Two Rivers strikes back against Hastings

Two Rivers suffered only one loss during the regular season, and it was at the hands of their rival, Hastings. But in the playoffs, the Warriors had the perfect opportunity to seek revenge.

On a rainy Tuesday night in the Class 5A, Section 3 quarterfinals at Two Rivers, the Warriors’ defense proved to be formidable, securing a 14-0 victory over Hastings.

Both of Two Rivers’ touchdowns were scored in the second quarter. Drew Altavilla initiated the scoring with a 3-yard run, followed by Riley Pearce’s 1-yard plunge.

It’s worth noting that Hastings had emerged victorious in their previous encounter during the regular season, with a close 9-7 win.

Here’s a summary of the other section tournament games that took place on Tuesday:

Class 5A, Section 2:

Waconia defeated Mankato East 21-7 with senior running back Levi Mueller leading the way, scoring on two 5-yard runs in the first half. Senior quarterback Austin Randall sealed the deal with a 27-yard run touchdown with just under 6 minutes left on the clock.

Section 7:

Elk River dominated Duluth East with an impressive 53-6 victory. The Elks started strong with 32 points in the first quarter. Junior Gavin Schmidt and sophomore Austin Anderson both contributed with two rushing touchdowns each, while five different players from Elk River found the end zone.

Class 4A, Section 4:

Fridley wasted no time taking control of the match against Minneapolis Edison, securing a comfortable 26-8 win. Senior Tykeilan Moore set the tone early with a 74-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Senior running back Lex Korti added fuel to the fire with a 3-yard run touchdown and a 48-yard scoring run. In the final seconds of the second quarter, seniors Isaiah Watson and Antwan Smith connected for an 80-yard touchdown pass, solidifying Fridley’s lead. However, Minneapolis Edison managed to avoid a shutout with a 7-yard touchdown run by senior running back Elijah Jones.

Section 5:

DeLaSalle showcased their dominant defense in a 41-0 victory over Minneapolis Roosevelt. Junior cornerback Jaden Alexander set the tone early with a 27-yard fumble return for a touchdown. Senior halfback Ray James contributed with two rushing touchdowns, while junior quarterback Anthony Starks II ran for a touchdown and threw for another.

Section 8:

Princeton secured a 28-22 victory over Little Falls after building a strong 28-0 lead in the first half. Senior Eli Gibbs ran for two touchdowns, and junior quarterback Brody Kok ran for one and threw for another.

Class 3A, Section 2:

The Rockets from Rockford shut out Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted with an 18-0 victory. Senior running back Logan Stedman was the star of the game, scoring all three touchdowns with runs of 1, 1, and 14 yards. Stedman has been exceptional this season, rushing for over 1,200 yards.

Section 3:

Jordan emerged victorious over Belle Plaine with a convincing 31-10 win. Junior running back Mason Adamek and Brock Bakeberg each scored two touchdowns. Adamek found the end zone with runs of 11 and 43 yards, while Bakeberg contributed with a 7-yard run and a 65-yard interception return.

Section 4:

Holy Family dominated Brooklyn Center with a staggering 63-26 victory. Junior running back Tanner Davis had an outstanding performance, scoring four touchdowns with runs of 2, 15, 31, and 47 yards. Junior Griffin Murray and sophomore Noah Galvin also made significant contributions with two scoring runs each.