Crimson get another upstart team in Burnsville at state

Armstrong met Maple Grove lineman Kayode Awosika on Friday, Oct. 23.

Playing both ways, Awosika came up with key blocks on offense and tackles/pressure on defense as the Crimson prevailed over the Falcons 21-18. Running behind Awosika’s side of the offensive line, the Crimson found their way running the ball on a rain-soaked night.

“Kayode is someone that’s a special player,” Crimson coach Matt Lombardi said. “He had to play both sides of the ball, and I thought he did some really good things.”

With Awosika and the o-line’s help, Isaac Collins chipped away with first-down runs throughout for the Crimson despite not breaking one of his typical 30-yard plus runs. He picked up an extra load too when Ryan Hanscome went down in the second quarter.
Crimson quarterback Brad Davison stepped up in the running game with two rushing touchdowns, a two-point conversion and a clutch fourth-down run that set up a game-sealing TD in the final quarter.

None of it came easily though, especially as Armstrong’s Thomas Barber trimmed the lead to three on a short TD run in the final minute. Armstrong even recovered an onside kick, but the Crimson defense held off a last gasp shot by the Falcons. It had been that way all night.

Both teams traded three-and-outs early on, but the Crimson finally threatened with a drive to the goal line in the first quarter. Armstrong’s defense came up big with three stops as the Crimson turned over on downs. Collins tried to get through on fourth down but lost control of the ball, which negated the possible touchdown.

“I think those two stops early kind of got their momentum going, and I knew we were in a game the rest of the way,” Lombardi said.
Led by Barber’s running, Armstrong proceeded to eat up the clock and drive all the way to the Crimson 32 before punting it away. Giving up possession didn’t last long as the Falcons picked off Davison and returned it to the Crimson 2-yard line. Barber then punched it in for a 6-0 Falcons lead, which went no further on a blocked kick.

Davison got the Crimson offense going again with a first down run followed by multiple Collins first-down carries. Collins eventually punched it in from a yard out for a game-tying score. The Falcons kept the game knotted with an extra-point block.

Collis Barber put the Falcons up 12-6 on a 62-yard TD pass with Isaiah Poster catching and bursting pass the Crimson defense. It came on the third play of the drive, which lasted 1:29. The Crimson at least had the solace of blocking another extra point.

The teams traded three-and-outs again, but the Crimson swung the momentum on their third drive of the half with Davison hitting Collins on a 63-yard TD pass play. Tyler Knutson kicked Maple Grove to a 13-12 lead on the first complete extra point of the night.

Maple Grove’s defense locked down on the Falcons and allowed just one first down for the next two drives. The Crimson also allowed only one scoring drive after that stretch too as they advanced to state for a third-straight year.

Next, the Crimson will play Burnsville on Friday at 7 p.m. in Hopkins at state for the quarterfinals. Similar to Armstrong, Burnsville has turned things around this season from a struggling program powered by a strong defense and offensive attack.