Fertile-Beltrami Dominates Cromwell-Wright 40-14 in State Quarterfinals

UPDATE: Fertile-Beltrami stunned Cromwell-Wright with a commanding 40-14 victory in the Minnesota IX-Player football state quarterfinals, played at Jim Gotta Stadium on November 9, 2023. This decisive win propels the Falcons into the semifinals, set for November 13 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

In a thrilling start, Cromwell-Wright’s Drew Nyberg electrified the crowd with an impressive 87-yard kickoff return touchdown, narrowing the gap to just a touchdown. Yet, the excitement was short-lived as Falcons senior Creed Tollefson answered back just 16 seconds later with a jaw-dropping 90-yard kickoff return, shifting momentum decisively back to Fertile-Beltrami.

“It felt amazing,” Tollefson exclaimed. “Honestly, it felt like time slowed down. But I’ll be honest, it felt awesome.” His return extended the Falcons’ lead to 24-8 after a successful two-point conversion.

The Falcons, now defending champions with an 8-3 record, are gearing up for a rematch against Hills-Beaver Creek, the South No. 1 seed, who boast an 11-0 record. Kickoff for the semifinal showdown is scheduled for 1 p.m. on November 13. “They’re just a solid-coached team,” said head coach Brian Nelson. “They’re disciplined on defense and explosive on offense.”

The game remained 24-8 at halftime, with neither team scoring in the second quarter. Falcons quarterback Gavin Aakhus initiated the scoring with a 10-yard touchdown run and later connected with Bryer Strem for two impressive touchdown passes, covering 47 yards and 52 yards, respectively. “Me and Strem, I’ve thrown the ball to him a lot. We have a real connection,” Aakhus noted.

Cromwell-Wright, finishing their season with a 9-2 record, faced challenges as they were without their starting quarterback, sophomore Brenden Gronner, due to injury. Nyberg and Lane Gervais stepped in, but the team’s efforts came up short. “Hats off to our defensive coordinator Craig Larson for holding them to just 14 points,” Nelson praised.

The impact of this win resonates deeply within the Fertile-Beltrami community. Tollefson reflected on the significance of returning to U.S. Bank Stadium for the fifth consecutive year, stating, “It feels amazing to go somewhere and to make a difference in the game.”

As the Falcons prepare for their next challenge, all eyes will be on them as they aim for another state title. Stay tuned for updates as this thrilling story continues to unfold.