Photo credit: Lisa Engfer
(KWMN)-Cotter defeated Zumbrota-Mazeppa 19-16 in the Section 1AAA semifinal to advance to the sectional championship.
Cotter scored on their first drive of the game, stretching 75 yards capped off by an 8-yard rushing touchdown from Cade Cummings. Macs Nisbit kicked the extra point through the uprights for a 7-0 lead. Zumbrota-Mazeppa answered quickly, with a 14-play 65-yard drive to tie the game at 7-7. Neither team would score again in the first quarter, but Cotter would get the ball back with under 1 minute remaining.
Starting the second quarter with the ball, the Ramblers drove down the field with big runs from Isaac Meinke and Cade Cummings. Cummings capped off a 9-play 58-yard drive, with a 1-yard rushing touchdown to put the Ramblers up two scores. Cotter tried for the two-point conversion but were stopped by the Cougar defense. Neither team would score again in the first half before the horn sounded.
Zumbrota-Mazeppa started the second half with possession and didn’t waste it. Starting from the 44-yard line of their own territory, the Cougars sliced through Cotter’s defense, ending on the 20-yard line in Cotter’s side of the field. Cougar quarterback Hadyn Boraas took the ball himself on a designed run. Boraas surged forward, taking the ball to the house for a Cougar touchdown. Zumbrota-Mazeppa kicked the extra point for the lead, 14-13. On the ensuing kickoff, the Cougars knocked the kick off of a Rambler defender and fell on the ball, resulting in a Cougar’s turnover on Cotter’s own 40-yard line. Isaac Meinke intercepted Boraas on the very next play to take the ball right back.
You can listen to the interception here:
The Rambler’s did not waste the opportunity, driving 50-yards and 9-plays for a 3-yard Dane Guzzo touchdown run to put Cotter back in front. Another failed 2-point conversion preserved the lead at 19-14.
Late in the 4th quarter, Zumbrota-Mazeppa stopped Cotter on 4th down to force a turnover. With the ball on the 32 in Cotter territory, the Cougars were unable to get a touchdown and tried for the field goal. It missed wide-right, and the Ramblers took over with under 3 minutes to go. Cotter successfully ran out the clock, including taking an intentional safety to win the game, 19-16.
Cotter moves on to face the number one seed Pine Island this Friday, October 31st at 7pm. The game is being held at Kasson as a neutral site.
Quarterback Dane Guzzo finished 5/10, with 88 passing yards, 44 rushing yards and 1 rushing touchdown. Defensively, Guzzo had an interception and 1 pass breakup.
Cade Cummings finished with 77 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns.
Isaac Meinke had 80 all-purpose yards, and an interception returned for 45 yards.
Gavin Seymour had Cotter’s only sack of the game.
SCORING:
1st Quarter:
Cotter – 9-Yard Rushing Touchdown – Cade Cummings (Extra Point Good)
ZM – 7-Yard Rushing Touchdown – Hadyn Boraas (Extra Point Good)
2nd Quarter
Cotter – 1-Yard Rushing Touchdown – Cade Cummings (2-Point failed)
3rd Quarter
ZM – 21-Yard Rushing TD – Tate Olson (Extra Point Good)
Cotter – 3-Yard Rushing TD – Dane Guzzo (2-Point failed)
4th Quarter
ZM – Safety
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