Brandon Valley defeated Harrisburg 35-14 on Saturday night to win the 11AAA championship, their second title in three years. The game was deadlocked through the first two quarters, but Brandon Valley pulled away with their running game in the second half.
The Tigers started the contest with the ball, but they were forced into an early three-and-out. Harrisburg got the ball back on the punt as it was fumbled by returner Carson Mashlan and recovered by the Tigers. The Lynx defense would once again hold though, forcing a turnover on downs on their end of the field.
Brandon Valley would score the first points of the game. Quarterback Joe Kolbeck broke free around the left side for a 17-yard touchdown scamper to give the Lynx a 7-0 lead midway through the opening quarter.
Harrisburg tied the game up with three-minutes to play in the first as Jack Teigen finished off a 71-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run.
End of the 1st Quarter: Brandon Valley 7 Harrisburg 7
The Lynx retook the lead 14-7 on the first play of the second quarter with Kolbeck connecting with Peyton Carroll from 18-yards out.
A few drives later, Brandon Valley’s Kyler Briest picked off Jacob Knuth, but the Lynx were unable to capitalize for points and were forced into a three-and-out.
Harrisburg tied the game at 14-14 with 19-seconds to play in the half off a one-yard sneak from Knuth.
Halftime: Harrisburg 14 Brandon Valley 14
Both teams traded possessions to start the second half, but it was Kolbeck who broke free for a 67-yard touchdown keeper to give Brandon Valley the lead back at 20-14 – the extra-point doinked off the left upright.
After forcing the Tigers into a three-and-out, the Lynx would score again, this time on a 45-yard run by Tate Johnson. The two-point conversion was good to give Brandon Valley a 28-14 lead with five-minutes to play in the third quarter.
Harrisburg was crippled by penalties on their next offensive possession, and they turned it over on downs inside Brandon Valley’s 40-yard line.
End of the 3rd Quarter: Brandon Valley 28 Harrisburg 14
With 8:29 to play in the game, Tate Johnson would score again for the Lynx, this time from five-yards out to make it a 35-14 game.
Needing a touchdown, Harrisburg drove the ball into the red zone. Josh Pickthorn then jumped in front of a Knuth pass for a game sealing interception with just over five-minutes to play.
Brandon Valley would pick off Knuth one more time, this one by Jackson Hilton, with two-minutes to play and the Lynx would run out the clock from there.
Final: Brandon Valley 35 Harrisburg 14
Outstanding Linemen: Jaxen Mullet
Outstanding Back: Tate Johnson
Joe Robbie MVP: Joe Kolbeck
Full Game Stats – Click Here