ST. CLOUD - Obviously, how many points are scored determines every game.
But when those points are scored can make the difference between manageable setback and soul-crushing disaster.
The Montevideo football team suffered through the latter Saturday.
Albany took a 14-point lead into halftime of the Section 6AAA championship game after scoring a touchdown with one second left in the first half.
In the third quarter, with Monte within eight, the Huskies salted the game away in the span of about 30 seconds with a safety and a free kick return for a touchdown in their 42-13 victory.
The 9-1 Huskies open the Class AAA state tournament with a quarterfinal game against Pierz at 5 p.m. Saturday at St. Cloud State.
The disappointed T-Hawks finished a superb season at 9-2, with both losses coming against state tournament teams (the Huskies and Minnewaska).
Albany running back Kyle Birr and quarterback Troy Fourre were more than a handful for the T-Hawks.
Birr carried 31 times for 207 yards, rushing for three touchdowns and returning the free kick after Montevideo’s safety 61 yards for a fourth touchdown and a 30-13 lead.
Before that sequence of events, the T-Hawks had cut Albany’s lead to 21-13 on Troy Diggins’ 51-yard scoring pass to Preston Herfurth early in the third quarter.
Birr scored the game’s first touchdown but Monte tied the game when Diggins hit Travis Dreyer on a 23-yard scoring play.
Birr scored a second TD on a 43-yard run, and Fourre expertly led the Huskies for their late score, on a one-yard run by Birr, for a 21-7 halftime lead.
After Birr’s kick return, the Huskies burned clock and yards, with Fourre keeping for touchdown runs of one and two yards. Fourre finished with 92 yards on 19 carries.
Albany ran the ball 66 times for 360 yards, and Fourre threw just three passes.
The Thunder Hawks managed all their offense on big plays.
Montevideo was held to zero rushing yards on 15 attempts, and while Diggins threw for 220 yards, they came on just nine completions.
Herfurth caught two passes for 94 yards, Dreyer caught three for 64 yards and Isaac Douglas totaled 53 yards on three receptions.
Albany 42, Montevideo 13
Montevideo (9-2) 0 7 6 0 - 13
Albany (9-1) 7 14 15 6 - 42
A – Kyle Birr 8 run (Troy Fourre kick)
M – Travis Dreyer 23 pass from Troy Diggins (Hever Valenzuela kick)
A – Birr 43 run (Fourre kick)
A – Birr 1 run (Fourre kick)
M – Preston Herfurth 51 pass from Diggins (kick failed)
A – Safety
A – Birr 61 free kick return (Fourre kick)
A – Fourre 1 run (kick failed)
A – Fourre 2 run (kick failed)
Montevideo
First downs: NA … Rushing: 15-0 … Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 9-23-220-3 … Fumbles lost: NA … Penalties: NA
Rushing: Hunter Ward 3-8, Reece Kuhlmann 2-7, Ethan Schmitt 2-4, Preston Herfurth 1-0, Bailey Eickhoff 1-0, Isaac Hoogeveen 1-(-1), Travis Dreyer 1-(-4), Troy Diggins 1-(-14) … Passing: Diggins 9-23-220-3 ... Receiving: Dreyer 3-64, Isaac Douglas 3-53, Herfurth 2-94, Riley Emery 1-9 … Punting: NA … Interceptions: None … Fumble recoveries: None … Tackles (solo-assist): NA … QB sacks: NA
Albany
First downs: NA … Rushing: 66-360 … Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 1-3-19-0 … Fumbles lost: NA … Penalties: NA
Rushing: Kyle Birr 31-207, Troy Fourre 19-92 … Passing: Fourre 1-3-19-0 ... Receiving: Robbie Benson 1-19 … Punting: NA … Interceptions: Josh Terres 1, Jonathan Bauer 1, Max Carlson 1 … Fumble recoveries: NA … Tackles (solo-assist): NA … QB sacks: NA
