By Jake Schroer
Crow River News Sports
Jacob Veire threw for 230 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Knights to a 28-21 victory over Rogers and their third straight section championship.
The first points came only after nearly two full quarters had passed. Veire found Jake Hinz for a 25-yard touchdown as the Knights struck first. Very late in the first half, Veire threw a touchdown strike to his brother, Austin.
The Royals would not fold easily. Blayne Kasper cut the lead in half with a goal line plunge in the third quarter. Veire struck again, finding the elusive Isaiah Weston for a 54-yard score, but Mitch Bourgerie missed the extra point, leaving the score at 20-7.
Rogers answered with a Travis Limoseth touchdown run, making Bourgerie’s missed PAT a factor at 20-14. But, the Knights turned around and scored with Eric Sjelin, picking up the two-point conversion to erase the miss.
Rogers rallied once more with a late score by Drew Sagehorn, but could not recover an onside kick. Hinz brought it in for STMA.
On their next drive, the Knights got the Royals to jump offsides on fourth down after Rogers had spent its final timeout, sealing the game.
“It was a great game. We had the ball last, and that was the difference,” head coach Jared Essler said.
Hinz said that he did not panic on the onside kick late in the game.
“I was like, ‘I’m sure I’ve got this, I’ve just got to secure it, go down to the ground.’”
Sjelin led all STMA rushers with 65 yards and a touchdown.
Weston had four catches for 101 yards to lead Knights receivers. Evan Ronsen had 14 total tackles and Isaiah Nolan forced a fumble.
The Knights play Spring Lake Park at Osseo High School in the state quarterfinal game on Saturday, Halloween night at 6 p.m.