The top-ranked MMCRU football team played their first-ever 11-player contest at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls on Thursday with a state semifinal matchup against fifth-ranked West Sioux. The Royals defeated their district rivals by the score of 28-0 to advance to the state championship game.
Being it was the first time the Royals had played in Cedar Falls, there were some bright eyes at all the glamour of the atmosphere. Senior Michael Schmillen says soaking that in was great, but the Royals had to get down to business as well.
MMCRU had the opportunity early to set the tone on defense and did so with a Gage Johnson interception. Head coach Kyle Oswald says the secondary has been playing lights out, and they demonstrated that once again.
After a couple of drives that couldn’t cash in, MMCRU was finally able to get their offense going. They got it fired up in the passing game with Eli Harpenau and Michael Schmillen connecting on big pass plays in the first half. Schmillen says Harpenau is a great quarterback that knows what he is looking for right away.
Harpenau says he has great confidence in his receivers that they will make plays on the other side of his throws.
MMCRU’s first score was an Eli Harpenau touchdown pass to Michael Schmillen late in the first quarter. The Royals then failed to score for most of the second until those two hooked up twice in the final three minutes for touchdown plays. Harpenau says he is a great receiver that can make outstanding plays.
On a lot of those plays, Schmillen not only had to make a tough catch, but he also had to make some players miss him as well. He says he is always determined to find the end zone.
Coach Oswald says those big plays were monumental toward turning the tide in his team’s favor while the name of the game was defense.
Coach Oswald says he was very impressed with the big plays Schmillen made on the outside.
In the second half, it was MMCRU’s time to shine on defense. The Royal defense continued their pursuit of a shutout keeping West Sioux from scoring on multiple long drives with another interception and a turnover on downs in the red zone. Schmillen says the defense always aims to throw a shutout, and that motivated them late.
Those two drives that MMCRU shut West Sioux down were big for the Royals. Not in the sense that it changed the outcome of the game, but Coach Oswald says it shows his team that they can bend sometimes but not give up the ultimate prize.
MMCRU improves to 12-0 on the season and secures a spot in the Class A state championship game against second-ranked Saint Ansgar. Coach Oswald says the Saints have a physical team that will be tough to plan against.
Whatever that preparation looks like for MMCRU, Harpenau says it will take everyone doing their part this coming week.
MMCRU and Saint Ansgar kick off at 1:00 PM on Thursday, November 20 in Cedar Falls. The game will be broadcast on KLEM with coverage beginning at 12:30 PM. West Sioux’s season ends at the Dome with a 10-2 overall record.
