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EDGERTON — The showdown is set.
Edgerton Public simply had too much firepower last Saturday, stopping Adrian-Ellsworth cold as the Flying Dutchmen downed the Dragons, 46-22, Saturday, Oct. 25.
Meanwhile, Hills-Beaver Creek smothered Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons, 56-8, in the other Section 3 9-Player semifinal the same day.
Edgerton Public’s Brady Jandl holds the football like a loaf of bread while running on a kick return during a Section 3 9-Player semifinal game versus Adrian-Ellsworth on Saturday, Oct. 25. The Flying Dutchmen won, 46-22, setting up a clash with Hills-Beaver Creek. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Edgerton and HBC will square off for the second time this season — this time for the section title at 7 p.m. Friday from Trojan Field in Worthington.
“It’s a lot to get ready for,” Edgerton head coach Andrew Fleischman said during post-game comments on Christensen Broadcasting.
The unbeaten Patriots have plenty of firepower, including South Dakota State University commit Micah Bush and Jamin Metzger (who has pledged to continue his career at the University of Sioux Falls).
HBC won the first game, 41-6, on Oct. 3 in Hills, giving the Patriots the coveted Red Rock trophy.
Edgerton Public’s Michael Gunnink (8) delivers a stiff arm to Adrian-Ellsworth’s Charger Erlandson (9) during a Section 3 9-Player game on Saturday, Oct. 25. Gunnink rushed for 196 yards. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
The Edgerton/Adrian-Ellsworth game was as advertised: physical.
“Everybody left it all on the field,” Fleischman noted.
The coach was pleased with the Flying Dutchmen’s performance. And slowly but surely, Edgerton’s ground game took control.
Edgerton Public’s Tanner Thomson (dark jersey) sacks Adrian-Ellsworth’s Charger Erlandson during a Section 3 9-Player semifinal game on Saturday, Oct. 25, in Edgerton. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Special teams helped, too, as senior Michael Gunnink covered nearly 90 yards on a kickoff return for a TD. Gunnink added the subsequent two-point conversion, and Edgerton was ahead 16-6 with 9:50 remaining in the first half.
Fleischman said late in the second quarter proved to be a pivotal part of the contest.
Edgerton (8-1) stopped a Dragon drive near midfield as Tanner Thomson recorded a key sack, and the Flying Dutchmen took possession at its own 20-yard line.
Tucker Arp capped off a scoring drive on a short run up the middle — his second TD rush at that point. Fittingly, Thomson caught a conversion pass from Colin Scholten for a 24-14 intermission lead.
Edgerton Public’s Tucker Arp (2), Kaisen Hendriks (11) and others listen to assistant coach Ron Zwart. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Edgerton scored the first three TDs of the second half, beginning as Kade Moffitt raced 53 yards with a fumble return for a score.
The Flying Dutchmen took advantage of a personal foul penalty for its next TD, capped off by Scholten 1-yard plunge and Gunnink conversion at the 0:22 mark of the third quarter.
Gunnink added another score, and Evan Skyberg raced in with the conversion to put Edgerton ahead by 32 points.
Adrian-Ellsworth’s Garrett Penning scored a rush TD in the first quarter. Jesse Bullerman had two TD receptions on passes from Charger Erlandson.
Edgerton Public defenders gang tackle Adrian-Ellsworth’s Jackson Jenniges (4) during the Section 3 9-Player playoffs on Saturday, Oct. 25, in Edgerton. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Reese Gilbertson snagged an onside kick late in the fourth quarter, and the Flying Dutchmen played reserves for the final five minutes.
Gunnink finished with 22 carries for 198 yards. Arp added 76 yards on 14 carries. Overall, the Flying Dutchmen had 304 ground yards. Scholten was 6-of-12 passing for 88 yards.
Edgerton Public cheerleaders perform jumping jacks after a touchdown. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Overall, Edgerton had a 392-242 advantage in total offense.
The Dragons finished the season 7-3.
Edgerton Public’s Kade Moffitt is introduced to the crowd before a Section 3 9-Player football game on Saturday, Oct. 25, in Edgerton. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Editor’s Note: Russell-Tyler-Ruthton and Elkton-Lake Benton game recaps will be found online at www.pipestonestar.com.