Alexandria pours it on against Owatonna, advances to Class 5A Prep Bowl

All season, Alexandria had the look of a team with championship aspirations.

The Cardinals (10-2) earned their chance to make those dreams come true with a 42-20 victory over previously undefeated Owatonna (11-1) in a late-finishing Class 5A semifinal game Saturday at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Alexandria didn’t want to waste time with an early feeling-out period. The Cardinals went on the attack from outset, their primary weapon being quarterback Chase Thompson’s arm.

Thompson, who is committed to play basketball at Clemson, hit Mason Witt for a 59-yard gain down the center of the field on Alexandria’s first play from scrimmage.

Four plays later, Thomson found Mason Gorghuber running free in the end zone with 3 yards of separation between him and a defender. Gorghuber hauled in a 12-yard pass for a 6-0 lead.

Alexandria kept its up on its next possession, Thompson going over the top to Gorghuber for 53 yards, but the drive stalled. The Cardinals turned the ball over on downs, but Owatonna failed to take advantage.

Pass-happy Alexandria made the score 14-0 following an eight-play, 53-yard drive. Thompson and Gorghuber connected again on another 12-yard scoring play.

“That’s been our style all season,” Thompson said. “We’re an aggressive offense, kind of an air-raid style.”

Thompson raved about his offensive line giving him the time he needed to throw the ball. “They’ve been great all year long,” he said. “I take them to McDonald’s sometimes, so they have a reason to block for me.”

Owatonna got on the board on its next possession, going 79 yards in 12 plays. Quarterback Hunter Theis carried the ball for a 9-yard touchdown, cutting Alexandria’s lead to 14-6.

The two offenses sputtered for much of the remainder of the first half. Owatonna tried mightily to get the ball to its playmaker, Nolan Ginskey, but Alexandria had planned for that. The Cardinals weren’t going to let the talented Ginskey beat them.

“Their quarterback always wanted to go to number three [Ginskey], and we really shut that down by putting another guy over top of him. So, any time the ball came his way, we took advantage of it.”

Alexandria scored twice in 12 seconds late in the second quarter to build a 28-6 lead just before halftime.

It appeared the half would end that way, but Owatonna gained a little late momentum when Blake Davison stepped in front of an Alexandria screen pass and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown with just seven seconds left before halftime. After Ginskey converted the two-point conversion, Alexandria led 28-14 at halftime.

Thompson passed for 306 yards and three touchdowns in the first half. The two teams paid scant attention to running games in the half, posting a combined 9 total yards rushing before halftime.

Things continued to go Alexandria’s way after halftime. Thompson-to-Gorghuber kept rolling, this time for a 28-yard score, making it 35-14 Cardinals with 4:43 left in the third quarter.

“Offensively, we were able to do what we wanted to do, and that’s throw the ball,” said Alexandria coach Mike Empting. “We got time, Chase kept plays alive with his legs, and our receivers were winning their one-on-ones.”

Any hopes Owatonna’s had for a comeback were severely damaged when Theis left the game holding his right shoulder. He spent the remainder of the game on the sideline, his shoulder pads removed and his right arm in a sling.

Alexandria scored once more in the fourth quarter, when Thompson found Evan Klute for a 17-yard touchdown. Thompson finished the game 24-for-38 for 396 yards and five touchdowns.

Alexandria will play Elk River in the final at 4 p.m. Saturday. The teams played each other in the final game of the regular season, Elk River winning 44-34.

“Elk River is a tough team to prepare for,” Empting said. “You’ve got to get stops.”

Thompson added: “Offensively, we’ve got to value the ball, value every possession. You never really know when you’re going to get it back.”