ALEXANDRIA, Minn. — The No. 3-seeded Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton Rebels dominated the No. 2-seeded Pierz Pioneers, securing a convincing 28-7 victory in the Class 3A State Quarterfinals on Friday, November 7, at Alexandria High School. The Rebels showcased an impressive ground game, averaging five yards per carry, wearing down their opponents throughout the contest.
Leading the charge for DGF was Brady Luebke, who rushed for 102 yards and scored two touchdowns on 22 attempts. Additionally, Jace Baumgartner, who has been the Rebels” leading rusher this season, contributed 91 yards on 11 carries. Quarterback Brady Wadena added to the offensive effort with 71 yards and two rushing touchdowns on 13 carries.
“It”s what we hang our hat on,” said DGF head coach Anthony Soderberg. “We like to run the ball and be physical up front. It turns into a possession game when we do it like that and we were able to get two takeaways and that was a major difference in the score.”
Wadena”s 29-yard touchdown run with 2:57 remaining sealed the game for the Rebels. The victory was further secured when Michael Whitney intercepted Pierz quarterback Liam Hennessy at the goal line with just 1:31 left on the clock.
Starting the second half with a 14-0 lead, DGF quickly extended their advantage by marching 71 yards in just seven plays. Luebke capped the drive with a 40-yard touchdown run, pushing the score to 21-0 with 7:32 remaining in the third quarter. “We got up three scores and they had to start throwing,” Soderberg noted. “Then it was about time and possession.”
Pierz opened the game with a lengthy drive, consuming nearly nine minutes of clock before missing a 32-yard field goal. Hennessy missed a crucial opportunity, overthrowing Jaxsen Hardy on a third down that could have resulted in a touchdown. This initial drive consisted of 17 plays but ended without points.
In response, DGF executed a 10-play, 80-yard drive, culminating in a 13-yard touchdown run by Wadena with 10:48 left in the second quarter. The Rebels followed up with a 50-yard drive that ended with a 6-yard touchdown by Luebke, giving them a comfortable 14-0 lead at halftime. “We stepped up and made big plays when we needed to,” Soderberg expressed. “I”m happy for our kids and they are pretty pumped.”
The Pioneers concluded their season with a record of 10-1, while DGF now looks forward to their matchup in the Class 3A Semifinals, scheduled for Saturday, November 15, at US Bank Stadium.
