Sartell Topples Tech To Reach Section Final

The Sartell-St. Stephen Sabres beat St. Cloud Tech 32-19 Saturday afternoon at Clemens Stadium in Collegeville. The Sabres have won six straight games, while Tech's season ends with a 5-4 record.

Sartell received the opening kickoff and drove 69 yards in 5:22, with Alex Haima capping the drive by scoring on a pass from Brandon Snoberger from eight yards out, making the score 6-0. The extra point attempt was blocked.

Tech's offense proved up to the task on their opening drive, going 54 yards in 4:08 and culminating in an Austin Klaverkamp touchdown run, his eighth of the season. Payton Voss blocked the extra point attempt to keep the game tied.

The Sabres offense again mounted an impressive drive, going 68 yards in 4:20 until backup quarterback Grant Lahn pounced over the goal line for his first touchdown and a 12-6 Sartell lead. Lahn was in the game for only that play as Snoberger was helped off the field during the previous play with a stinger.

After a Tech fumble, Sartell again marched straight down the field and into the end zone in 3:23 from the Tech 40 to make the score 19-6. This time it was Jackson Miller scoring for the Sabres on a 20 yard reception.

The teams traded possessions for the rest of the first half, with Tech turning the ball over two more times on a fumble and an interception.

The Tigers came out of the locker room inspired and cut the Sabres lead to 19-13 with a five minute, 64 yard drive. Phil Amundson scored his first touchdown of the year on an 11 yard pass from freshman quarterback Chris Backes.

However, the vaunted Tech defense again failed to stop the Sabres attack, allowing a 42 yard drive in under two minutes that made the score 26-13.  Haima again struck paydirt on a pass from Snoberger, this time from 39 yards.

Tech fumbled on their next possession, and the Sabres again made them pay. This time it was star running back Derek Stachowski scoring his 19th rushing touchdown of the season (nineteenth overall).

The Tigers would cap the scoring with a Josh Schafer rushing touchdown from 19 yards out.

Sartell-St. Stephen will take on Moorhead Saturday night at Husky Stadium for the Section 8 5A title. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 pm.