October 31 — The Free Press

MAPLETON – A successful two-point conversion saw Maple River defeat Blue Earth Area 8-7 in overtime in the Section 2A football semifinals on Saturday.

It was a battle of two of the best eight class AA defenses. In nine games, Maple River had allowed just 7.7 points per game, which puts him second in Class AA. BEA placed eighth, allowing 11.2 points per game.

The Eagles had two downs for 1s late in the fourth quarter, but the Bucs stopped both and Maple River missed a winning field goal.

In overtime, BEA’s Ashton Lloyd caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from Adam Schavey on the third down, and Gabriel Smith’s PAT made it 7-0.

But Maple River responded with a 4-yard pass from Landon Fox to Zach Herrmann, and a two-point pass from Fox to Boden Simon was the winner.

Maple River had only 165 yards of attack and BEA had 151 yards.

The Eagles (9-1) play number one seed Blooming Prairie on Friday. Blooming Prairie defeated St. Clair / Loyola 47-19.

Waseca 51, Tri-City United 6: Christian Rodriguez and Mason Dekruif each rushed for two touchdowns as the Bluejays won the 3AAA Section semifinal match at Waseca.

Ollie O’Brien rushed for a touchdown and threw a touchdown pass at Isaac Potter.

Leo Harguth had seven tackles to lead Waseca.

The Bluejays (9-1) play the sectional championship game on Friday at Fairmont.

Mayer Lutheran 35, United South Central: The Rebels had just 99 yards of offense in the Section 2A semifinal game at Mayer.

USC quarterback Nick Bushlack had 106 yards.

Mayer Lutheran hosts Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop in the Sectional Championship game on Friday.

To swim

Big Nine Competition: Jenna Sikel placed second in diving with 296.05 points, helping Mankato West to finish fourth at the competition held in Rochester.

Olivia Leonard was third in the 200 medley yard in 2: 16.59 and Sophia Leonard was third in the 100 backstroke in 1: 01.99.

Sophia Leonard, Annika Younge, Olivia Leonard and Lucy Vogt finished second in the 200 freestyle relay in 1: 43.35, and Ines Arechega Torralba, Lydia Krautkremer, Olivia Koeneman and Younge were second in the 400 freestyle relay in 3: 53.28 .

Mankato East / Loyola’s best result came from Marah Dauk, who finished fourth in diving with 277.40 points.

Rochester Century won the tag team title with 494 points. West was fourth at 269 and East / Loyola sixth at 149.