Komets will face Orono for 4A crown 

The Minnesota sports fan has a reputation of heading for the exits early, usually to beat traffic, or if nothing else believe based on the score differential and time left that they will not miss anything. After the Minnesota state high school football tournament semi-finals kicked off on Thursday at U.S. Bank Stadium, those types of fans are learning the hard way they are missing a lot. Thursday we saw Orono win on a 2-point conversion in overtime, followed by a Kittson County Central team that almost came all the way back from 27-7, and of course in the big schools Minnetonka jumped out to a dominating 28-7 lead in the second quarter only to lose 42-41 to the Mason West led Edina Hornets.   Which brings us to Friday’s second semi-final game of the day between Kasson-Mantorville and Grand Rapids in Class 4A.

The Kasson-Mantorville Komets led 16-0 with just over two minutes left in their game against the Grand Rapids Thunderhawks who were facing a 3^rd and 8 from their own 28-yard line with just over two minutes remaining in the game. Grand Rapids sophomore quarterback Logan McNear found senior wide receiver Jaxon Rabbers, who had gotten behind the defense for a 72-yard touchdown. Following a successful two-point conversion reception by junior Mason Johnson suddenly it was a one score game.  With only one timeout remaining the Thunderhawks’ only legitimate hope was to recover an onsides kick.

True to the previous drama from Thursday’s games, recover the kick they did and suddenly Grand Rapids had the ball at Midfield with 1:57 on the clock. The Komet’s defense gave nothing on the first three plays including a sack on third down that left the Thunderhawks’ facing 4^th and 10 from the Komet’s 48. McNear, in Hudini-like fashion, got a throw off while surrounded by 3 Komet defenders and found senior Marcus Thiel on a floating pass twenty yards downfield for a first down. Then with :25 left McNear through a pass in the back of the end zone that was tipped and fell into the arms of a diving Jameson Duell.  Grand Rapids needed to complete another two-point conversion to tie the game. McNear’s pass was read perfectly by Kasson-Mantorville junior defensive back Camryn Tottingham, who stepped in front of the intended receiver for the game-sealing interception.

Or was it?

For the second time in the final two minutes Grand Rapids was able to recover an onside kick. With :18 left and no timeouts, the Thunderhawks were able to complete a pass, but a last second pass to the end zone dropped incomplete and Kasson-Mantorville exhaled for the first time in minutes knowing they had punched their ticket to the Prep Bowl.

For the game, Grand Rapids outgained Kasson-Mantorville 351 to 248.

Kasson-Mantorville’s scoring came from a 3-yard touchdown run from senior running back Jeremiah Peterson in the second quarter. Senior Miles Bungum converted a 19-yard field goal to make it 10-0 Komets at the half. Tottingham completed Kasson-Mantorville’s scoring with a 72-yard touchdown reception from senior quarterback Grady Babcock.

Kasson-Mantorville will face Orono on Friday November 21^st at U.S. Bank Stadium with kickoff set for 1PM.

Full Game Stats: https://www.mshsl.org/sites/default/files/2025-11/2025-fb-qf-km-grand-rapids.pdf

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