Take it to the Bank: Cardinals crush Jaguars in quarterfinals

Published 11:10 pm Friday, November 8, 2024

By Rocky Hulne

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KASSON – The LeRoy-Ostrander/Lyle-Pacelli football team put together one of its most complete efforts of the season as it shut down Renville County West 50-0 in a Class Nine Man quarterfinal Friday night.

The Jaguars (8-4 overall) threatened to score just once, but that chance was ended when LOLP’s Tyson Stevens picked off a pass at the eight-yard line with the Cardinals leading 6-0 in the first quarter.

After that pick, LOLP scored on its next four possessions as Camden Hungerholt had a 75-yard, 1-yard and 6-yard TD run. He ran for 300 yards and four scores and threw for 168 yards and three more scores.

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“We figured some things out and I thought the boys did a good job,” LOLP head coach Trevor Carrier said. “They kept bringing heat and we kept taking what they gave us. Cam’s a super athlete and we have guys across the board that made plays for him. This was a massive team effort.”

LOLP senior Ryder Stern caught a pair of TDs in the win and he was also a force on defense as he was a constant presence in the Jaguar backfield.

Stern received a little help from defensive end Dylan Christianson, who was playing JV for the LP program last year.

“Dylan’s a great, physical player and everything we need on the opposite end,” Stern said. “Last year we were playing basketball as rivals and we didn’t like each other. Now we’re friends playing on the same team going to the same place and accomplishing one dream.”

Christianson never thought he would have a chance to play in a state football tournament until LP co-opped with LO this Fall. Now that he’s had his chance, he is not going to look past any opponent or waste any time on the field.

“We weren’t looking up (past a game) because we just wanted to win and we wanted to beat these guys,” Christianson said. “Last year we weren’t given a chance to play, being on JV (at LP) and now we’re going to US Bank Stadium. That’s something special and we’ve got a special group here. We came together right away and these are my brothers now. Cam and I have become so close and Ryder and I have gotten along.”

The last time Christianson was in US Bank Stadium, he was a little kid wearing a Russell Wilson jersey at a Vikings game. Now he’s going to be on the field wearing his own jersey.

“It’s been a huge dream of mine to play there ever since back then,” Christianson said.

The Cardinals (12-0 overall) will now play Fertile-Beltrami (11-0 overall) in a nine man semifinal at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis at 4 p.m. Thursday.

“It’s a quick turnaround,” Carrier said. “We’ll get right back in the film room and put a plan together.”

US Bank Stadium may feel larger than life for some of the Cardinals, but Hungerholt, Stern and Carter Sweeney all had experience playing when L-O won the state title in 2021.

“It’s a surreal feeling playing there and now I’m one of the key pieces and that makes it even crazier,” Stern said. “I’m just excited to play there and show them what we’ve got.”

SCORING SUMMARY

RCP 0    0    0   0  –  0

LOLP 14  20  16  0  –  50

First quarter

(LOLP) Ryder Stern 7 pass from Camden Hungerholt (kick failed) (9 plays, 80 yards) 8:56

(LOLP) Hungerholt 75 run (Stern from Hungerholt) (5 plays, 90 yards) 2:13

Second quarter

(LOLP) Hungerholt 1 run (Stern kick) (5 plays, 55 yards) 9:36

(LOLP) Stern 15 pass from Hungerholt (Stern kick) (9 plays, 48 yards) 5:32

(LOLP) Hungerholt 6 run (kick failed) (5 plays, 40 yards) 2:16

Third quarter

(LOLP) Carter Sweeney 21 pass from Hungerholt (Reid Hungerholt run) (8 plays, 67 yards) 7:18

(LOLP) Hungerholt 15 run (Meyer from Hungerholt) (5 plays, 60 yards) 4:17

Fourth quarter

No scoring

LOLP STATS

Rushing: Camden Hungerholt, 22-for-300, 4 TDs; Carson Roe, 8-for-35; Tyson Stevens, 1-for-14; Reid Hungerholt, 2-for-5; Jayden Smith, 3-for-1

Passing: Hungerholt, 13-for-22, 168, 3 TDs

Receiving: Carter Sweeney, 8-for-112, TD; Ryder Stern, 2-for-22, 2 TDs; Reid Hungerholt, 1-for-16; Landon Meyer, 1-for-11

Defense: Stevens, 1 interception; Reid Hungerholt, 1 interception

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