The Minneapolis North Polars football team, playing on their own turf on a cool Sunday afternoon, took another step toward a state football playoff appearance with a 35-34 Class 3A, Section 4 semifinal victory over the St. Croix Lutheran Crusader.
The Polars, led by Head Coach Charles Adams, seemingly had the game in control in the fourth period before a furious comeback from the Crusader ensued.
With the victory, North is in a position to earn a state playoff berth for the ninth time in 11 seasons.
In the first quarter, after junior quarterback Logan Lachermeier connected to junior wide receiver Anthony Deline for 49 yards and the first of his four touchdown passes for the Polars, the Crusader responded with back-to-back scores from junior quarterback and wide receiver Colin Avery (45-yard touchdown and 19-yard pass reception from senior running back Elijah Frey) to take a 14-7 lead.
The second period was all North, who led 28-14 at halftime behind Lachermeier’s three touchdown passes to senior running back Stephan Jackson (64 yards), and junior wide receiver Jmarion Sanders (45 and 41 yards). Senior place kicker Rocco Murray Pezzella provided the extra-point conversions for each score.
Frey’s 35-yard touchdown provided the only points in the third quarter, making it a 28-21 ballgame.
After Jackson’s 7-yard touchdown run and Murray Pezzella’s extra point conversion put the Polars up 35-21, a victory seemed all but assured.
The Crusader, however, refused to quit.
Senior running back Matthew Beekman scored on a 4-yard run and provided the last of his extra-point kicks to make it 35-28.
Senior lineman Jack Malovrh’s 11-yard run cut the lead to one point, but the Crusader went for an unsuccessful two-point conversion, preserving the victory for North.
North is hoping to add to the eight playoff appearances made in 2014 (Class 1A Semifinals), 2015 (Class 1A Final), 2016 (Class 1A Championship), 2017 (Class 2A Quarterfinals), 2018 (Class 2A Quarterfinals), 2019 (Class 2A Final), 2021 Class 2A Quarterfinals), and 2023 (3A Quarterfinals).
Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader comments to mcdeezy05@gmail.com.