MACCRAY steamrolled by Hawley

HAWLEY -- Hawley didn't hide the fact that it would run the ball with religious fervor, but MACCRAY's defense wasn't up to the challenge Friday in the quarterfinal round of the state Class AA football tournament.

The Nuggets ran without limits, racking up 496 yards in beating the Wolverines in a 58-43 shootout.

Hawley will face Triton in the state semifinals Thursday at the Metrodome.

MACCRAY, which had held its last four opponents to a total of 25 points, had no answer for bruising fullback Nick Paur and the outside speed of Nate Mattson.

Paur, who rushed for almost 1,500 yards this season, pounded right through the MACCRAY line and into the open field for 303 yards and six touchdowns.

He scored on three straight handoffs, breaking off a 24-yard score in the second quarter, then adding a 60-yard run the first time Hawley got the ball back. His biggest run was a 74-yard touchdown on the Nuggets' first play in the third quarter.

Mattson added 158 yards and two touchdowns on runs of 46 and 37 yards.

MACCRAY, however stuck with Hawley in the first half despite its struggles to run the ball.

The Wolverines scored first after forcing a Hawley fumble on a 12-yard pass from Justin Koenen to Brock Madsen.

Koenen and Zach Thissen hooked up for a 63-yard scoring combination to cut the lead to 14-13.

The two scored twice more in the second quarter to trail 31-29 at halftime.

Koenen finished with 345 yards, completing 22-of-30 passes and six touchdowns. Thissen caught 10 passes for 217 yards and four TDs. Steen added five catches for 38 yards and two TDs.

Hawley 58, MACCRAY 43

MACCRAY (10-2) 13 16 6 8 -- 43

Hawley (xxxx) 14 17 21 6 -- 58

MAC - Brock Madsen 12 pass from Justin Koenen (Tyler Steen kick)

Hawley - Nate Mattson 46 run (kick failed)

Hawley - Nick Paur 22 run (Justin Laddusaw pass from Beau Sorenson)

MAC - Zach Thissen 63 pass from Koenen (kick failed)

Hawley - Eric Clute 29 FG

Hawley - Paur 24 run (Clute kick)

MAC - Thissen 15 pass from Koenen (Madsen run)

Hawley - Paur 60 run (Clute kick)

MAC - Thissen 6 pass from Koenen (Madsen run)

Hawley - Paur 74 run (Clute kick)

Hawley - Paur 2 run (Clute kick)

Hawley - Mattson 37 run (Clute kick)

MAC - Steen 5 pass from Koenen (run failed)

Hawley - Paur 6 run (kick failed)

MAC - Steen 6 pass from Koenen (Thissen run)

MACCRAY

Team statistics

First downs: 16 ... Rushing: 31-124 ... Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 22-30-345-2 ... Fumbles lost: 1 ... Penalties: 8-89

Individual statistics

Rushing: Mitch Grussing 8-43, Justin Koenen 13-31, Caleb Zimmer 6-12, Brock Madsen 5-38 ... Passing: Justin Koenen 22-30-345-2 ... Receiving: Zach Thissen 10-217, Brock Madsen 3-28, Mitch Grussing 3-35, Tyler Steen 5-38, Matt Leese 1-25 ... Punting: Justin Koenen 2-16 ... Interceptions: none ... Fumble recoveries: not available ... Tackles (solo-assist): not available ... QB sacks: not available

Hawley

Team statistics

First downs: 12 ... Rushing: 48-496 ... Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 1-1-21-0 ... Fumbles lost: 1 ... Penalties: 5-35

Individual statistics

Rushing: Nick Paur 26-303, Nate Mattson 14-158, Carson Kerr 1-3, Beau Sorenson 7-32 ... Passing: Beau Sorenson 1-1-21-0 ... Receiving: Eric Clute 1-21 ... Punting: none ... Interceptions: not available ... Fumble recoveries: not available ... Tackles (solo-assist): not available ... QB sacks: not available