Cherokee At Kuemper- Class 2A Quarterfinals
Kuemper 43
Cherokee 26
Both offenses controlled the line of scrimmage on Friday night but the Kuemper defense made just enough stops for the Knights to pull away for a three score victory. Each team scored quickly on their first possession and the game appeared like it could be a shootout when both it looked like both teams would score on their second possession. The Kuemper defense made a stand at their own 5-yard line and the offense stretched the lead to two scores. Cherokee responded with a touchdown and had a chance to cut into the Knights lead late in the 1st half after an interception gave them the ball at the Kuemper 41 but the Knights defense got the ball back with Braxton Vonnahme coming up with a diving interception. Cherokee turned it over on three of four possessions to end the 1st half and start the 2nd half and Kuemper was able to stretch the lead to three scores, then held on as the Braves kept battling, pulling within 10 but Kuemper sealed the win late with a touchdown run by Jarin Hoffman.
Kuemper opened the scoring, marching the ball downfield with Brock Badding finding Braxton Vonnahme for a 24-yard touchdown after a penalty nearly stalled the drive. The seven play, 74-yard drive gave Kuemper a 7-0 lead. Cherokee made it look easy on their first drive, running the ball right at the heart of the Knights defense for big chunks of yards and scoring on a 12-yard run by Blake Lovell. The game was tied at 7 with 6:21 left in the 1st quarter. The Knights responded as their offense was nearly unstoppable. They drove 78-yards in nine-plays, scoring on a 3-yard touchdown run by Brock Badding as he made a good choice on the option to keep it and cut up field. The wind affected the PAT and Kuemper led 13-7 with 2:20 left in the quarter. Cherokee appeared ready to answer, moving the ball downfield but faced a 4th and 2 from the Knights 7. They went for it and came up inches short so the Knights took over, holding onto a six point lead. Kuemper faced a 4th down deep in their own territory but went for it and Jarin Hoffman scampered for a nice gain to pick up the 1st down. The Knights marched down field, scoring on a 15-yard pass from Brock Badding to Griffin Glynn in the corner of the end zone with 4:32 left in the half. The two-point conversion was good and the Knights were up 21-7. Kuemper had the momentum but Cherokee grabbed it back with a 9-play, 65-yard touchdown drive, capped with a 10-yard pass from Jaxson Paulsrud to Wyatt Ludvigson, cutting the Knights lead to 21-13. Noah Rapp intercepted Brock Badding on Kumper’s next play and Cherokee looked poise to score and get the ball to start the 2nd half but Braxton Vonnahme dove and intercepted an overthrown ball and the Knights took a 21-13 lead into halftime.
Cherokee had the ball to start the 2nd half and was moving the ball on the ground until they fumbled and Brayton Alford pounced on it for Kuemper at the Cherokee 31-yard line. Kuemper responded quickly and Jarin Hoffman scored on a 1-yard run with 7:57 left in the 3rd and Kuemper, which went for two, led 29-13. The momentum swung again as Cherokee nearly took the kickoff back for a touchdown and scored on their fist play as Jaxson Paulsrud weaved his way for a 28-yard touchdown. The Kuemper lead was 29-19 with 7:35 left in the 3rd quarter. The Knights looked to answer as both teams were moving the ball well on the ground. They moved to the Cherokee 5-yard line but turned it over on downs as the Braves defense made a big 4th down stop. The Kuemper defense came up big again, forcing a fumble at the Braves 34-yard line, setting up another Kuemper score. Jarin Hoffman darted in from 2-yards out with 0:04 left in the 3rd quarter and Kuemper was up 36-19. The scoring wasn’t over yet as Cherokee answered with a 6-play, 80-yard drive, scoring on a 3-yard run by Blake Lovell. The Knights lead was 36-26 with 9:40 left in regulation. Kuemper’s offense had been balanced all game with Jarin Hoffman running the ball well and Brock Badding finding Griffin Glynn and Braxton Vonnahme for several nice plays in the passing game. They leaned heavily on the run game and marched the ball downfield with an 11-play drive that ended with a 6-yard touchdown run by Jarin Hoffman and Kuemper led 43-26 with 3:34 left. The Kuemper defense had one more stand in them and forced Cherokee to turn it over on downs to end the game.
Jarin Hoffman ran for 200-yards and scored 3 touchdowns with Brock Badding adding 239-yards passing on 13-22 with a pair of touchdowns. Badding hit Griffin Glynn and Braxton Vonnahme for touchdowns with both ending with 5 catches. Glynn had 97-yards and Vonnahme finished with 106-yards. Glynn made several key tackles in the 1st half, several saving big plays and led the Knights with 9.5 tackles.
Kuemper takes on Wilton in the Class 2A Semifinals on Saturday, November 15th at 1:00 with coverage on KIKD 106.7. Wilton rallied to beat PCM 21-17 on Friday.
Kuemper Stats
Jarin Hoffman 32 carries 200 yards, 3 TD
Brock Badding 13-22 239 yards, 2 TD, INT- 3 carries 17 yards, TD
Griffin Glynn 5 receptions 97-yards, TD- 9.5 tackles
Braxton Vonnahme 5 receptions 106 yards, TD- Interception on defense
Box Score
Teams 1 2 3 4 Final
Cherokee 7 6 6 7 26
Kuemper 13 8 15 7 43
