Lourdes Wins Class 3A State Football Championship; Mankato W. is 5A Champ

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Zach Hillman ran for 118 yards and two touchdowns and Rochester Lourdes beat New London-Spicer 35-14 in the Class 3A championship game Saturday at the Prep Bowl.

Mason Carstens rushed 80 yards for the Eagles (13-0), who won their third state title and first since 2010.

New London-Spicer (11-2) lost the championship game for the second straight season. Ethan Bohlsen was 16 for 30 and 184 yards passing for the Wildcats. He was intercepted three times.

The game turned in a short span in the third quarter.

Down 21-14, New London-Spicer drove to the Eagles' 20, but Adam Ellingson intercepted Bohlsen.

Four Hillman rushes later — including a 65-yard burst and 4-yard touchdown run — Rochester Lourdes led 28-14.

Carter Greguson had a 10-yard run in the fourth quarter.

The Eagles were cheered on by a young man who was planning to play for Lourdes this season, but transferred to a new school in Texas after his mother accepted a new job and moved her family to the Lone Star state.

In his only varsity game with Lourdes this fall, Alex Pruitt carried the ball three times and scored a touchdown.

The football coaches at Lourdes wanted Pruitt to enjoy his former team’s run for the state title, so they purchased an airline ticket to bring him back to Minnesota for Saturday’s championship game.

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Ryan Schlichte threw for two touchdowns and ran for another as Mankato West beat Simley 42-19 for the Class 5A football championship Saturday at the Prep Bowl.

Van Neils had 128 yards rushing and one touchdown for the Scarlets (12-1), who won their fourth title. Connor Watts scored three times.

In its first title game, Simley (10-4) was led by Michael Avwunuma, who rushed for 169 yards and two touchdowns.

Schlichte finished 17-of-25 passing for 192 yards.

Leading by two, Schlichte engineered a 13-play, 68-yard drive in the third quarter that was capped by a 16-yard touchdown pass to Jon Pytlak. Schlichte completed all five passes on the drive and ran for 16 yards.

After a three-and-out by the Spartans, Schlichte scored from 5 yards out for a 35-19 lead.

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Garrett Hennen rushed for 179 yards, Cole Hennen had a long clinching score and Minneota held off Dawson-Boyd 28-14 Saturday in the Class 1A Championship at the Prep Bowl.

Nicholas Esping had a touchdown reception and recovered a fumble in the end zone for the Vikings (13-0), who won their fifth state title and first since 2009.

Jess Hansen was 23 for 39 and 170 yards for Dawson-Boyd (12-2), which lost the title game for the second straight year. Michael Lee had nine receptions.

Hunter Olson caught a 10-yard score to start the fourth quarter to get Dawson-Boyd within 20-14, but Minneota got a 51-yard run from Cole Hennen with 2:17 left.

It was this year's second meeting between the Little Sioux Conference rivals. Minneota beat Dawson-Boyd 33-21 Sept. 26.