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Knights Upend Osakis 19-14 to Claim Section 6AA Championship

By Craig Olson, 11/05/21, 6:00PM CDT

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Evan Paulson ran the ball into the end zone from 3 yards out with fifty-four seconds remaining in the game on Friday to lead the West Central Area/Ashby football team to a 19-14 win over top-seeded Osakis in the Section 6AA championship game at the Fargodome.  Two plays earlier Paulson had converted and fourth down and one play into a first down, keeping the scoring drive alive.  The win moves the Knights into the Class AA State semifinals against Moose Lake-Willow River next Thursday night in Brainerd.

Following a scoreless first quarter, Osakis took a 6-0 lead on the second play of the second quarter when sophomore quarterback Kyle Mages hooked up with senior wide receiver Carter Watnaas on a 29 yard pass.  The Knights took a 7-6 lead with 9:23 remaining when they converted a third down and four situation into a 69 yard bomb from Paulson to Torin Olson, followed by a Paulson extra-point kick.  Matson Hoff had an interception late in the half to stop an Osakis drive short of pay dirt and the Knights led 7-6 at the half.

West Central Area/Ashby returned a recovered fumble to the Osakis 20 yard line early in the second half and extended their lead to 13-6 on a 5 yard run by Anthony Sykora, his fifteenth touchdown of the season.

With 6:10 left in the fourth quarter Mages scored on a 14 yard run and Tyson Hagedon converted the two-point try to lift the Silverstreaks into a 14-13 lead.  A Mages interception stopped the Knights on the ensuing possession, but the only penalty of the game against Osakis, a holding call, pushed them back to their own 12 yard line.  The Knights defense held, forcing a punt which was returned to the Osakis 32 yard line by Olson.  That set the Knights up for their winning TD drive.  The second interception of the day by Hoff sealed the victory.

Osakis had 261 yards of offense to the Knights 226.  Mages completed 9-of-15 passes for 93 yards and led the Silverstreaks with 64 yards rushing on 8 carries.  Watnass hauled in 3 passes for 44 yards, Bauer Klimek caught 4 balls for 38 yards and Hagedon ran for 3 yards on 19 rushing attempts.

West Central Area/Ashby was led by Paulson with 166 yards passing, completing 8-of-13 attempts.  Sykora had 47 yards rushing on 10 carries, Olson caught two passes for 86 yards and Cole Anderson had two receptions for 51 yards.