A lightning-quick strike, then dominant defense the rest of the night, carried Class 6A’s seventh-ranked Anoka football to a 14-0 shutout over Centennial Oct. 4, as the Tornadoes improved to 4-2. Peyton Podany connected with Afy Ibekwe on a 60-yard touchdown pass in the opening minute of the game, giving Anoka a 7-0 lead it would maintain into the fourth quarter. Zach Welch found the end zone from two yards out with six minutes to play, with the Tornado defense slamming the door to seal the win. Podany finished with 159 yards passing, 83 going to Trey Borchers and 76 to Ibekwe, while Welch ran for 140 yards. Luke DeChene collected 13 tackles and a half sack, Parker Seaman recorded 12 tackles, Cooper Bakke had seven tackles and an interception, and David Ellis forced a fumble.
Tenth-ranked Blaine captured a 28-23 win at Champlin Park Oct. 4, moving to 4-2 on the year. The Bengals built a 25-10 halftime lead on the strength of all three phases, with a pair of touchdowns on the ground by Zach Larson, a rushing score by Muizz Fowoshere, a 29-yard field goal by Jared Killian, and a safety. The Rebels closed the gap to 25-17 after the third, before Killian pushed the lead back to two possessions on a 31-yard field goal early in the fourth. Champlin Park again closed within a possession with just under five minutes to play, then forced a turnover to gain a late shot to take the lead, but the Bengal defense delivered a fourth-down stop at the 4-yard line in the closing seconds to secure the win. Charlie Potvin finished with 13 tackles, Carter Mackey made 12 stops, Sully Barott had 10 tackles, and Zane VanGuilder had an interception.
Andover ran its winning streak to five with a 35-13 homecoming victory over St. Francis Oct. 4. Cameron Begalle hauled in four passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns, one each from Joseph Mapson and Hudson Maynard, Wyatt Myers rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown, and Maynard added a pair of touchdowns on the ground. Gage Roeder registered 13 tackles and three sacks. The Saints scored on a touchdown pass from Tanner Rothbauer to Owen Lamson, and a 20-yard run by Abraham James.
Spring Lake Park built a 28-0 halftime lead en route to overpowering rival Irondale 35-7 Oct. 4. EJ Monluo rushed for two touchdowns, with a rushing score apiece by Lamari Brown and Nolan Roach. Sawyer Thomsen and Colin Welch each picked off a pass, and Jason Eagle, Jamal Smith and Brodie Gemlo each recorded a sack. Isaiah Nokken was 5-of-5 on extra points.
Columbia Heights topped Brooklyn Center 20-12 on homecoming Oct. 4, the Hylanders’ third win in a row. After Brooklyn Center opened the scoring, Laron Collins leveled the game at 6-6 on a 10-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Brooklyn Center briefly regained the lead in the second quarter, only for the Hylanders to immediately respond on an 83-yard Collins kickoff return for a touchdown to go ahead 13-12 at the half. A 99-yard interception return for a touchdown by Jayvion Calvin in the second half thwarted Brooklyn Center’s best chance to pull ahead, with the Hylander defense shutting out the Centaurs the rest of the way to seal the win.
Fridley toppled DeLaSalle 31-14 for a homecoming victory Oct. 4. Fridley built a quick 14-0 lead on a 39-yard touchdown pass from Bryan Weston to Kaden Frazier, and a 3-yard touchdown run by Jenovic Kadindula. The Tigers stretched the lead to 28-14 in the third on touchdown runs by Kadindula and Marcquist Holiday, then sealed the win in the fourth on a 28-yard Mya Karsten field goal.
Totino-Grace scored three second-quarter touchdowns to pull away from Minneapolis North 34-14 Oct. 4, running its undefeated record to 6-0. Marquel Keten rushed for 221 yards and a touchdown for Class 4A’s second-ranked Eagles, with touchdowns on the ground added by Michael Strong, Calvin McIntosh and Jake Person. Person also completed an 18-yard touchdown pass to Josiah Young.
Undefeated Maple Grove defeated Coon Rapids 56-14 in the Cardinals’ homecoming game Oct. 4. Hudson Tanem returned a fumble 61 yards for a touchdown for the Cardinals, and Loic Djiotsa ran for a 5-yard score. Murtesa Mohammed passed for 111 yards, with Brayden Waldron catching six passes for 60 yards. Lance Hill made a team-high nine tackles.
Girls soccer
Blaine and Andover powered through their playoff openers Oct. 8 and into the Section 7AAA semifinals. Fourth-seeded Blaine scored once in the first half, then pulled away with three goals in the second half in a 4-0 win against Anoka. Addison Stadden, Hailey Hughes, Janelle Fredin and Leah Schmitt scored for the Bengals, with assists by Vanessa Peterson, Trista Crosby and Schmitt. Keeper Brekka Snyder recorded six saves. Third-seeded Andover shut out Forest Lake 4-0, powered by a pair of Addison Dobratz goals, and a score apiece by Mackenzie Uecker and Payton McKnight. Coon Rapids fell 8-1 at top-seeded Duluth East in its 7AAA quarterfinal. The semifinals are Oct. 10-11, and the championship is Oct. 15.
Second-seeded Spring Lake Park overpowered Irondale 11-0 in the Section 5AAA quarterfinals Oct. 8. The semifinals are Oct. 10, and the championship is Oct. 15.
In Section 6AA, second-seeded St. Francis shut out Rockford 4-0 in the quarterfinals Oct. 8. Sydney Pettey scored twice, and Madison Hall and Mia Pendergrass each scored once. The semifinals are Oct. 10, and the championship is Oct. 15.
In Section 7A, fifth-seeded Legacy Christian Academy knocked off fourth-seeded Spectrum 2-1 in the quarterfinals Oct. 7, setting up a semifinal against top-seeded Esko Oct. 9. The championship is Oct. 15. PACT fell 4-0 in the quarterfinals against second-seeded Lakes International Language Academy Oct. 7.
In Section 4AA, second-seeded Totino-Grace shut out St. Paul Johnson 10-0 in the quarterfinals Oct. 8. Columbia Heights fell 3-1 against St. Anthony Village in the quarterfinals Oct. 8, and Fridley fell 1-0 in a shootout against North St. Paul in the first round Oct. 7.
Boys soccer
Top-seeded Blaine overpowered Cambridge-Isanti 12-0 in the Section 7AAA quarterfinals Oct. 8, while second-seeded Andover topped Coon Rapids 5-1 in its quarterfinal. For Blaine, Damir Secic and Samuele Sporneac both netted a pair of goals, and Dominic Hill had a goal and two assists. Anoka fell 3-2 against Centennial in its 7AAA quarterfinal Oct. 8. The 7AAA semifinals are Oct. 10, and the championship is Oct. 15.
In Section 7A, Legacy Christian Academy earned the top seed and a bye into the semifinals on Oct. 10 after finishing the regular season 15-0-1. Second-seeded PACT topped North Lakes 6-1 in its quarterfinal Oct. 8, led by Tim Cherenkevich with three goals, and one apiece by Micah Wiyninger, Paul Plastun and Michael Onyinkwa. The 7A championship is Oct. 15.
In Section 4AA, top-seeded Totino-Grace and fifth-seeded Columbia Heights won their quarterfinal matches Oct. 8 to set up a semifinal clash Oct. 10, with T-G shutting out Chisago Lakes 5-0 and the Hylanders topping St. Anthony Village 2-1. The 4AA championship is Oct. 15.
In Section 5A, Fridley shut out Avail Academy 2-0 in the quarterfinals Oct. 8. The semifinals are Oct. 10, and the championship is Oct. 15.
In Section 5AAA, Spring Lake Park fell 4-1 against Osseo in the quarterfinals Oct. 8.
In Section 6AA, St. Francis fell 10-0 against Monticello in the quarterfinals Oct. 8.
Girls swimming and diving
Anoka earned seventh out of 15 teams in the Maroon Division at the University of Minnesota Maroon and Gold Invitational Sept. 28, led by Ally Diehl winning the 100-yard butterfly and finishing second in the 50 free, Kirsten Bailey in third in diving, and the third-place 400 free relay. The Tornadoes also earned a 99-75 win over Park Center Oct. 3, with individual wins by Diehl in the 200 free and the 100 breaststroke, Sydney DeRung in the 200 IM and the 500 free, Abigail Johnson in the 50 free, Bailey in diving, and Nora Sloth in the 100 butterfly.
Andover defeated Coon Rapids 104-73 Oct. 3. Individual event-winners for Andover included Carly Gleaves in the 200 free and the 100 butterfly, Alyssa Eastman in the 200 IM, LeeAnna Seward in the 50 free, Lydia Gorowsky in the 100 free, Zoey Hughes in the 100 backstroke, and Mara Valley in the 100 breaststroke. Coon Rapids’ Gabrielle Lewis won the 500 free, and Delilah Smith-Ginnette won diving.
Blaine earned seventh out of 17 teams in the Maroon and Gold Invitational Bronze Division Sept. 28, led by its third-place 200 free relay. Gabby Busch won the 200 IM and the 100 backstroke in a dual against Maple Grove Oct. 1, and Sydney Edwards won the 500 free and 100 breaststroke.
Spring Lake Park defeated Osseo 95-86 Oct. 1. Individual event-winners for the Panthers included Cora Roseborough in the 50 free and the 100 free, Ellis Rotzenberg in diving, Maci Severud in the 100 butterfly, and Anna Milsow in the 500 free.
True team section meets are Oct. 12.
Boys cross-country
Blaine finished as the runner-up and Andover earned 11th at the STMA Invitational Oct. 2. Blaine’s David Meberg earned eighth overall in 16:31.8, followed by Austin Matrious in 11th, Israel Sulungaine in 14th and Alaric Burroughs in 17th. Andover’s Carter Stevens earned 31st and Johnny Downs earned 33rd.
Anoka earned third place out of 15 teams at the Thundering Royal Elk Oct. 3, with Totino-Grace finishing sixth and St. Francis finishing 10th. Anoka’s top seven runners all finished in the top 40. Aaron Peterson led the way in third place in 16:18.2, followed by Dustin Larson in 13th, Samuel Gaines in 15th, William Rengo in 25th, Emmitt Revering in 32nd, Cole Kutches in 37th and Cameron Dorst in 39th. T-G was paced by Matthew Lindgren in 10th, Matthew Misko in 16th, Eric Lindgren in 41st and Benjamin Effiom in 43rd. Ryder Mold led St. Francis in seventh.
Spring Lake Park finished third and Columbia Heights finished fourth at the Irondale Invite Oct. 3. SLP’s Tyler Gatlin earned 16th, Isaac Lange earned 17th and Ezekial Larson earned 20th. CH’s Daniel Abebaw was the runner-up, and Ameer Daoud earned 19th.
The NWSC Championships were scheduled for Oct. 9, the MCAA Championships are Oct. 12, and the Mississippi 8 and Tri-Metro Championships are Oct. 15.
Girls cross-country
Blaine finished eighth and Andover finished ninth at the STMA Invitational Oct. 2. Blaine’s Bryn Wegener earned ninth in 19:14.1, and Nora Kuhn earned 31st. Andover’s Julia Strobel earned 38th.
St. Francis earned 10th, Anoka finished 11th and Totino-Grace finished 13th at the Thundering Royal Elk Oct. 3. St. Francis’ Anniston Rolf earned fifth overall in 19:11.6, with the Saints’ Ashlynn Mold earning 33rd. Anoka was led by Kate Hennes in 34th and Brynna Peterson in 47th, and Totino-Grace was led by Breonna Hurry in 35th.
Spring Lake Park had a trio of top-five individual finishers at the Irondale Invite Oct. 3, including Elsa Oberg in third, Arianna Halverson in fourth and Haifa Hammouri in fifth. Columbia Heights’ Louisianne Sadrant earned 12th.
The NWSC Championships were scheduled for Oct. 9, the MCAA Championships are Oct. 12, and the Mississippi 8 and Tri-Metro Championships are Oct. 15.
Girls tennis
Blaine shut out Hibbing 7-0 in the Section 7AA team quarterfinals Oct. 3, advancing to the semifinals against Rock Ridge Oct. 10. The finals are slated for Oct. 12. St. Francis fell 4-3 against Cambridge-Isanti in its 7AA quarterfinal Oct. 3.
Mounds View defeated Totino-Grace 6-1 in the Section 4AA team quarterfinals Oct. 3.
In individual section play, Andover’s Hannah Kumpel advanced to the Section 7AA quarterfinals in singles via back-to-back 6-1, 6-0 wins Oct. 8. Reaching the third round were Blaine’s Danica Scofield and Maria Guse, and St. Francis’ Macy Hass. In doubles, Blaine’s Audrey Brown and Rosie Rekucki advanced to the quarterfinals with wins of 6-3, 6-4 and 6-4, 7-5, while St. Francis’ Makenna Sanders and Alexa Skogquist advanced to the quarterfinals with wins of 6-1, 6-1 and 6-4, 6-4. Reaching the third round were Andover’s Celia Molanaar and Camryn Talbot, and Blaine’s Andrea Shogren and Katelyn Wozniak.
Section tournaments continue through Oct. 15.
The state tennis tournament is Oct. 22-25.
Volleyball
Anoka rolled past Park Center 25-11, 25-15, 25-7 Oct. 7 to improve to 15-5. Hayden Reeder and Alaina Wilberg had eight kills apiece, and Kate Trombley had 23 assists.
Blaine earned a 25-14, 25-20, 26-24 win against St. Francis Oct. 7.
Totino-Grace earned a 25-10, 25-13, 25-11 win against Fridley Oct. 7.
Andover earned a four-set win against Spring Lake Park Oct. 8.
Columbia Heights topped Hmong College Prep Academy 25-16, 25-23, 27-29, 25-23 Oct. 7.
PACT improved to 15-9 with a 25-18, 25-16, 25-6 win over Avail Academy Oct. 7.
Legacy Christian took two of five matches at the St. Michael-Albertville Midwest Fall Classic Oct. 4-5, sweeping Robbinsdale Armstrong and Grand Rapids.
NWSC crossover matches are Oct. 15, with section tournaments beginning Oct. 17-24.
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