Cardinals state run ends with semifinals

[email protected] - Spring Grove quarterback Alex Folz played a role in all seven of his team's scoring plays as the defending nine-man champion Lions rolled over the Cromwell-Wright Cardinals 48-12 last Thursday in the state semifinals at U.S. Bank Stadium. Spring Grove (13-0) moved on to play Mountain Lake Area in today's 10 a.m. championship at Prep Bowl 37.

Spring Grove set the tone early and often in the first quarter, taking the opening kickoff to midfield and then scoring seconds later on a Folz 24-yard run. A few minutes later, Folz found Kai Bjerke streaking downfield in perfect stride for a 44-yard touchdown strike to make it 12-0. The Lions built a 28-0 lead in the first following two more short Folz runs across the goal line.

Noah Elton made a one-yard touchdown catch from Folz to make it 35-0 halfway through the second quarter.

The Cardinals were finally able to put points on the scoreboard when senior running back Kannon Korpela dashed down the right sideline, aided by some fancy footwork to stay inbounds, for a 65-yard score. The Lions were able to answer just 40 seconds later when Folz found an open Takoda Boyd downfield for a 44-yard touchdown catch that made it 42-6. Cromwell-Wright answered back with seven seconds left in the half when senior quarterback Isaac Shelton floated a pass to a falling Korpela, who managed to keep a foot inbounds to secure the score. The play was ruled incomplete, but a booth review reversed the decision.

The 30-point halftime deficit was just too much for the Section 5 champion Cardinals. They were simply unable to crack the offensive scheme, which basically consisted of throwing to a sideline of triple receivers who followed blockers, or Folz tucking the ball and running himself.

"We did not react well on defense early to what they were doing," said C-W head coach Jeff Gronner. Spring Grove's offense out-gained the Cardinals 336-158 in the first half, 287 of those yards through the air.

The second half was uneventful, with a scoreless third and a fourth- quarter 24-yard touchdown pass from Folz to Boyd again to cap the scoring for the Lions.

Gronner did not blame the low numbers of players - 16 for much of the season - for the loss, as the team had handled most teams without problems.

"The only thing the low numbers affected was our ability to have quality practices and have lineman depth," Gronner said. The status of senior quarterback Drew Libbon's dislocated hip is still up in air, depending on what specialists say.

"Great season to finish where we did without Drew," the coach said. "Proud of our guys."

Senior running back Cameron Cahoon worked hard for 130 yards (19 carries) on the ground for Cromwell-Wright, and Korpela rushed for 90 yards on 14 gives.

Folz ended the game as his team's leading rusher, with 96 yards on 19 carries and three touchdown runs. But most of his damage was through the air with four touchdown passes and 368 yards gained. Elton caught 13 passes for 146 yards and a touchdown catch to lead the Lions in receiving. Total yardage was 478-296 Spring Grove.

All the gaudy numbers aside, it was another thrilling season in what has become a tradition of excellent football at Cromwell-Wright. It was the team's 19th state tournament appearance in a 12-1 season.

"I am so proud of this team and of the seniors for what they accomplished," Gronner said. "The seniors leave with a 43-5 record over four years of varsity."