Roman's Empire: Voss leads JCC to second straight state football title

Jackson County Central overcame six turnovers Friday — five of them on lost fumbles — and captured its second straight Minnesota Class 2A state football title by beating Goodhue 20-15 at U.S. Bank Stadium.

The Huskies trailed for the first time all season in the game — and they were actually behind on two occasions — before Roman Voss' two-yard touchdown run with 4:13 remaining. Voss also ran for JCC's two other TDs and finished the contest with a career-high 252 yards on the ground. He broke school records in single-season rushing yards and rushing touchdowns and career rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. He already had the school record for career passing yards and touchdowns.

The Huskies' defense limited previously undefeated Goodhue to just five rushing yards as a team. Evan Bartholomaus had a team-high seven tackles; Blayze Hillmer and Tate Phillips each made six. 

JCC finished 13-0 for the second consecutive year.

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Hills-Beaver Creek also captured a state football title over the weekend, as the Patriots capped a 13-0 season by beating Hillcrest Lutheran Academy 46-22 for the 9-man championship.

H-BC amassed 481 total yards in offense. Sophomore running back Brodie Metzger rushed for 126 yards on 14 carries and scored two TDs, and senior quarterback Jamin Metzger completed 16 of 18 passes for 238 yards and two more scores.

The Patriots won their state title after falling in the 2024 Prep Bowl game.

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The Worthington Trojans girls basketball team lost last year's season-opening game to Redwood Valley, 86-43.

What a difference a year makes.

WHS, which earned just two wins all of last season, is halfway toward matching that mark after earning a triumph in this year's debut. Eighth-grader Savannah Dale poured in 34 points as the Trojans beat Redwood Valley this time, 66-62.

Worthington led 32-25 at half and by as many as nine — 39-30 — in the early stages of the second half. The Cardinals rallied and would eventually grab a 49-48 edge.

Redwood Valley was up 55-50, but Madison Sieve knocked down a 3 to cut the advantage to just two points and later made a two-point bucket to knot the score at 58-58. 

Dale then made a 3-pointer as well as a two-point basket to give the Trojans a 63-58 lead, and WHS remained ahead the rest of the way. Dale got her 34 points in her very first varsity game. Sieve contributed 14 points and Alaina Feit chipped in with nine.

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The Minnesota West men's basketball team remained unbeaten on the young season by picking up a pair of home victories this past weekend. The Bluejays, now 6-0, topped Minnesota North-Hibbing 79-73 on Friday night and took out Minnesota North-Rainy River 65-57 on Saturday.

In Friday's game, Keion Irvin had 20 points to lead four Minnesota West players with double-figure point totals. Daniel Jones also had 13 points, Kewone Jones 12 and Da'Shaundis Moore 11. Minnesota was down 42-38 at the half but outscored Hibbing by 10 over the final 20 minutes.

On Saturday, the Bluejays started well and led by 11 at the break. Irvin again paced the team in points with 16; Calvin Flood added 15 and Austin Florence contributed 12.

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In women's basketball Saturday, the third-ranked Lady Jays pounded Rainy River 109-35 to move to 4-2 on the season.

Six players scored in double figures for Minnesota West. Payton Riemers had 21 and was followed by Katrina Schutz with 20, Ayla Texley with 17, Izzy Klumper with 13, and Maddie Kamm and Sadie Krahling 11 each. Katelynn Frodermann had a game-best nine rebounds. Klumper led all players with seven assists, and Kamm had six steals.

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In high school girls hockey Saturday, Worthington slipped to 0-4 as they were blanked by visiting Princeton/Big Lake/Becker 4-0. 

The Trojans, who were outshot 18-13 in the contest, trailed 1-0 after the first period and 2-0 after two.

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In boys hockey, WHS played its season-opener Saturday at home and were beaten by Winona 7-0. The Trojans trailed 3-0 after the first period and 4-0 after 34 minutes of action.

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In area girls basketball Friday night, it was:

MACCRAY 75, Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda 41

Westbrook-Walnut Grove 68, Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop 36

Murray County Central 55, Wabasso 33

Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 59, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 52

Yellow Medicine East 73, Red Rock Central 24

In area girls hockey Friday:

Princeton/Big Lake/Becker 7, Windom 1

In area girls basketball Saturday:

Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda 47, Wabasso 45

Windom 73, Adrian-Ellsworth 51

Murray County Central 72, Gibbon-Fairfax Winthrop 45

MACCRAY 59, Westbrook-Walnut Grove 26

In boys hockey Saturday:

Luverne 2, Little Falls 1

Fergus Falls 7, Marshall 1

In area girls hockey Saturday:

Minnesota River 2, Luverne 0