By John Kemmeter

The Amherst High School football team separated from Grantsburg early in the second half to advance to the WIAA Division 5 State Championship Game for the fourth year in a row and fifth time in six years.

Amherst High School senior running back Bryce Holderman rushed for 179 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries in the top-ranked Falcons’ 35-6 win over Grantsburg in a State Semifinal at Stanley-Boyd Friday, Nov. 10.
(John Kemmeter photo)

Back-to-back defending State Champion and top-ranked Amherst (12-1) was locked in a slugfest with Division 6 second-ranked Grantsburg (12-1) throughout the first half of their Division 5 State Semifinal at Stanley-Boyd Friday, Nov. 10, before the Falcons used a pair of early touchdowns in the third quarter to go up 28-0, and went on to a 35-6 victory to earn a trip to the Division 5 State Championship Game.

“It’s such a great feeling to be heading back there for the fourth time in four years,” said senior offensive guard/linebacker Max Villnow. “This is amazing.”

“If you look back at us in August, it was like we didn’t think we could make it this far,” said senior linebacker/tight end Thomas Anderson. “But now we just keep practicing hard every single day of the week, weight lifting, film.

“We’re clicking on all cylinders right now,” he said.

Amherst senior wide receiver Mason Peterson recovers a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown to give the Falcons a 28-0 lead in the third quarter of their 35-6 win over Grantsburg at Stanley-Boyd in a WIAA Division 5 State Semifinal Friday, Nov. 10.
(John Kemmeter photo)

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