(Guthrie Center, IA) — In a season of firsts, Tri Center checked another one off their list on Friday night, going to the Dome. The Trojans stunned #1 ranked AC/GC on their home field 47-20 to advance to the UNI-Dome for the first time in school history.
The Trojans took advantage of four Charger turnovers including a pick six that changed the momentum of the game and Carter Kunze dominated on the ground, going for 261 yards.
After both teams went 3 and out on their first possession, Tri Center got a 38 yard pass play from AJ Harder to Zach Nelson to key a 69 yard drive that ended in a Kunze 7 yard TD. AC/GC would answer back with a long drive ending in a Joe Crawford 38 yard TD run — they made their extra point to lead 7-6. Harder went back to the air and found Cael Witt for a 24 yard TD pass and the roller coaster ride continued.
It took AC/GC just 16 seconds to respond — after Eli Madsen returned the kickoff to the Tri Center 47, Crawford ran through the Trojan defense for a 47 yard TD for a 14-12 Charger lead. On their next drive, Tri Center drove down the field but were stopped on 4th down deep in AC/GC territory. From their own 19, Jathan South of the Chargers threw a pass to the near side but Kunze read his eyes from his LB spot and picked it off and cruised into the end zone for the pick 6 and a 20-14 Tri Center lead going into the locker room. AC/GC would never lead the rest of the game.
The Chargers fumbled it away on their first possession of the 2nd half and Kunze scored on a 24 yard TD to make it 26-14. Again, it was a quick answer from AC/GC — in 11 seconds on a Brexton Schneider 60 yard TD run to keep it a one possession game 26-20 at the 6:51 mark of the 3rd quarter. But Tri Center would score the final 3 touchdowns to finish the game. After Schneider’s run, Kunze answered with a spectacular 51 yard TD run. Harder found Zach Nelson on a 10 yard TD pass which he caught around his knee to make it 41-20. Nelson would then put the icing on the cake by recovering a fumble and going 25 yards for a TD as time expired. AC/GC fumbled it on their last 2 possessions.
Unofficial stats for Tri Center: Carter Kunze 33 carries, 261 yards, 3 TD, INT return for TD; AJ Harder 11-21 passing 142 yards 3 TD; Cael Witt 5 catches 66 yards 1 TD; Zach Nelson 6 catches 88 yards 2 TD; 3 fumble recoveries; 2 forced fumbles; fumble recovery for TD; 397 total yards ( 255 rush, 142 pass)
Unofficial stats for AC/GC: Mike Fuller 12 carries 83 yards; Jathan South 9 carries 56 yards, 0-4 passing 1 INT; Joe Crawford 9 carries 99 yards 2 TD; Brexton Schneider 7 carries 67 yards 1 TD; 318 yards total rushing
AC/GC ends their season at 10-1; Tri Center is now 10-1 and will play Saint Ansgar in the UNI-Dome on Thursday, November 14 at 1pm in the Class A Semifinals. The winner will meet either Madrid or West Hancock in the Class A State Championship game
Post Game Interview with Carter Kunze
Post Game Interview with Zach Nelson
Post Game Interview with Head Coach Ryan Schroder
