Semifinal Dominance

Saturday meant a trip to US Bank Stadium - the Class AAA semifinals. A huge accomplishment for any team. For this Cardinals team though, it was business as usual. This team expects to be here, and their history backs it up. Nine times in the last 10 years Annandale has earned a trip to the State Tournament, many of those times they have also earned a trip to ‘The Bank’. The coaches have the routine down, knowing all the in’s and out’s once the team arrives - they even started coaching about staying hydrated to prepare for playing this week on the bus ride home from the win over Litchfield. From the first practice this team has had its sights on just one goal - a state title. This year’s seniors were Sophomores when Annandale advanced to the title game against Stewartville in ‘23. A second place finish is great when you look at the big picture, but this year the goal was not just to go back, but to win it all. Coach Walter has said these seniors are winners - they’ve lost only 3 games in their careers (Stewartville, D/C, Pequot Lakes).

Standing in Annandale’s way was a very talented Minneapolis North team. The Polars put up more points than any other team in the Quarterfinal round, and showed that they could score from anywhere on the field in their 50-21 win over #2 seed Pine Island. Annandale would head into the game focusing on slowing down the Polars and their talented receivers, running back, and quarterback, but as Coach Walter also pointed out, Minneapolis North had to stop Annandale too.

Annandale took the opening kickoff and drove the ball down to just outside the Polars 2 yard line before turning it over on downs. It turned out to be one of the few times that Annandale had the ball that they did not score. Next up was the Cardinal defense - the one coming in allowing a 3A best 5.2 points per game, but the starting defense had only allowed 3 touchdowns on the season - to take on the vaunted Minneapolis North offense. With the Polars in the shadow of their own end zone, Annandale forced a 3 and out, getting the ball back in great field position. They used that possession to hit Junior Colton Purcell for an 18 yard touchdown from Braylon Fobbe - the first of 2 touchdowns for Purcell. North would answer on the next drive showing off some of that explosive offense as Anthony Deline caught a 29 yard strike from Logan Lachermeier that tied the game at 7. In the next drive, and all game long, the Cards leaned heavily on the ground game, led by Senior Cam Ergen. Ergen would finish the drive in the 2nd quarter giving Annandale a 14-7 lead that Annandale would take into the half. Minneapolis North would get the ball coming out of the half and led a quick and surgical drive to tie the game with a 1 yard run from Tyshone Jenkins.

From there it was all Annandale.

With 6:38 left in the 3rd, Purcell would add his 2nd touchdown on a 21 yard pass from Senior Michael Kovall. Then it was senior Isaiah Turner adding a pair of rushing touchdowns in the 4th from 11 (9:23) and 36 (7:11) yards to put Annandale up 36-14. North would add one more late in the 4th quarter to cut the Cardinal lead to 36-20, but it was too little too late.

The Cardinals had done it - they booked a date in the Prep Bowl. The Cardinals did it the same way they have all season, by taking what the defense was giving them. Annandale - ground out 270 yards rushing behind Ergen with 118 (1), Turner 97 (2), and Sophomore Rylan Horsch 53 and adding 143 more through the air.

The defense held the Polars to a season low 20 points, and forced 2 turnovers (Purcell, Horsch) and sacked Lachermeier, a Mr. Football finalist, 4 times.

(Annandale’s starting defense has now given up 6 touchdowns on the season, 5 to state tournament teams Holy Family (1), Litchfield (1), North (3))

So as we approach Thanksgiving, Annandale football is still on the field.

Just one game left.

The game this senior class has been playing for since that fateful November afternoon in 2023. A chance to closeout the best season in Annandale football and bring home the first ever State Football Championship. A chance to finish what they started and truly leave it all on the field.

One more week of Cardinal football.

Enjoy the process, soak in the moments. Your community of fans can’t wait to cheer you on.

Senior Cam Ergen had a great day at the Bank with 118 yards & a TD.