e Minnesota West Bluejays football team had its season come to an end on Sunday afternoon, as the Jays fell 16-12 on the road at Itasca Community College.
Minnesota West, which lost 64-0 at Itasca just three weeks earlier, kept it far closer this time against the Vikings. Itasca built a 16-0 halftime advantage, but the Jays scored touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters to keep in the game. In the end, Itasca – which accumulated 279 yards of total offense compared to 155 for Minnesota West – won the MCAC semifinal matchup and advanced to the Nov. 7 championship game against Minnesota State-Fergus Falls.
Bluejay quarterback Brock Starley threw 55 times Sunday against Itasca, completing 17 of those throws for 142 yards. He had two TD passes and three interceptions.
Tommy Lais was the leading receiver for Minnesota West against Itasca, gathering six receptions for 60 yards along with a touchdown. Bailey Cowell had five catches and Trevon Sanders four, as well as a TD.
Defensively, Kwesi Hooks recorded three interceptions for the Bluejays. Kent Lais had 14 total tackles, including three tackles for loss and two passes broken up, while Tate Gaul had 12 total tackles -- three of them for losses -- and a pass broken up. Kendrick Gordon had 10 total tackles and Duvaughn Williams eight -- including three and a half for losses. Izaya Atkinson had two and a half sacks. Hooks and Josh Okere each contributed fumble recoveries; LaRontay Standard also had an interception.
Minnesota West finishes its season at 4-6.
**
In high school football playoff action on Saturday involving southwest Minnesota teams, it was:
Hills-Beaver Creek 44, Edgerton 8
Mountain Lake Area 15, Red Rock Central 8
Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 29, Springfield 19
Murray County Central 20, Martin County West 10
Pipestone Area 26, Minnesota Valley Lutheran 12
Jackson County Central 38, Redwood Valley 12
Fairmont 40, Luverne 6
Among this coming Friday’s games will be:
Mountain Lake Area vs. Hills-Beaver Creek, 11:30 a.m. at SMSU
Murray County Central vs. Tracy-Milroy-Balaton, 2 p.m. at SMSU
Pipestone Area vs. Jackson County Central, 7 p.m. at SMSU
**
In Iowa playoff football action Friday night, it was:
Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley 49, Sioux Center 7
West Lyon 35, Spirit Lake 7
Central Lyon/George-Little Rock 42, Clear Lake 7
Underwood 35, Western Christian 0
Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn 26, North Butler 7
Playoff action this coming Friday will include: Sergeant Bluff-Luton at Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley, Central Lyon/George-Little Rock at West Lyon, and Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn at West Hancock.
**
In Iowa State Cross Country meet results, Western Christian’s boys placed third as a team, Okoboji’s boys ninth as a team and Sibley-Ocheyedan’s girls were 10th as a team in their respective classes. The Generals’ Madison Brouwer was second in her race with a time of 18:49.91; Tage Hulstein of Western Christian was third in his at 16:26.23.
**
In sectional volleyball action on Friday, it was:
Heron Lake-Okabena-Fulda 3, Murray County Central 0
Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 3, Adrian-Ellsworth 0
Red Rock Central 3, Edgerton 0
Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 3, Southwest Minnesota Christian 0
Windom 3, Redwood Valley 1
Pipestone Area 3, Montevideo 0
Luverne 3, Fairmont 0
Jackson County Central 3, St. James Area 0
Marshall 3, Hutchinson 0
Monday night volleyball action will include:
* RRC taking on Heron Lake-Okabena-Fulda and Russell-Tyler-Ruthton facing Tracy-Milroy Balaton in sub-section semifinal matches in Worthington.
* Windom Area at Jackson County Central
* Pipestone Area at Luverne
