No. 5 Warroad and No. 4 Frazee traded early scores within seconds of each other but the Warriors put up 16 unanswered points to advance in the Section 8AA football playoffs 24-7 at Carl S. Ingebrightson Field in Frazee Tuesday, Nov. 17.
Warroad quarterback Virgil Laznicka opened the scoring rushing 54 yards to the end zone on a fourth-and-one play at 10:21 of the first quarter. Blake Norris punched in the deuce to put the visitors up 8-0 early.
Frazee responded with an immediate answer on the ensuing kickoff when Ryan Kangas returned the ball 75 yards to the end zone and Lewis Helmers booted the point-after try to trail 8-7.
Blake Norris extended Warroads lead at 3:11 of the first quarter scoring on a 15-yard run. After a penalty on the try, Laznicka found Jace Thompson for a lengthy two-point conversion and a two-score edge up 16-7.
The Warriors kept Frazee’s offense out of the end zone and tallied the remaining touchdown at 2:01 of the third quarter on a 10-yard Norris run.
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Both teams stuck to the ground game. Warroad had 172 total yards to Frazee’s 143. The Warriors forced four Frazee turnovers while giving the ball up twice.
Warroad improved to 4-2 overall and is scheduled to travel to No. 1 Barnesville (6-0) Saturday, Nov. 21 for a semifinal with the undefeated and defending section champion Trojans.
Frazee’s season ends on a four-game skid at 2-5.
Warroad 24, Frazee 7
WAR 16 0 8 0 - 24
FRA 7 0 0 0 - 7
WAR - Virgil Laznicka 54 run (Blake Norris run)
FRA - Ryan Kangas 75 kickoff return (Lewis Helmers kick)
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WAR - Blake Norris 15 run (Jace Thompson pass from Laznicka)
WAR - Norris 10 run (Two-Point Conversion)
