Defense was the name of the game for the No. 3 Pelican Rapids Vikings, as quarterback Devin Schell accounted for three touchdowns in the team's 21-0 victory over No. 7 Bagley Saturday in the Section 8-2A semifinals.
Pelican Rapids had a big goal line stand and just enough offense in picking up the victory over the Flyers.
"We really had to be patient and grind out this win," said Pelican Rapids head coach Dave Haugen. "We had a couple of turnovers which limited our opportunities, but Bagley also played very hard and well to make us work hard for the win."
The Vikings jumped on the board on their third possession of the game putting together a 78-yard 11-play drive.
The score came when Schell found a wide-open Jimmy Cossette with a 40-yard touchdown pass.
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Cris Molina was good with the extra point to give Pelican Rapids a 7-0 lead that they wouldn't give up.
Pelican Rapids needed a big goal line stand late in the second quarter to preserve the lead going into halftime.
With about two minutes left in the second half the interior of the Vikings defense came up with a big stop on fourth and goal from the two-yard line.
"Coming up with that stop was a real critical series in the game to keep Bagley from gaining too much confidence and momentum," Haugen included.
Pelican Rapids came back with touchdowns in both the third and fourth quarters.
The first drive of the second half for the Vikes covered 42 yards and ended with Schell going in from two yards out and Molina converting the PAT again.
Tommy Gaustad had two big runs on the drive as he led the Vikings in rushing with 76 yards.
The last touchdown came early in the 4th quarter, when Schell got to the outside on a nice 27-yard run to get into the end zone one more time for the Vikings.
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Molina put the final score at 21-0.
Defensively, Pelican Rapids had another strong outing picking up their second shut out in the playoffs.
Bagley was limited to just over 100 yards of total offense. Gaustad and Cody Wahlstrom led the defense in tackles and Dan Wood came up with four tackles for loss.
"Other than the first half possession that ended inside the five-yard line the Flyers never really threatened to put together a scoring opportunity," Haugen said.
The win advances Pelican Rapids to the Section 8-2A Championship game Friday at 8 p.m. at the Fargodome against Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton after they defeated Hawley 24-0.
Viking results
Section 8-2A semifinals: (7) Bagley at (3) Pelican Rapids, Saturday, Oct. 30.
Vikings 21, Flyers 0
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Bagley - 0 0 0 0 -- 0
Pelican Rapids - 0 7 7 7 -- 21
PR - Devin Schell 40-yard pass to James Cossette; Cris Molina kick. 9:35, 2nd quarter.
PR - Schell 2-yard run; Molina kick. 8:16, 3rd.
PR - Schell 27-yard run; Molina kick. 10:05, 4th.
Bag PR
First Downs 4 9
Net Yards Rushing 61 118
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Yards Passing 47 71
No. Passes 3 14
Completed 2 7
Had intercepted 0 0
Plays from line of scrimmage 41 49
Total Yards 108 189
Penalties/yards 1/5 4/30
Fumbles/lost 1/1 2/2
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Rushing (att-yds) -- PR: Tommy Gaustad 18-76; James Cossette 5-16; Dvin Schell 6-15; Jed Evenson 6-11...Bag: Austin Bellefy 13-66; Kris Skersick 9-33; Nick Neeland 10-(-7); Cole young 6-(-31).
Passing (comp-att-yds-td-int) -- PR: Schell 7-14-71-1-0...Bag:Young 2-3-47-0-0.
Receiving (rec-yds-td) -- PR: Cossette 4-59-1; Gaustad 2-6-0; Tucker Forsgren 1-6...Bag: Tim Conger 1-31; Skersick 1-16.
