PREP FOOTBALL: JCC, MLA advance to Sect. Finals

JACKSON — The Jackson County Central Huskies amassed 476 total yards in a 49-15 victory over Maple River in the second round of the Section 3AA football tournament Saturday in Jackson.

JCC put together three scoring drives in the first quarter to take a 21-0 lead at the end of the quarter. Maple River picked up six points in the second quarter, but the Huskies added another pair of touchdowns to go up 35-6 heading into halftime.

The Huskies shutout Maple River in the third quarter and picked up 14 more points to make it 49-6 at the start of the fourth. Maple River was able to make a small comeback in the last frame, but it was not enough in the end.

Almost half the Huskies’ offense came from quarterback Tanner Menke, who was 11 for 20 passing for 223 yards and two touchdowns.

The ground game for JCC was powered by Darick Vancura’s 160 yards rushing on 18 carries. Vancura also scored three touchdowns for the Huskies.

Kyle Luhmann was the Huskies’ leading receiver with 108 yards on five catches and a touchdown. The touchdown catch was a 37-yarder from Menke.

JCC moves on to face Luverne at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Maple River 0 6 0 9 — 15

JCC 21 14 14 0 — 49

MLA 49, Cleveland 36

MOUNTAIN LAKE — Andrew Hempeck ran for 196 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns as the Mountain Lake Area Wolverines claimed a victory over Cleveland Saturday in the semifinals of the Section 2 9-Man football tournament.

The Wolverines put up 14 points in the first and second quarters, but Cleveland collected eight points in the first to avoid being shutout in the half.

MLA added another 21 points in the third quarter, but Cleveland countered with 14 points of its own to make it 49-22 at the end of the third.

The Wolverines were shutout in the fourth quarter and Cleveland scored 14 points to climb within 13 points of the lead. However, MLA was able to put a stop to Cleveland’s rally and hold on for the win.

Demar Rodney was second on the team with 106 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown for MLA. Carter Kirk was five of 10 passing for 169 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing once for a 15-yard touchdown.

Levi Kass made one catch on the day for 43 yards, but had one touchdown rush of two yards as well. Josiah Stoesz had one catch for 52 yards and Eric Wenner had two catches for 58 yards to go along with a touchdown catch.

Kirk also had a punt block at the end of the first quarter which was recovered by Jacob Junker and run in for a touchdown.

MLA advances to the section championship to play top seeded Nicollet Friday at 7 p.m. in Nicollet.

Cleveland 8 0 14 14 — 36

MLA 14 14 21 0 — 49

C-G-B 54, Fulda 14

GRACEVILLE —Trevor Ruesch led the Fulda Raiders with 82 yards rushing on 11 carries and a touchdown in a loss to Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley in the second round of the Section 3 9-Man football tournament Saturday.

C-G-B took an early 22-0 lead in the first quarter on a pair of touchdowns and an interception return for a touchdown. C-G-B put up 20 more points in the second quarter on three offensive touchdowns to go up 42-0 at the half.

Following another 12 points by C-G-B in the third quarter, the Raiders got on the board when John Getting recovered a fumble and ran it 24 yards for a touchdown (PAT failed).

Fulda scored the only points in the fourth quarter on a 47-yard run by Ruesch (2-point conversion good), but it was not enough to overcome the early hole the Raiders dug themselves into.

Zach Holt had 45 yards on 13 carries for Fulda, while also leading the Raiders with seven tackles and a fumble recovery. Getting had five tackles for Fulda to go along with another five by Ruesch, Joey Voss and Matt Thier.

Fulda 0 0 6 8 — 14

C-G-B 22 20 12 0 — 54

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