MORRIS -- It's not like the Dawson-Boyd football team has anything to prove, it's just that they keep proving things anyway.
Earlier this season, the Blackjacks proved that a defending state champion could rebound from a tough loss. Later, they proved they have the depth to carry on at a championship level despite the losses of key players.
On Friday, they proved their versatility, on both sides of the ball.
The Blackjacks more or less shut down Browerville's base veer offense, reserve back Mike Anyasike ran for 211 yards to set up three Justin Lee touchdown runs and quarterback Joey Lee threw for a score and ran for another in a 35-20 win in a Class A quarterfinals game at Big Cat Stadium in Morris.
"Certainly what we need to do at this point in the season," Blackjacks head coach Cory Larson said, "is that while we run it well enough and we pass it well enough, you have to mix it up on offense and keep a defense on their toes."
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Dawson-Boyd improved to 11-1 and moved into the Class A semifinals against the winner of the Sleepy Eye St. Mary's-Bethlehem Academy game at 9 a.m. Nov. 17 in the Metrodome.
The Blackjacks assured their return to Class A's final four by shutting down Browerville offense that prefers to run first and throw if necessary. The Tigers managed just 85 yards on 30 carries and all three of their touchdowns came on Mitchell Heid pass plays.
"It was our kids up front," Larson said. "I thought we were better up front and we certainly took them out of their base offense right away in the first half."
Anyasike carried 26 times, taking the load off regular Justin Lee, who reinjured a nagging hamstring last week. Reminiscent of Barry Sanders and "Touchdown Tommy" Vardell of the 1990s-era Detroit Lions, Anyasike tore up the turf down to the five yard line and then Lee would power in for the score. Lee carried just four times for 13 yards and the three touchdowns on runs of 1, 3 and 3 yards.
"With Justin not practicing all week, I knew I'd be getting the ball most of the time," said Anyasike.
Justin Lee scored three first-half TDs and Joey Lee, who hit 12 of 18 passes for 179 yards, threw 11 yards to Michael Lee in the second quarter to put the Blackjacks up 28-6 at the break.
Browerville's offense chewed up much of the third quarter but couldn't produce points. Once the Tigers did dent the Dawson-Boyd defense on Heid's 22-yard scoring pass to Kyle Petermeier to make it 28-14, the Blackjacks answered immediately and emphatically, driving quickly down the field to set up Joey Lee's 1-yard TD plunge that all but iced the game.
Nathaniel Huot, who caught 7 passes for 93 yards and also intercepted a pass, said the Blackjacks have been able to come together even as new players move into key roles and the team diversifies its attack.
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"I feel like we understand each other more," Huot said. "It comes down to execution and sustaining long drives. That comes with experience."
Dawson-Boyd 35, Browerville 20
Browerville (9-3) 0 6 0 14 -- 20
Dawson-Boyd (11-1) 6 22 0 7 -- 35
D - Justin Lee 1 run (kick failed)
D - Justin Lee 3 run (Easton Popma kick)
B - Kyle Petermeier 31 pass from Mitchell Heid (kick failed)
D - Michael Lee 29 pass from Joey Lee (Nathaniel Huot run)
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D - Justin Lee 3 run (Popma kick)
B - Petermeier 22 pass from Heid (Heid run)
D - Joey Lee 1 run (Popma kick)
B - Matthew Schettler 18 pass from Heid (run failed)
Browerville
Team statistics
First downs: n/a ... Rushing: 30-85 ... Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 9-20-143-2 ... Fumbles lost: none ... Penalties: n/a
Individual statistics
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Rushing: Eli Vigil 13-46, Mitchell Heid 9-10, Adam Sutlief 8-29 ... Passing: Heid 8-19-122-2, Jackson Polak 1-2-21-0 ... Receiving: Kyle Petermeier 5-92, Chris Buhl 1-11, Heid 1-21, Reid Pearson 1-0, Matthew Schettler 1-18 ... Punting: 2-15 ... Interceptions: none ... Fumble recoveries: 1 ... Tackles (solo-assist): n/a ... QB sacks: n/a
Dawson-Boyd
Team statistics
First downs: n/a ... Rushing: 41-279 ... Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 12-18-179-0 ... Fumbles lost: 1 ... Penalties: n/a
Individual statistics
Rushing: Michael Anyasike 26-211, Justin Lee 4-13, Joey Lee 3-0, Nathaniel Huot 1-14, Noah Stelter 4-33, Christian Thoen 2-6, Kasey Willander 1-2 ... Passing: Joey Lee 12-18-179-0 ... Receiving: Huot 7-93, Michael Lee 4-79, Stelter 1-7 ... Punting: Joey Lee 1-29 ... Interceptions: Huot 1, Joey Lee 1 ... Fumble recoveries: none ... Tackles (solo-assist): n/a ... QB sacks: n/a
