The Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Buccaneers (14-0) controlled the play from the start in claiming their second state football title with a 33-22 victory over the Moose Lake/Willow River Rebels (13-1) in the Class AA Championship game at the Metrodome.

Waterville-Elysian-Morristown took their initial drive of the game and proceeded to march 94 yards on 21 plays, eating up 8:58 of the first quarter. The Buccaneers capped the drive with a one-yard, fourth-down touchdown plunge by senior running back Zach Geyer. On the drive, W-E-M was successful on 4-of-6 third-down conversions, and executed both fourth down attempts. In the first half the Buccaneers’ three touchdown drives averaged 13 plays, 86 yards, and 5:16 of time.

Senior Reid Roemhildt led the Buccaneers on the ground, gaining 138 yards on 19 carries. Roemhildt, Geyer, and freshman Brady Ayers all scored on touchdown runs. W-E-M quarterback Conrad Masberg completed 4-of-5 for 129 yards and two touchdown passes, both lengthy scores of 68 yards and 42 yards to junior wideout Jordan Gregor.

Senior running back Michael Unzen led the Rebels with nine rushes for 132 yards and a touchdown. Moose Lake-Willow River scored 22 fourth-quarter points to narrow the margin of victory for W-E-M after falling behind 33-0 through three quarters.

Courtesy: MSHSL.org