepeda followed that up with a big punt return down to Minot’s 11-yard line after a Minot three-and-out. Sell put the Packers ahead with a three-yard touchdown run and Gravdahl connected with Dustin Mertz on the two-point conversion, 20-14. Getting the ball back with 3:06 left in the first half, Minot chewed up yardage with senior running back Adrian Davis-Aguilar and Brett Davis. Rudolph then went to the air once more with his second touchdown toss on a 34-yard back shoulder grab by Stenberg. Stenberg converted the PAT to put the Magi into the lead, 21-20, going into halftime. Through the first 24 minutes, Minot held the advantage in total offense (228-167 yards) and time of possession (14:58). The Magi’s dreams of a state title went downhill from that point on. A disastrous start to the second half for Minot had the Packers recover a surprise onside kick and race down the field to take the lead back. “It changed when we gave them possessions,” Holmen said. “The first half we got a couple of stops and responded every single time that they did something positive. We were really disappointed that we gave up the onside kick because if we recover it, then we are already at midfield.” Lamoureux added: “They come out and get that onside kick, and we knew it was coming. It was one bad play, but it was a huge game changer.” Franek scored his second rushing touchdown and Gravdahl escaped out the pocket to get the extra two points, 28-21, with a minute and 20 seconds gone in the second half. The Packers increased their advantage to 14 points with four minutes left in the third quarter with Sell scoring his second rushing touchdown. “They got some mojo and some flow going,” Rudolph said. “They got all the momentum and that’s a big thing in high school football. You have to battle that adversity. We fought, but came up a little short.” As if the third quarter couldn’t get any worse for the Magi, Rudolph threw his first interception to West Fargo’s Joe Pistorius. Gravdahl then turned around and hit Pistorius for a 30-yard touchdown. The Packers had doubled up Minot 42-21 with 1:27 left in third quarter. “That’s what they can do. They can score so quickly,” Holmen said. “When we didn’t answer the bell right away, then they got that second one and they had us where they have had a lot of people this year. I’m pleased we answered when we were three (scores) down and got back into the game at the beginning of the fourth quarter.” Needing a quick score to flip momentum, Rudolph kept the Magi’s hopes alive briefly with a 36-yard touchdown pass to Lamoureux 57 seconds after the Packers had scored, 42-28. But, it was too little too late. West Fargo sealed the championship in the fourth quarter with Franek’s third rushing touchdown and a one-yard rushing touchdown by Joel McIntosh. “You just keep plugging away,” West Fargo coach Jay Gibson said. “We’ve made an awful lot of good plays this year. Offensively, defensively and our special teams have been excellent as well. We just played incredible in the second half and I’m really happy for our guys.” Minot outgained the Packers (430-424 yards), with Rudolph completing 21 passes for 289 yards and three touchdowns. Klabunde caught nine passes for 164 yards. West Fargo did its damage on the ground with 344 rushing yards. Gravdahl and Sell each rushed for over 100 yards. Danielson led Minot’s rushing attack with 61 yards and a touchdown. “It was a great year,” Lamoureux said. “I’ll have regrets that we didn’t win, but nothing you can do.”