Luverne cruises past Trojans in football playoffs; Coyotes earn win

Matthew Gangestad scored three touchdowns Tuesday night and the host Luverne Cardinals defeated the Worthington Trojans 49-0 in Section 2AAA football quarterfinal action in Luverne.

The third-seeded Cardinals led 35-0 at the half and padded their advantage over the final two quarters to improve to 8-1 on the season. Worthington ended the fall at 2-7.

Luverne scored on its opening drive when Ben Hartquist connected with Darius Dolo on a 20-yard TD pass in the back left-hand corner of the end zone. Hartquist then picked off Isaiah Schroeder's first pass of the game on the next possession, which led to Gangestad's first touchdown run.

Colton Haubrich added a 46-yard pick six to expand the lead. Also getting TDs for the Cardinals were Korbin Miles and Kale Ver Steeg.

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Heron Lake-Okabena, the No. 3 seed in the Section 3 9-Man playoffs, got a pair of rushing touchdowns apiece from Bryce Nielsen and Mason Kirchner as the Coyotes won in Heron Lake over No. 6 Granada-Huntley-East Chain 38-7. 

HL-O/F, now 7-2 on the year, led 31-0 at the half and 38-0 after three quarters. The other Coyote TD came on a short QB run by Kaston Clarke.

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Fourth-seeded Adrian-Ellsworth's season came to an end at home as they were defeated by fifth-seeded Edgerton 38-16. The Dragons had beaten the Flying Dutchmen 22-20 back on Sept. 25, but Edgerton turned the tables Tuesday to advance to the semifinals.

Jackson Jenniges rushed for one A-E touchdown and returned a kickoff for another score; he also ran for both two-point conversions. The Dragons finish at 6-3.

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In other high school football Tuesday:

Red Rock Central 28, Renville County West 22

Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 18, Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 8

Murray County Central 42, BOLD 8

Pipestone Area 27, LeSueur-Henderson 14

Martin County West 40, Madelia 10

Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial 57, Windom Area 6

Fairmont 22, Belle Plaine 21