A pair of kickers decided an overtime result in Tuesday’s Class 5A, Section 2 football quarterfinal at Waconia.
Chaska overcomes Waconia in overtime, advances to section semifinal against the defending champ
Quinn Meyer kicked two field goals in the third quarter and an all-important point after in overtime for Chaska.
The Minnesota Star Tribune
October 23, 2024 at 2:23AM
Chaska, boosted by Quinn Meyer’s two field goals and a point after that made the biggest difference of all, defeated Waconia 13-12.
With its victory, No. 5 seed Chaska (5-4) advances to the semifinal scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday at defending Class 5A champion Chanhassen. Chanhassen, as the section’s top seed, relaxed through a first-round bye. Waconia (4-5) was the fourth seed.
Hawks quarterback Matthew Welter ran for the overtime touchdown. Meyer, a three-year kicking veteran who kicked two field goals in the third quarter, added the point-after attempt to seal the outcome.
”He can do the job; he’s been kicking since sophomore year,” Welter said. “He’s probably the best Chaska’s ever had. He’s stone cold.”
Waconia freshman Elijah Seim’s failed field-goal attempt ended the first half and two failed point-after attempts later played a large role in the Wildcats’ loss. His coach, Corey Shea, spoke well of Seim and his effort.
”I told him he basically saved our season because we didn’t have a kicker coming in,” Shea said. “He is an all-star on our soccer team, and he really helped us this year. There’s some work to do, but he’s a big part of our plans in the future.”
Chaska battled throughout a scoreless first half, ensured in part by a fierce wind blowing out of the north that kept the striped shirts of game officials billowing. But credit was also due to the Waconia defense, which turned back a promising first-quarter Chaska drive on fourth down.
The second half revealed neither team would be able to do its part to equal the combined 56 points scored in their regular-season meeting. Points were at a premium Tuesday. Even Meyer’s successful kicks came from distances of 51 and 26 yards out — hardly chip shots for a high school kicker.
Nickolas Theis dashed 26 yards in the fourth quarter and finally crossed the goal line for Waconia with 7:46 remaining. But Seim’s point-after attempt failed, and the score remained 6-6. Theis scored again in the extra session, but Seim couldn’t extend the Wildcats’ season.
DeLaSalle and Minneapolis Roosevelt won close ones on the first day of the playoffs, and Mountain Iron-Buhl scored 91 points in a Nine-Player victory.
