Champlin Park senior quarterback Chad Costello fought through a 34-28 overtime victory over Rosemount with a tender right ankle, a sore left arm and a bump on his right eyebrow.
Run-ins with Irish defenders caused each malady. But Costello refused to yield. Moreover, he made the difference in the Class 6A football tournament quarterfinals Friday at Woodbury High School. He threw three touchdown passes, ran for a score and inspired teammates.
"I just had to gut it out," Costello said. "I didn't want this to be my last one so I had to do whatever it takes to help the team and get a win."
The thrilling victory sends the Rebels to the semifinals against Eden Prairie on Friday at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Third-seeded Champlin Park, unranked in the final Associated Press football poll, stunned top-seeded Rosemount by moving through adversity that would stop many teams cold.
A broken collarbone sidelined starting quarterback Bennett Otto in the first round of the playoffs. Enter Costello, who honored his best friend by upsetting East Ridge at home last week.
Against the Irish (9-2), Costello connected with Romello Adkins on a touchdown pass for a 28-21 lead with 5 minutes, 46 seconds left in regulation. But the game raged on.
Rosemount quarterback Cody Hogan and Griffin Lanoue hooked up for an improbable 32-yard reception on fourth-and-28. A few plays later, Lanoue stretched to finish a 16-yard catch-and-run with the tying score.
