Eagles Find Success in Their First Playoff Game
Noah Sanders and the Eagles offense move down the field in the fourth quarter.
The Apple Valley Eagles came out ahead in their first playoff game on Saturday against the Hastings Raiders, a gratifying 28-21 victory.
On a mist-soaked evening, the Eagles eventually took control in a seesaw battle with their #4-ranked opponent out of the Metro East conference.
The Raiders received the ball to start off the game. On their first successful drive, Hastings senior Ovie Embu had a 75-yard run for a touchdown. After converting the extra point, the Raiders were up early 7-0.
With 38 seconds left in the first quarter, Apple Valley managed to get on the scoreboard, thanks to Mario Lewis, who rushed for a 13-yard touchdown. The extra point was scored by senior kicker Ford Friedel, and Apple Valley evened up the score at 7-7.
Noah Sanders leads the offense on a drive into Hastings territory.
Hastings pulled ahead early in the second quarter on a touchdown pass from Kummer to Cody Leflay–his only TD toss of the game. Kummer finished the game 9/18 for 81 yards.
The Eagles rallied once again, this time capping their drive with a Noah Sanders 27-yard touchdown run, which evened the score 14-14 going into the half.
Apple Valley head coach Chad Clendening thought many of the first-half struggles were self-inflicted. “Hastings was playing well and we were making too many mental mistakes.”
The Eagles got the ball to start off the second half. Midway through the third quarter, Sanders again rushed for a touchdown, this time from three yards out, resulting in the Eagles’ first lead of the game, 21-14.
They increased their lead early in the fourth quarter, as Mario Lewis ran seven yards for the touchdown. At that point, the Eagles led 28-14 with 10:21 left in the game.
Hastings later responded with a four-yard rushing touchdown. The score was 28-21, with the Eagles looking to score another touchdown to seal the win. Junior Tyler Cardella’s 57-yard run put the Eagles in Raiders territory. However, the game became dangerous when Eagles quarterback Noah Sanders fumbled with just 1:53 left in the game.
Players dive on a loose ball in the fourth quarter.
Apple Valley’s defense eagerly rushed to the field looking to make a stop. Senior Ben Speece secured the win by intercepting a pass thrown by the Raiders quarterback.
Reflecting on the team’s greatest strength, senior quarterback Noah Sanders said, “We owned the line of scrimmage up front, our line did a great job up front and gave us the ability to run the ball with great success all night.”
The Eagles will be competing for the section championship this Friday at home at 7pm against Park Center.
