When senior quarterback Ethan Swedberg scampered into the end zone on a five-yard touchdown run with 2:48 left in the third quarter of the second 9-man football semi-final game at U.S. Bank Stadium, his Hillcrest Lutheran Academy Comets had built a seemingly comfortable 27-7 lead over Kittson County Central.
Someone forgot to tell the Bearcats the game was out of reach.
Kittson County Central calmly marched down the field going 85 yards in 8 plays, when junior quarterback Eli Peterson found junior Ashton Knutson for a nine-yard strike and Keaton Brewer’s extra point gave the Bearcats some life with just under twelve minutes left in the game.
Then things really got interesting. On the ensuing kickoff Knutson followed his own squib kick eleven yards and just like that Kittson County Central had the ball at midfield and all the momentum. After a personal foul on the Comets on a 3rd and 18 play gave the Bearcats a first down at the Hillcrest Lutheran 35-yard line, Peterson found junior tight end Kellen Johnson on a 22-yard pass and catch for a touchdown. Just like that with 9:42 left, the Comets comfort was now stress.
The Bearcats’ defense was also fired up and was able to turnover the Comets on downs on the next possession and gave the ball back to their offense with a little over six minutes to play. Kittson County Central drove down to the Hillcrest Lutheran 34-yard line when on 4th and 5 Peterson was flushed from the pocket, and though it looked like he had a lane to run for the line to gain, he forced a pass across the middle and was intercepted by senior defensive back Sean Berge.
Swedberg converted two clutch quarterback sneaks on a 3rd and 1 and 4th and 1 to run out the clock and squash Kittson County Centrals hope of completing the comeback, ultimately winning 27-21.
Hillcrest Lutheran will play in their first Prep Bowl since 2003 when they face Hills-Beaver Creek at U.S. Bank Stadium Saturday November 22nd with kickoff set for 10AM.
Full Game Stats: https://www.mshsl.org/sites/default/files/2025-11/2025-fb-9p-sf-kcc-hla.pdf
