Maple Grove used a stifling defense and a 20-point outburst in the second quarter to bury visiting Hill-Murray 34-6 in a Twin Cities Suburban Conference football contest Friday, Oct. 1.

The Crimson dominated play from the start and finished the night with five sacks, five pass interceptions and numerous hurries. The offense, however, took a while to get going.

"We have been improving each week continued our improvement and I am very proud of our kids," Maple Grove coach Craig Hansen said. "Our defense set us up with good field position and we had three opportunities in the first and second quarters, but offensively we just stumbled and could not get anything going."

Senior flanker Adam Hamilton provided the spark that ignited Maple Grove's second quarter explosion. The Crimson were on the Hill-Murray 18 when quarterback Mike Klosterman called Hamilton's number. Hamilton caught the ball about five yards from the line of scrimmage, broke two tackles and carried two Pioneers with him for several yards before he was finally taken down at the one.

Senior fullback Caleb Marx dashed around left end to score the touchdown and Klosterman ran in a two-point conversion to put Maple Grove up to stay.

"Adam Hamilton made the play of the game," Hansen said. "That play was inspiring and that was the catalyst that got us untracked."

The Crimson defense continued to stuff Hill-Murray and gave the offense excellent field position. This time, the Crimson cashed in and junior back Josh Throndson scored two touchdowns on short runs. Throndson's second touchdown came with 7 seconds left in the half and was set up by a 27-yard pass from Klosterman to senior wide receiver Brent Lawson.

Hill-Murray scored on a 68-yard pass play to start the second half but Throndson picked up his third touchdown of the night in the third quarter, and Hamilton capped a brilliant night by returning a punt 71 yards for a touchdown.

Hamilton earlier ran another punt back 80 yards in the third quarter but it was called back by a clipping penalty. "It was questionable," Hansen said of the call. "I still can't find it on film."

Hamilton finished with three catches for 31 yards and a punt return for a touchdown. He also provided some fine blocking on the outside. "Adam had an outstanding night, not just receiving and returning punts, but also his perimeter blocking," Hansen said. "He has to be one of the finest perimeter blockers we have had here."

Lawson had five catches for 95 yards and Jake Johnson had three for 69. Klosterman completed 11 of 26 passes for 195 yards and Marx led the ground attack with 72 yards on nine rushes. The Crimson defense had its best night of the season. "Our defense had an outstanding night and our special teams did well," Hansen said. "They consistently gave us great field position."

Defensively, junior linebacker Andy Greeder had 12 tackles, senior safety Mike Behr and senior linebacker Mickey Baker each had two interceptions, senior end Justin Davis had three sacks and four hurries and junior linebacker Chris Johnson also intercepted a pass. The Crimson next visit Roseville Friday, Oct. 8.