Goodhue rumbles past KMS

MINNEAPOLIS -- Not many expected this.

This is not how the most successful season in Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg football history was supposed to end -- not in a 44-12 blowout.

Goodhue (12-1) ended the Fighting Saints' dream of a Prep Bowl final by waltzing to a 38-12 lead at intermission at the Metrodome after the 10:21 a.m. start. Goodhue would pile up 472 yards of offense by game's end.

Goodhue's Brett Watson, a 170-pound senior wide receiver, had 131 yards rushing in three carries by halftime and a touchdown, plus two more scores catching passes from senior quarterback Kelby Buck.

"We struggled a little last week (a 40-14 win over Royalton) but we've got too many weapons to be shut down," said Buck, who was 5-of-7 passing for 135 yards and three touchdowns. "They had man coverage on Watson and he's too good for that."

KMS coach James Cortez gave the Wildcats their due.

"They're pretty darn good," he said after the game. "You make mistakes in game three and it might cost you five yards. You make mistakes at this point and it's 50 yards."

The Saints' offense produced some nice runs by sophomore tailback Joel Bauman, who had 144 yards by halftime. His 49-yard sideline run in the first quarter made it 7-6 Goodhue, as close as KMS would get.

The Saints stacked up to stop the run, which is the Wildcats' bread-and-butter. But Goodhue head coach Clair Austin quickly exploited the outside with Watson's speed and the sure blocking of the Wildcats' line.

It was 31-6 before KMS got on the board again when quarterback Kevin Steinhaus threw three yards on a play-action to fullback Mark Skoglund at 2:42 of the second quarter.

KMS overplayed the onside kick and Goodhue got the ball at midfield. Buck directed a seven-play drive to paydirt, connecting with Micah Huneke from 15 yards and a 38-12 lead.

"I don't think we were getting after them right off the bat," said Cortez. "They blew us off the ball and we got back on our heels. But we missed a lot of tackles, too. We played hard and I'm awfully proud of this team, but mistakes kill you and we had too many."

Bauman was a workhorse for KMS, finishing with 169 yards in 32 attempts. Skoglund gained 55 yards in seven snaps.

"I feel we did all we could," said Skoglund. "We played hard. This was a heck of a season for KMS and it was a lot of fun playing in the Metrodome."

The Saints were stopped in the quarterfinals in 1999 and 2004. In 1974, Kerkhoven-Sunburg fell to Battle Lake in the Class C semifinals at Willmar.

"It was a battle," said senior tackle Kyle Syverson. "We didn't leave anything out there. Give (Goodhue) credit, but I think we had a great season. I couldn't ask for anything more."

Goodhue comes out of the powerful Hiawatha Valley Conference, which placed three teams in the state tournament (Goodhue's only loss was to Triton, a state qualifier). This is the fifth straight state appearance for the Wildcats, who were state champions in 2004 and state runner-up the next year when many of the present seniors already were contributing.

Perhaps the Wildcats faithful got just what they've come to expect.

Goodhue 44, KMS 12

Goodhue (12-1) 15 23 6 0 -- 44

KMS (12-1) 6 6 0 0 -- 12

Good - Brett Watson 19 pass from Kelby Buck (Watson kick)

KMS - Joe Bauman 49 run (kick blocked)

Good - Micah Huneke 9 run (Eric Ryan run)

Good - Watson 26 pass from Buck (Ryan run)

Good - Watson 80 run Ryan rush)

KMS - Mark Skoglund 3 pass from Kevin Steinhaus (run fail)

Good - Huneke 15 pass from Buck (Watson kick)

Good - Ryan 17 run (kick fail)

Goodhue

Team statistics

First downs: 18 ... Rushing: 48-333 ... Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 6-9-139-1 ... Fumbles lost: 0 ... Penalties: 4-36

Individual statistics

Rushing: Brett Watson 4-153, Eric Ryan 17-100, Kelby Buck 5-41, Micah Huneke 7-26, Bryce Dankers 4-11, Ethan Tutewohl 2-4, Jared Dicke 3-3 ... Passing: K. Buck 5-7-135-0, D.J. Buck 1-2-4-1 ... Receiving: Watson 3-92, Dankers 1-28, Huneke 1-15, Tutewohl 1-4 ... Punting: none ... Interceptions: Watson ... Fumble recoveries: none ... Tackles: Chad Meyer 11, Eric Ryan 9, Huneke 6, Travis Braband 6 ... QB sacks: none

KMS

Team statistics

First downs: 15 ... Rushing: 44-245 ... Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 5-11-48-1... Fumbles lost: 0 ... Penalties: 1-5

Individual statistics

Rushing: Joel Bauman 32-169, Mark Skoglund 7-55, Lee Keil 3-27, Kevin Steinhaus 2-2 ... Passing: Steinhaus 5-11-48-1 ... Receiving: Skoglund 4-35, Taylor Freetly 1-13 ... Punting: Chris Braaten 3-31.7 ... Interceptions: Justin Johnson ... Fumble recoveries: none ... Tackles (solo-assist): Skoglund 10, Joey Bauman 7, Justin Johnson 6, Jake Armstrong 4, Freetly 4, Brad Kneisel 3, Mitch Weflen 3, Cole Berget 3, Chris Braaten 2, Chris DiSanto 1, Mitch Fernholz 1, Pat Rosemeier 1, Aaron Zimmer 1, Mitch Hagen 1, Kevin Steinhus 1 ... QB sacks: none