Matt Moenkedick was the workhorse, but Colby Schmidt was the game-breaker last Friday as the Verndale Pirates downed Chokio-Alberta/Herman-Norcross 31-6 in the regular season wrap for both Pheasant Conference clubs.
Moenkedick piled up 223 yards on 32 carries and scored three times to account for the bulk of Verndale's points. The senior back has a good start at a 2,000-yard season as the playoffs begin.
The undefeated Pirates built a 16-0 halftime lead but a seven-yard run by Lucas Schmiesing in the fourth quarter turned it into a 16-6 game.
With the Pirates having troubles holding onto the ball and the hometown Spartans still in the game, Schmidt returned the kickoff 51 yards to give Verndale great field position at CAHN's 30.
"The game was a little closer than the score indicates," said Verndale head coach Mike Mahlen. "If they would have just kept us back down in our own end it would have made it more interesting."
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Moenkedick exploded for a 56-yard touchdown run in the opening quarter and added a four-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. He scored his third straight touchdown of the game from five yards out in the fourth quarter. Amos Schmidt capped all scoring with a 10-yard run.
The Pirates out-gained the Spartans 376-139 on the ground but they fumbled the ball away five times and lost it twice. In addition to Moenkedick's big rushing night, the Pirates got 86 yards on nine carries from Zach Meidinger.
Moenkedick had 11 tackles while Schmidt came up with 10. Brady Siedsclaw and Clay Cottrell were both credited with eight stops. Moenkedick and Meidinger both recovered fumbles.
The Pirates have earned the top seed in the north half of Section 4, Class Nine-man and will host either No. 4 Bertha-Hewitt or No. 5 Underwood Saturday in a 7 p.m. game. The winner of that game advances to the Fargodome Oct. 31 for a 12:30 p.m. game to decide the section championship. The Pirates are the defending section champs.
Verndale 8 8 0 15 -- 31
CA/HN 0 0 0 6 -- 6
Verndale: Matt Moenkedick 56 yd run (PAT Zach Meidinger run),, Moenkedick 4 yd run (PAT Colby Schmidt run),
Moenkedick 5 yd run (PAT Moenkedick run), Amos Schmidt 10 yd run (PAT Moenkedick kick)
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CA/HN: Lucas Schmiesing 7 yd run (PAT failed)
