BARRETT -- Scoring under 30 points for the first time in eight games, MACCRAY picked a good time to post a shutout, upending top-seeded West Central Area 25-0 in the Section 6AA semifinals on Saturday.
The Wolverines, who lead the area in scoring at over 40 points-per-game, have come alive defensively as well, limiting their last three opponents to 12 total points.
"Out defense played very well," said MACCRAY coach Mike Dammann. "(Defensive coordinator) Rick Meyer had a good plan of attack."
Not that the Wolverines played poor on offense. They churned for 327 yards on the ground and 139 through the air for 466 total yards.
Justin Koenen, the area scoring leader, added two more touchdowns on runs of 3 and 25 yards, both in the first quarter.
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Matt Leese scored on a 44-yard run in the second quarter, giving the Wolverines an 18-0 lead at halftime.
"We came out in the third quarter with a long drive that ate up over half the quarter and then we scored (on Zach Thissen's two-yard run)," said Dammann. "That really gave us a lift."
The Wolverines, 3-6 a year ago, now enter the section championship with a 9-1 record against Morris Area at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Fargodome.
Koenen finished with 122 yards rushing in only 11 carries and also completed 8-of-13 passes for 139 yards and no interceptions. Mitch Grussing added 72 yards in 15 carries, Caleb Zimmer had 68 yards in 13 carries and Brock Madsen ran for 54 yards in 11 totes.
Zimmer also had two sacks and Dean Wandersee added one. Thissen picked off two passes and Grussing one.
MACCRAY 25, West Central Area 0
MACCRAY (9-1) 12 6 7 0 -- 25
West Central (8-2) 0 0 0 0 -- 0
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MAC - Justin Koenen 3 run (run failed)
MAC - Koenen 25 run (pass failed)
MAC - Matt Leese 44 pass from Koenen (run failed)
MAC - Zach Thissen 2 run (Tyler Steen kick)
MACCRAY
Team statistics
First downs: 23 ... Rushing: 57-327 ... Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 8-13-139-0 ... Fumbles lost: not available ... Penalties: 6-64
Individual statistics
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Rushing: Zach Thissen 2-5, Mitch Grussing 15-72, Justin Koenen 11-122, Brock Madsen 11-54, Tyler Dammann 3-5, Caleb Zimmer 13-68, Abe Winter 2-1 ... Passing: Koenen 8-13-139-0 ... Receiving: Thissen 2-52, Tyler Steen 2-25, Madsen 2-18, Matt Leese 1-44, Grussing 1-0 ... Punting: Koenen 4-34.3 ... Interceptions: Thissen 2, Grussing 1 ... Fumble recoveries: none available ... Tackles (solo-assist): Brock Madsen 4-0, Joe Plante 2-3, Grussing 2-1, Leese 2-1, Thissen 3-0 ... QB sacks: Caleb Zimmer 2, Dean Wandersee 1
West Central Area
Team statistics
First downs: 10 ... Rushing: not available ... Passing (com-att-yds-int.): not available ... Fumbles lost: not available ... Penalties: 3-15
Individual statistics
Not available
