Field Goal Lifts Spartans Over CLC

Carsen McKnight's 47 yard field goal as time expired lifted the M State football team to a 27-24 victory over Central Lakes on Saturday in Fergus Falls as the Spartans advance to the MCAC semifinals with the win.

AJ Conteh got M State rolling with a 54 yard interception return in the first quarter and McKnight added the PAT kick for a 7-0 Spartan lead.

Central Lakes pulled even when Ethan Guerra hauled in a 5 yard pass from Matt Torres and Vicente Torres booted the extra point through the uprights.  McKnight broke the tie just before halftime with a 21 yard field goal, handing M State a 10-7 lead at the half.

In the third quarter Anthony Richmond scored on a 35 yard run and after another PAT kick by Torres the Raiders led 14-10.  A 64 yard run by Rondarius Gregory, followed by an extra point kick by McKnight gave the Spartans the lead back at 17-14, however, Richmond ran the ball in from 7 yards out and Torres kicked the extra point to give Central Lakes a 21-17 lead after three quarters.

M State went back on top, 24-21, after a 57 yard pass from Nate Hayden to Jonathan Griffin and a McKnight kick early in the fourth quarter.  Torres knotted the score with a 20 yard field goal with thirty seconds to play.  A 58 yard kick-off return by Semaj Mitchell allowed M State to start their possession on the Central Lakes 40 yard line with 14 seconds remaining.  After a 13 yard pass completion the Spartans set up for McKnight's game winning field goal opportunity.

M State had 260 yards of total offense with 192 coming through the air and 68 on the ground.  Hayden completed 14-of-27 passes for 192 yards and a TD.  Gregory ran for 96 yards on 11 carries and scored a touchdown.  Griffin was the leading receiver with 5 catches for 109 yards. Defensively, Conteh and Joey Demarco each had an interception.  Isaac Freitag recovered a fumble.  Cheo Trotter (3 solo, 12 assisted tackles) and Demarco (5 solo, 6 assisted tackles) were the tackling leaders for the Spartans.

Central Lakes was led defensively by Charles Dressel with two picks and AJ Aguilo with 1.5 sacks.  Tim Ryan (9) and Chase Dressel (9) led the Raiders in tackles.  Offensively, the Raiders compiled 366 total yards, with 212 coming by the pass and 154 by the run.  Matt Torres completed 11-of-21 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown.  Richmond ran for 93 yards and 2 TD's on 14 carries and the leading receiver for the Raiders was Tucker Schultz with 7 catches for 117 yards.

M State will play NDSCS in Wahpeton in the semifinal round of the playoffs on Sunday, October 31 at 1:30pm. The winner will advance to the MCAC Championship to be played on Sunday, November 7th at Concordia St. Paul.