Top-seed Verndale rushed for 470 yards in defeating fourth-seed Fergus Falls Hillcrest Lutheran Academy 52-6 in the semi-finals of the Section 4 playoffs Saturday night.
The Moenkedick brothers played a little tag-team with the Comets, scoring two touchdowns apiece for the Pirates in the victory. Sam had a two-yard run with Matt adding a one-yard scamper to put the Pirates up 16-0 after the first quarter.
From there, Verndale never let up pounding the ball as Sam added a 17-yard run in the second quarter for a 24-0 lead at halftime.
The third quarter saw the Pirates erupt for 20 points starting with Matt's two-yard run while Amos Schmidt added a 38-yard run.
Midway in the third quarter, the Comets finally got on the board as Jared Schultz hit Andrew Hohneke for a five-yard scoring strike.
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Ethan Kern's 51-yard touchdown run closed out the third quarter scoring for the Pirates as the team increased its lead to 44-6.
In the fourth, Schmidt scored his second touchdown of the night on an eight-yard run to help propel Verndale into Thursday's Section 4 Final in the Fargodome.
Sam Moenkedick finished with 180 yards rushing while Kern tallied 116 yards. The Pirates' ground game allowed the team to sustain time-consuming drives as it picked up 25 first downs compared to 12 for the Comets. Verndale also got 24 yards in the air to finish with 494 total yards.
Sam Moenkedick also made his presence known on defense as he collected 15 tackles, an interception, blocked kick, quarterback sack and a forced fumble in the victory. The Comets were limited to 222 total yards on offense with 117 coming through the air.
Verndale moves on to play the second-seeded Ashby in the section championship game at 3 p.m. today (Thursday) at the Fargodome.
Hillcrest Lutheran
Academy at Verndale on Oct. 27
Pirates 52, Comets 6
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Hillcrest Lutheran 0 0 6 0-6
Verndale 16 8 20 8-52
First Quarter
V-Sam Moenkedick 2 run (Ethan Kern run)
V-Matt Moenkedick 1 run (Matt Moenkedick run)
Second Quarter
V-Sam Moenkedick 17 run (Sam Moenkedick run)
Third Quarter
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V-Matt Moenkedick 2 run (pass failed)
V-Amos Schmidt 38 run (Matt Moenkedick run)
HL-Andrew Hohneke 5 pass from Jared Schultz (kick blocked)
V-Ethan Kern 51 run (kick failed)
Fourth Quarter
V-Schmidt 8 run (Zac Meidinger run)
Team Statistics
Rushes-Yards: V 65-470; HL 31-105
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Pass Comp-Att-Int-Yards: V 1-4-1-24; HL 12-26-1-117
Total Offense: V 494; HL 222
First Downs: V 25; HL 12
Penalties-Yards: V 4-28; HL 5-57
Individual Statistics
Rushing: V-Sam Moenkedick 25-180, Ethan Kern 13-116, Amos Schmidt 5-66, Matt Moenkedick 11-46
Passing: V- Matt Moenkedick 0-2-1-0, Kern 1-2-0-24; HL Jared Schultz 12-26-1-117
Receiving: V-Jake Seaton 1-24; HL Nick Tungseth 5-53, Joseph Battillo 3-38
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Defensive Standouts: V-Sam Moenkedick 15 tackles, interception, quarterback sack, blocked kick, forced fumble; Matt Moenkedick 11 tackles; Jake Seaton 6 tackles, fumble recovery; Dan Kneisl fumble recovery; Caleb Seals forced fumble
