MINNEAPOLIS -- The Adrian Dragons are heading back to the state championship.
Brett Nowotny ran for a touchdown and threw for another, leading the Dragons to a 14-7 victory in the Class A state football semi-finals against Fosston on Friday.
Nowotny put Adrian (11-2) on the board on the Dragons' first drive.
On an 11-play drive that covered 65 yards in more than five minutes, the senior quarterback rumbled in from 10 yards out, and after Adam Diekmann's extra point, Adrian had a 7-0 lead.
Fosston's Jake Juve answered with a 20-yard touchdown burst, and after the first quarter, the score was knotted at 7-all.
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With less than two minutes until halftime, Nowotny recovered a Greyhound fumble, putting Adrian in striking range.
Four plays later, Nowotny threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Kilgore with six seconds remaining in the half.
Diekmann's extra point increased the lead to 14-7, where the score would remain until the final horn.
Adrian's Brock Bullerman had 81 yards rushing on 16 carries, while Brendon Kopplow had 58 yards rushing.
Nowotny finished with 34 yards rushing and 57 yards passing.
Fosston's Mark Goss finished with 89 yards rushing, while Juve had 69.
Adrian, which is making its second state final appearance in three years, will face either Blooming Prairie or Minneota in the state championship, Friday at 1 p.m.
