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|  Matthew Hudrilk (23) is wrapped up by the Pierz defense in the second half of the Rangers 13-6 Section 6AA championship loss to the Pioneers on Friday night in Fargo. The loss was the first for Crosby (10-1) this season. Pierz used a fourth quarter rally to earn a trip back to the State Tournament for the fifth time in the last seven years.  David Booth (74) of the Rangers celebrates a tackle during the Rangers 13-6 loss to Pierz in the Section 6AA final Friday night.  Crosby-Ironton’s Reed Olander (30) tracks down John Omann of Pierz during the Section 6AA final in Fargo. Omann finished with 125 yards rushing | Pioneers End Ranger RunBy Paul Boblett The Pierz Pioneers rallied for two fourth quarter touchdowns to end a storybook season for the Crosby-Ironton Rangers. The 13-6 loss was C-I’s first of the season as they finished 10-1. Mark Hoge’s 91-yard catch and run from quarterback Phil Kuhlmann gave C-I a 6-0 lead at 9:45 of the second quarter, a lead that held into the fourth quarter. Hoge’s score followed a tough defensive stand by the Rangers at their own 3-yard line which caused the Pioneers to turn the ball over on downs. The Rangers had two more chances to score before halftime as they were able to drive downfield inside the Pierz 20. The first ended with an interception by Preston Weber at the Pierz 12-yard line. The second was a botched pitch back by Kuhlmann that was recovered by Zach Kummet at the Pioneer 18. Both teams moved the ball in the third quarter but interceptions by Weber and Hoge ended those chances. Pierz got on the board on a 57- yard pass from quarterback Brandon Meyer to Travis Kahl that tied game at 6-6 with just over 11 minutes left in the final quarter. Kahl then kicked the extra point to give Pierz a 7-6 lead. The Pioneer defense stiffened in the final quarter and forced the Rangers to punt in the next possession. Pierz then drove 64 yards in 14 plays to extend their lead to 13-6 on Zach Pohlkamp’s roll out toss to fullback Cody Stangl from the 10 yard line to with just under two minutes to play. C-I got the ball back on the ensuing kickoff and on fourth and 10 from their own 25, Kuhlmann found Hoge for a 25-yard completion to midfield with one minute left. On the next play, Kuhlmann dropped back to pass but was bumped by a lineman as he threw and the ball ended up in the hands of Pierz linebacker Mitch Woitalla. The Pioneers ran out the clock and now head to their fifth State tournament in the last seven years. Nathan Hudrlik led C-I with 100 yards on 19 carries and Matthew Hudrlik added 51 yards on nine carries. Kuhlmann completed 5 of 17 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown but finished with three picks. Hoge caught two passes for 116 yards and the lone C-I score. Matthew Hudrlik added three receptions for 79 yards. Pierz senior running back John Omann gained 125 yards on 20 carries for Pierz. Stangl added 42 yards on 11 carries. Kahl had 2 catches for 72 yards and a touchdown. Photos by Paul Boblett | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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