Staff photo by Steve Muscatello Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop's Dominic Henrichs (2) gets into the end zone after getting past Christian Edwards (34) and Cole Thompson of Minnesota Valley Lutheran Friday in Winthrop.

WINTHROP– Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop is the Section 2A champion with a 40-21 win over Minnesota Valley Lutheran on Friday. It was the second year in a row the Thunderbirds won the 2A title.

The Chargers scored on their first possession of the contest when Luke Thompson threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Cole Thompson. Joey Goeglein kicked for the extra point giving MVL an early 7-0 lead.

GFW answered with 6:39 remaining in the first quarter on a 38-yard run by Dominic Henrichs. Brody Hentges passed to Damian Hopp for the 2-point conversion, making it 8-7 GFW.

Later, the Thunderbirds blocked an MVL punt. Henrichs scampered 16-yards for GFW’s next score. Hopp took the ball into the end zone for the 2-point conversion and a 16-7 Thunderbird lead.

Henrichs raced 62-yards for GFW’s next touchdown with 10:26 left in the second quarter. Hentges tossed the ball to Treay Taylor for the 2-point conversion for a 24-7 score.

MVL answered with a 64-yard touchdown pass from Luke Thompson to Cole Thompson. Luke Thompson hit Cole Thompson with a pass for 2-points and a 24-15 score.

Taylor scored another TD for GFW when he ran 60-yards. Hopp took the ball across the goal line for the 2-point conversion and GFW led 32-15 at the half.

GFW took the second half kickoff and it marched down the field. Hopp capped the drive with a 1-yard run. Hentges threw to Hopp for the extra 2-points and a 40-15 advantage.

MVL took the ensuing kickoff and scored on an 11-yard pass from Luke Thompson to Cole Thompson. Luke Thompson’s run for 2-points was no good.

Henrichs led GFW with 14 rushes for 215 yards and three touchdowns. Taylor rushed 14 times for 161 yards and a touchdown. Hopp rushed 21 times for 89 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, Jack Panitzke and Jacob Rose each had six tackles and Hopp added five tackles for the Thunderbirds.

MVL’s Luke Thompson was 10 for 21 passing for 180 yards and three touchdowns. He added 15 rushes for 64-yards. Carter Sexton had nine carries for 56 yards rushing. Cole Thompson had six receptions for 145 yards and three touchdowns.

Luke Petersen led MVL with seven tackles, Carter Sexton had six tackles while David Santleman and Landon Merseth each had five tackles.

MVL finished the season 4-4 and GFW finished the year 4-3.