South St. Paul rallies to qualify for third Prep Bowl in a row

South St. Paul didn't waste much time taking the lead Saturday against Rocori. When the Packers fell behind later in the game, they got it back in a hurry, too, and held on, for a 19-14 victory and a berth in the Prep Bowl.

The Packers opened the game with a 40-second, three-play scoring drive, including quarterback Dan Pietruszewski's 61-yard run and Malik Holmes' 15-yard touchdown run.

"I saw an open lane, and I hit it," Pietruszewski said.

He capped a four-play, 51-yard drive with a 1-yard sneak for a 13-0 lead in the first quarter.

Rocori came back and took a 14-13 lead in the third quarter thanks to one of three South St. Paul fumbles. The Packers answered quickly on Pietruszewski's 73-yard touchdown run to get the lead back at 19-14.

The teams went back and forth with possessions the rest of the way.

"I told you this would put a big smile on your face," South St. Paul coach Chad Sexauer told his players after the game..

Jackson County Central 30, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 14: The Huskies (10-2) scored 13 points off a fumble and interception.

"Turnovers normally decide these buggers," said Tom Schuller, Jackson County Central coach.

Running backs Keegan Moore and Avery Henderson helped decide it, too. Moore scored three TDs, rushing for 175 yards on 26 carries. "It's easy to run through big holes," Moore said.

Henderson had 170 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries.

The Huskies outgained DGF (10-2) in total yards 391 to 251.

Caledonia 43, Ottertail Central 6: The Warriors (13-0) scored 30 second-quarter points and held Ottertail Central (11-1) scoreless for more than three quarters in a game at Mounds View. Sophomore quarterback Owen King threw five touchdown passes and rushed for another.

"Our defense adjusted and made plays," King said.

Caledonia is seeking its sixth title in nine years.

Ottertail Central coach Don Seipkes is retiring at the end of this season after 43 years.

"I've had a great, awesome career," he said.

Minneota 27, Goodhue 19: The defending Class 1A champions have a 25-game winning streak now and have been up to the challenge of every opponent's best effort this season. But it wasn't always pretty against Goodhue.

The Vikings took advantage of three first-half interceptions for a 19-0 halftime lead at Prior Lake. Senior running back Garrett Hennen rushed for three touchdowns and set a school record for career rushing yards.

But Goodhue grabbed momentum in the second half. Calvin Peterson intercepted a screen pass and returned it 62 yards for a touchdown. The Wildcats cut the lead to 19-13 in the fourth quarter on Jacob Pasch's 6-yard pass to Peterson.

Two drives later, Minneota went 46 yards in four plays, capped by Bryce Bruner's 8-yard run and two-point conversion run.

Goodhue scored in the closing seconds but could not recover the ensuing onside kick.

JIM PAULSEN

Grand Meadow 35, Waubun20: Junior Christophor Bain scored three touchdowns to lead the two-time defending champions. Bain and quarterback Michael Stejskal connected on a 51-yard passing play to give the Superlarks an early 7-6 advantage. Waubun tied the score before halftime behind quarterback Peyton Syverson's second rushing touchdown. In the second half Bain scored on a 56-yard run and returned an interception for a touchdown.