PAYNESVILLE - Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City took an early 21-8 lead but an explosive Paynesville offense took control, scoring 54 straight points and winning big, 62-28, in the Section 5AA semifinals on Tuesday at Paynesville High School.
The Bulldogs, now 7-3, play 8-1 Minnewaska for the section championship at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at St. John’s University.
The Lakers earned their spot in the title game with a 20-7 win over Sauk Centre on Tuesday.
Three Paynesville backs ran for more than 100 yards, led by Grant Thompson’s 209 yards on 17 carries and five scoring runs.
Gavin Stanger picked up 125 yards on just 10 carries and Nathan Stang carried nine times for 102 yards. Both Stanger and Stang scored TDs.
The Bulldogs amassed 488 rushing yards on 44 carries.
ACGC’s Beau Anderson ran for 125 yards and scored both Falcons’ touchdowns.
Paynesville 62, ACGC 28
ACGC (4-6) 21 0 0 7 - 28
Paynesville (7-3) 16 16 16 14 - 62
A – Colton Minnick fumble recovery (Minnick kick)
P – Grant Thompson 45 run (Nathan Stang run)
A – Beau Anderson 3 run (Anderson run)
A – Anderson 1 run (pass failed)
P – Thompson 3 run (Thompson run)
P – Gavin Stanger 43 run (Thompson run)
P – Thompson 11 run (Thompson run)
P – Thompson 25 run (Stang run)
P – Thompson 39 run (Stang run)
P – Stang 17 run (Thompson run)
P – Dustin Hieserich 30 run (run failed)
A – Payton Kinzler 12 pass from Rylan Molinaro (kick good)
Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City
First downs: 17 … Rushing: 51-218 … Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 7-8-88-0 … Fumbles lost: 2 … Penalties: 5-45
Rushing: Beau Anderson 25-125, Jaren Kaddatz 10-33, Cullen Hoffman 8-32, Tanner Olson 8-28 … Passing: Jaren Kaddatz 5-6-47-0, Payton Kinzler 2-2-41-0 ... Receiving: Rylan Molinaro 3-51, Olson 2-26, Hoffmann 2-11 … Punting: Olson 2-56 (28.0) … Interceptions: None … Fumble recoveries: None … Tackles (solo-assist): Kaddatz 5-7, Adam Johnson 3-9, Brennan Lewis 4-3, Olson 3-0, Kinzler 3-0 … QB sacks: Johnson 0.5, Cameron Whitcomb 0-5
Paynesville
First downs: 23 … Rushing: 44-488 … Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 1-5-33-0 … Fumbles lost: None … Penalties: 3-15
Rushing: Grant Thompson 17-209, Gavin Stanger 10-125, Nathan Stang 9-102, Dustin Hiesenrich 2-40, Brent Burg 3-10, Jake Arnold 1-2, Tyler Donabauer 1-1, Carter Carlson 1-(-1) … Passing: Thompson 1-5-33-0 ... Receiving: Toby Flannigan 1-33 … Punting: None … Interceptions: None … Fumble recoveries: NA … Tackles (solo-assist): Stang 7-11, Stanger 2-7, Burg 3-5, Thompson 2-6, Collin Riley 1-6 … QB sacks: Garrett Leusink 1
