Photo by Kim Nelson Red Rock Central quarterback Abe Stavnes drops back to throw while pressured by Hills-Bevaer Creek’s Karson Metzger during a first round, Nine-Player State Football Tournament game on Thursday night at Southwest Minnesota State University.

By Ari Selvey

aselvey@nujournal.com

MARSHALL — Top-seeded Hills-Beaver Creek controlled the game from wire to wire as the Patriots defeated fourth-seeded Red Rock Central 44-14 in the opening round of the Nine-Player State Football Tournament Thursday at Southwest Minnesota State University.

Carter Therkilsen had 193 yards on 34 carries on the day along with a touchdown for RRC, while quarterback Abe Stavnes had a touchdown rush.

RRC started the game with a three-and-out, and HBC’s first pass went 61 yards as Brodie Metzger took screen pass for a touchdown. Another three-and-out from the Falcons led to another big play by Brodie Metzger, this time on a 48-yard rush for another touchdown as the Patriots went up 16-0.

RRC got its first first down of the game after a pair of rushes by Carter Therkilsen, but the Falcons went backwards on the next two plays and Stavnes threw an interception to Jace Gacke on a deep shot. HBC threw it right back as Jordan Therkilsen picked it off in the end zone to save another touchdown, but once again RRC went three-and-out as the Patriots defense continued to dominate.

HBC increased its lead to 24-0 on a 3-yard touchdown rush by Jamin Metzger, and while two penalties by the Patriots helped RRC deep into HBC territory, the Falcons turned it over on downs. HBC took up the rest of the half with a nine-play, 79-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard rush by Jamin Metzger into the end zone for a 32-0 lead.

That lead extended to 38-0 on the opening drive of the second half as Jamin Metzger threw a swing pass to Micah Bush for a 46-yard score, then to 44-0 on a 4-yard rush by Bush.

The Patriots put the reserves out for the rest of the game, and Carter Therkilsen broke off a 77-yard touchdown run to get the Falcons on the board. HBC punted, and a 56-yard rush by Carter Therkilsen helped set up Stavnes for a 1-yard touchdown rush, with a 2-point pass to Jordan Therkilsen making it a 44-14 game. However, HBC was able to kneel out the rest of the clock for a win.

RRC finishes its season with a 10-1 record.