Fertile-Beltrami Wins First Ever Football State Championship; 20-8 over Hills-Beaver Creek

PHOTO/MSHSL

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (KVRR) –Fertile-Beltrami won their first ever football state championship 20-8 over Hills-Beaver Creek in the Minnesota high school football 9-Player championship. 

The first half was a defensive battle. Despite two Bryer Strem interceptions, the Falcons offense stalled each time.

The Falcons and Patriots averaged 72 points-per-game combined during the regular season, but this title game went to half time tied 0-0.

“I talked to my offensive line,” said head coach Brian Nelson on halftime adjustments. “They said keep running…I rely on my lineman to tell me plays that they think will work because those five guys have done a tremendous job this season. I listen to their advice.”

That advice worked.

The offenses picked up in the second half. After a fourth down stand on defense to open the half, the Falcons offense got on the board. An 8-play, 47-yard drive finished with a 2-yard Jonah Harstad touchdown run. The 2-point try failed and Fertile-Beltrami led 6-0.

“Our coaches put us through a lot of good conditioning,” said Jonah Harstad. “We call it cross country. We just needed to wear them down and just drill them.”

Harstad finished the game with 14 carries for 30 yards and two touchdowns. 

The Falcons forced a fumble on the next Patriots drive and added to their lead. A 6-play, 42-yard drive capped off by a 3-yard touchdown run by Isaiah Wright. Wright converted the 2-point play as well to give Fertile-Beltrami a 14-0 lead with 2:30 to go in the third. 

Wright finished the game with 33 carries, 185 yards and a touchdown. 

The Patriots offense quickly responded with a Jamin Metzger to Jame VandenBosch 53-yard touchdown and 2-point try to make it 14-8 in the third, but Fertile-Beltrami stayed hot on offense to open the fourth. Jonah Harstad scored his second touchdown of the game from 1-yard out to extend the Falcons lead to 20-8 with under 10 minutes to go. 

The Falcons defense continued to play well, including an Isaiah Wright interception with 2:30 to go.

“It is definitely very emotional,” said Isaiah Wright. “It was a great team win. Everyone came together and I am grateful for everything.”

The Falcons leave U.S. Bank Stadium as State Champions for the first time in program history. 

“I have been head coach for thirty years, so it is pretty emotional,” said head coach Brian Nelson. “[For the senior class,] four undefeated regular seasons, four section championships, two trips to the state finals and two other trips to the state semifinals, so these guys have done a tremendous amount of work.”