The Jaguars were successful after this timeout in getting the ball back with enough time to drive downfield to tie or regain the lead. It was not meant to be, however.Going up against a team in a football program that has one losing season since 1994, the Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg Fighting Saints, our Jaguar football team performed in their best-played game since the 1997 season, in a game where both teams knocked heads for four full quarters and the decision was not made until the final minute. The Jaguars lost 14-7.
On paper, this should not have even been a game. The Saints' entered the game with a 7-2 record, a number-ten ranking in the latest Class A associated press poll, and a 28-15 record during the previous four seasons with two conference championships and one state tournament berth (2004). Meanwhile, our Jaguars were 3-6 this season, 7-30 over the previous four seasons, and 1-4 in the playoffs. The game played on the field, was the hardest-hitting battle one could imagine.
K-M-S finished the regular season 6-2, and Praire South Conference champions, as well as being ranked 10th in the final regular season Class A associated press coaches' poll. They took a world of confidence into the Section 5A playoffs and met up with our 3-6 Jaguars team and received all the punishment and hard hitting they could ask for. Our Jaguars took a 7-6 halftime lead and played a solid second half, giving up the deciding touchdown near the end of the third quarter.
They mounted what hopefully would have been a tying or game-winning touchdown drive from deep in their own territory with about 6:00 on the clock in the fourth quarter, trailing 14-7. They advanced with very thrilling, heart-stopping plays to keep the chains moving while moving into K-M-S territory. With 1:01 on the clock and a fourth-and-one possession at the Saints' 45, Michael Zenzen bulldozed his way for at least one yard. Jaguar fans on the sideline who were close to the action went nuts, wild with excitement, as they could sense their team was moving in for a potential game-winning score. To their stunning dismay, however, the referee spotted the ball at least 12 inches short of where Zenzen came down with the ball. You simply had to be there to believe it. The referees, noticing how close their spot was relative to the first-down location, called for a measurement. The Jaguars' hearts were ripped out as the call came: two inches short, K-M-S ball.
This is no way to end a football game. You let the players decide who wins and loses, and who makes the mistakes and who plays the game right. A referee has no right to take the game away from a team that is getting the job done and advancing the ball downfield. It ended as a game of "what if's" just as other games were all season long (Maple Lake - what if the lightning storm did not appear?; Pierz - what if we scored on our first drive?; Kimball - what if the team showed up and played their game against 0-5 Kimball?; Holdingford - what if over and over; Howard Lake - what if we didn't throw an interception with 5:00 left?) ... A 2-6 regular season was not far from being 4-4 or even a 5-3 season.
The bottom line is that the Jaguars played an incredibly entertaining and well-played football game against one of the better Class 1A football programs in Minnesota. They have everything to be proud of for that. "State" was not meant to be this season, however.
The Fighting Saints' advance to the Section 5A championship at the FargoDome. They will face the Wabasso Rabbits, defending section champions and 2005 State Semi-finalist. The Class A eleventh-ranked Rabbits pounded the Dawson-Boyd Blackjacks (4-6) into the ground on their home field today, winning 65-12.
The gap between where our Jaguar football team is today and the point where a section championship is achieved has been narrowed during 2005 and 2006. It shows how hard work pays off, while our guys work to overcome a mountain of misery endured by past Jaguar teams.
The Jaguars will come back in 2007 stronger and better than ever, ready to do damage in the Central Minnesota Conference and win the Section 5A championship.
The Jaguars hold their heads and helmets high after the heartbreaking loss to K-M-S.**In other action involving Central Minnesota Conference teams:
Pierz 40, AT Braham 6 !!! (Pioneers are 10-0)
HL-W-W hosted ACGC tonight in a 5AA semi-final and lost 17-7 to finish 7-3 overall.
Maple Lake traveled to #1-seeded Eden Valley-Watkins and lost 27-14 to finish 5-5 overall.
EV-W moves to 9-1.
Prediction: the CMC will once again put two teams in the Class 2A state tournament: EV-W and Pierz, for the THIRD straight season.
More to follow.