For the Gazette

MANAWA – On Saturday, Oct. 14th, the Amherst Youth Football Tackle team capped off an undefeated season by going 8-0 to clinch the Mid-State Football Championship title. 

It was their best game of the season against the Rosholt Stingers and was a matchup between two hard-nosed defensive teams. With a halftime score of 0-0, the Falcons got their only points of the game in the third quarter on a touchdown run by Braun Groshek, which was accompanied by a 2-point kick by Mason Nerdahl, making the score 8-0, where it stood for the remainder of the game.

The drive was kept alive by a half-back pass from Braun to Axel Klieforth to get a much-needed first down, allowing for the eventual touchdown run. 

The boys put together a complete game with near-zero penalties, three turnovers (one strip and two interceptions) and solid performances on both offense and defense.

The team is made up of 26 fifth and sixth graders, allowed only 26 total points all season and had five games with shut-out victories against their opponents.