Blaine’s huge third quarter propels them past Wayzata for Section 6A Championship

The Blaine Bengals football team defeated the Wayzata Trojans 42-28, to win the Section 6A championship, Thursday evening at Bengals Stadium at Blaine High School.

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On Blaine’s first drive, much like the whole game, it was the Josh Schlangen show. The Bengals senior running back led them down the field with some big runs and then finished the drive with a short touchdown run to put Blaine up 7-0 with 7:54 left in the first quarter.

Wayzata did have an answer on their ensuing drive. Junior quarterback Ryan Harvey hit junior wide receiver Julian Diedrich multiple times to march the Trojans down the field. From there, senior running back Anthony Richmond would punch it in to tie the game at 7-7 with 5:01 left in the first quarter.

Later in the first, it was Schlangen again leading the Bengals downfield. This time though, senior quarterback Tyler Schuster hit Schlangen for a touchdown pass to give Blaine a 14-7 lead with two minutes remaining in the first quarter.

Wayzata would answer right back. Diedrich and Richmond led Wayzata into scoring position. Then, Harvey would score on a run to tie the game at 14-14 with just over two minutes left in the half.

However, Blaine would simply dominate the third quarter. To begin the half, Schuster hit senior wide receiver Max Stepanek for a 79-yard pass and catch to the one-yard line. Schlangen would run it in for a Blaine touchdown on the next play. 21-14 Blaine not even a minute into the second half.

Later in the third, Schuster had a long run to put Blaine in great field position. Schuster would then score on another scramble to put the Bengals up 28-14 with 3:49 left in the third quarter.

On the ensuing Wayzata possession, Blaine senior linebacker Cody Foster picked off a Wayzata tipped pass. On the next play, senior wide receiver Spencer Logan hauled in a touchdown catch for Blaine and it was 35-15 Bengals, just 19 seconds after their last touchdown.

Blaine was not done scoring, though. It was Schlangen again leading Blaine down the field. Then, on the first play of the fourth quarter, Schuster would hit Schlangen for another touchdown catch to put Blaine up 42-14 with 11:51 left in the game. That touchdown gave Schlangen his fourth of the game.

Wayzata would add on a couple of touchdowns, but Blaine would hold strong to win the Section 6A Championship 42-28.