Virginia was one of the first teams in the state to clinch the top seed in its respective section.
They proved why on Tuesday.
The undefeated and seventh-ranked Blue Devils (9-0) blasted past the Broncos 50-6 in brutal conditions at home in the first round of the Section 7AAA tournament. The eighth-seeded Broncos (2-7) thought the soggy, chilly and windy conditions would slow down the faster Blue Devils, but that was far from reality.
“Speed kills,” Broncos head coach Jay Boyle said. “We hoped the weather would slow them down more than it would, but it didn’t.”
The game ended with the temperature at 37 degrees, but it “felt like” 27, according to weather.com. Winds were gusting up to 24 miles per hour and pushed a heavy rain across the field from start to finish.
However, a 30-point second quarter by Virginia put the game well in hand by halftime. Nate Anderson threw four touchdowns and ran for another score — all in the first half. He finished 5-for-9 passing with 100 yards, while rushing 10 times for 63 yards. Cavan Stackpool had 101 yards rushing in the first half and Cody Mauston and Drew Norri caught two touchdowns apiece. Virginia, which led 38-0 at the break, played reserves most of the second half, and the fourth quarter was played with running time.
“It comes down to they’re a very good team,” Boyle said. “They’re very fast and have good skill position players.”
The Blue Devils beat the Broncos 43-14 in the second game of the regular season. Virginia scored 28 points in the second quarter in that contest.
“I think it’s a lot of the same,” said Broncos senior Chris Steinbach, who scored the lone touchdown and finished with a team-high 78 rushing yards. “Definitely later on in the season, so they’re sharper. Very athletic, from the line all the way to the quarterback.”
Steinbach recorded most of the Broncos’ statistics. Pat Dougherty was next in line with 17 yards rushing, while Brandon Richards finished with 13 yards. Gunnar Anderson finished 3-for-7 passing with 12 yards and an interception.
In the first half alone, the Blue Devils out-gained the Broncos 294 yards to 27. International Falls turned it over four times in the first half, beginning with the first play from scrimmage, and its longest play was a 17-yard run by Steinbach right before halftime with the score 38-0. The run also gave the Broncos their first first down of the half.
Cade Stackpool rushed for 118 yards and a score in the second half for Virginia, which finished with 418 yards. The Broncos had 116 total yards.
The wet conditions led to 13 fumbles. Virginia lost only two — one each half — while the Broncos lost five of six, including four in the first half.
“I don’t know if it was the weather or what,” Steinbach said. “Too many mistakes.”
Game notes
• In two games against the Broncos, Norri had 12 catches for 198 yards and six touchdowns, and all his damage came in the second quarter in each game.
• In other Section 7AAA action: No. 5 Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin upset No. 4 Proctor 6-0, No. 2 Pine City crushed No. 7 Mora 24-0 and No. 3 Milaca smacked No. 6 Aitkin 36-0. Greenway will play at Virginia and Milaca heads to Pine City on Saturday.
• The wind was so aggressive, the American flag at Virginia’s field ripped partially off the pole.
• Steinbach had 32 yards rushing in the first half, but the Broncos only had 25 yards on the ground. Twenty-two of Steinbach’s 32 yards came with under a minute to play in the first half.
Virginia 50, I. Falls 6
IF 0 0 0 6—6
V 8 30 6 6—50
First Quarter
V — Nate Anderson 48 run (Anderson run)
Second Quarter
V — Cody Mauston 5 pass from Anderson (run failed)
V — Norri 29 pass from Anderson (Anderson run)
V — Mauston 18 pass from Anderson (Anderson run)
V — Norri 19 pass from Anderson (Anderson to Ty Wilson)
Third Quarter
V — Cade Stackpool 1 run (run failed)
Fourth Quarter
IF — Chris Steinbach 1 run (run failed)
V — Stackpool 59 run
