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4A - Hutchinson tops Kasson-Mantorville
Hutchinson players celebrate their first state championship since the school won back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013.
Tigers celebrate another title in Hutchinson
by MALIK MITCHELL
The Hutchinson Tigers captured their first State Championship since 2013 after defeating Kasson-Mantorville 42-14.
Head coach Andy Rostberg said, “I was looking forward to watching the kids and coaches that had never been on a title team celebrate.”
Junior Alex Elliot said, “It was a dream come true for us because we all grew up watching the 2012 and 2013 team win the state championship two years in a row. Especially for me I wanted to live up to my older brother and take one home as well”
Alex Elliot’s older brother, Adam, was a part of the championship teams in 2012 and 2013. He has another brother, Aaron, who played beside him sharing the championship victory together to cap off his senior season. His other older brother, Andrew played for the Tigers in 2017.
Seems like the whole town of Hutchinson was ready for the Tigers to bring back another championship after a long seven years.
“There was energy throughout the whole town leading up to this game and we all felt confident when we had the town on our backs” Elliot said.
The Tigers showed their dominance managing to score 40 or more points in six games this season. Hutchinson high school has built a legacy around its football program for decades. In the past 54 seasons, there have only been two head football coaches at Hutchinson High School. Grady Rostberg started head coaching for Hutchinson in 1970. He led the Tigers to a 277-89-1 record before he retired in 1998. He ranks 13th in Minnesota history in games won and in 2016, he received the John Gagliardi Legacy Award.
His son, Andy, picked up where his father left off after being named head coach in 1999.
“Taking over for my dad was never really talked about, practiced, or prepped for. When he decided to retire, I was an assistant on his staff and it’s something that just happened,” said Andy.
Andy led the Tigers to two state titles in 2012 and 2013. He also played under his father and won two state titles in 1983 and 1984. They both led Hutchinson to a combination of 24 state tournament appearances. Hutchinson High School has put them on the Wall of Fame, along with other family members.
“I think the Hutch football legacy is what’s important, the Rostberg name is a part of that, but so are many other names,” said Andy.
Hutchinson finished their season with 483 points scored with a total of 4471 rushing yards and 343 passing yards. On defense, they had a total of 679 tackles, 13 sacks, 11 interceptions, and recovered 13 fumbles. Junior fullback Levi Teetzel accomplished 1,533 yards and 17 touchdowns and averaged 8.7 yards per carry. AJ Ladwig racked up 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns and averaged 83.3 yards per game. Mitchell Piehl rushed for 833 yards for 7 touchdowns and averaged 12 yards a game.
Some seniors that are set to play at the collegiate level next year are defensive back Sam Rensch who is commitmented to Augustana University for basketball. Quarterback/defensive end Colin Nagel is committed to the University of Minnesota Duluth. Linebacker/Tight end Aaron Elliott has offers from Southwest Minnesota State University and Northern Iowa.
Early lead leads to decisive win over Kasson-Mantorville
by MALIK MITCHELL
The No.2 Hutchinson Tigers (12-1) overpowered the No.9 Kasson-Mantorville Komets (9-4) with their dominant ground game at the U.S Bank Stadium on November 27.
The Tigers started out emphasizing their dominant run game, as junior running back Alex Elliott took a handoff to the outside, making one guy miss and scoring a 40-yard touchdown. After a missed 2-point conversion the score was 6-0.
They came back at the start of the 2nd quarter, scoring a goal line touchdown by junior fullback AJ Ladwig making it 14-0 after making a 2-point conversion. Not long after, senior half back Mitchel Piehl took it 90 yards, breaking one tackle and then simply outrunning the Komets defense.
“We were excited to be up, but we knew the job wasn’t done,” Alex Elliot said. “We still knew we were up against an explosive team so we had to stay calm and focused.”
Their unsuccessful 2-point conversion made it 20-0.
Kasson finally found some luck after senior quarterback Matt Donovan made several cuts without being touched before scoring a 30-yard touchdown.
Hutchinson wasn’t phased, scoring a 12-yard touchdown in the last seconds of the quarter by Alex Elliott. After making a two-point conversion the score was 28-7 at half. Hutchinson rolled up 289 rushing yards on 27 carries in the first half.
Hutchinson head coach Andy Rostberg said, “If they can’t stop the run we certainly aren’t going to throw. When a team gives up a TD pass they just shrug their shoulders and try and not let it happen again, when a defense can’t stop the run, there will come a time that they will surrender.”
Getting into the 3rd quarter, Hutchinson kept the ball rolling as AJ Ladwig pounded in another goal-line touchdown making it 36-7 after a successful 2-point conversion.
Kasson tried to cut the lead as Anthony Moe-Tucker took it up the middle for 14 yards making it 36-14.
“I thought our Defense was outstanding holding a team that averaged close to 40 points a game to 14,” said Rostberg. “Our Offense was able to control the ball and finish drives.”
The Tigers were just too powerful for the Komets as senior quarterback Colin Nagel ended the game scoring on a quarterback keeper to end the game with a final score of 42-14.
“I feel our defense did outstanding all game long. We went up against a very strong offense but our defense really came through. The big turnovers caused by our defense gave us some momentum back on offense” Elliott said.
The Tigers had a total of 429 yards on the ground. Alex Elliot finished with 125 yards and 2 touchdowns, Mitchell Piehl rushed for 128 yards and 1 touchdown, and AJ Ladwig scrapped up 78 yards and 2 touchdowns.
“Our O-Line played their butts off in this game opening up huge lanes for our backs to run through. Definitely couldn’t have done it without them” Elliot Said
