A HAPPY HOMECOMING FOR K-M

Coming off a 29-28 overtime defeat to Plainview-Elgin- Millville, the Kasson- Mantorville football team came into this week searching for consistency. With plenty
of questions about an offense that struggled in the second half of that game and a defense that was gored for over 300 yards on the ground, the KoMets had to find a way to play at their best more often in the second half of the season.
With a great week of practice, the KoMets took the field at KMTelecom Stadium and looked to pick up a homecoming victory against Stewartville. What transpired was a dominant effort, particularly in the second half, as K-M pulled away for a 42-14 victory.
“They were very focused,” K-M head coach Broc Threinen said of his team. “They played with a sense of urgency.”
The night started with a first quarter that resulted in a defensive stalemate after the KoMets and Tigers exchanged a pair of failed fourth down conversions. As the teams fought into the second quarter, Robby Horsman would put the KoMets on the board with a
10-yard touchdown run to put K-M ahead by a score of 7-0.
After the defense would do their job shutting down
Stewartville, the KoMets were looking to extend the lead despite starting deep in their own territory. After a three- and-out, K-M lined up for a punt, but a high snap would lead to a block and place the Tigers in prime field position. Nathan Johnson would barrel in from two yards on the next play to tie the game at 7-7.
“We had talked on that drive about getting some points on the board and having a nice drive,” Threinen recalled. “That didn’t happen and then we had the blocked punt. It really swung the momentum in their direction.”
The pendulum would not be in the Tigers’ direction for long as Horsman would
unleash a 40-yard kick return that would put the KoMets at mid-field. A couple plays later
Matt Winkle would break off a 49-yard touchdown run that would put the KoMets up at halftime and for good at 14-7.
“That return was really big,” Threinen said. “Robby was patient and brought it out around the edge and got up
to mid-field. That was a huge turning point and gave us a lot of confidence going into that drive and the second half.”
The KoMets would take the game over in the second half behind the legs of Winkle. While linebacker Hunter Bradford took home Homecoming King off the field, Winkle was the king on
it with 20 carries for 206 yards and three touchdowns.
“We kind of take it for granted that we never get in a bad play call situation with Matt,” Threinen said of his quarterback. “If we get into a
bad play, he calls another play elsewhere to get into a good one. He knows the system inside and out, trusts the coaches’ decision and once you know and feel comfortable with the scheme, it makes everything that much easier.”
Winkle would add a 45-yard touchdown run then hand off to Easton Knoll for a five-yard touchdown to blow the game open at 28-7 heading into the fourth. Dalton Andrist (nine yards) and Winkle (52 yards) would head to the end zone again in the final quarter to seal the 42-14 victory.
Up next for the KoMets, who are 3-2 on the season and 2-1 in Red District play, is Rochester Lourdes, a team that has given K-M some intense battles
in recent seasons. With the Eagles undefeated and a likely state tournament team, next week will be a challenge,
but Threinen feels that the Stewartville victory will give his team momentum into this district showdown.
“It’s a lot of the same defensively,” Threinen said about Lourdes. “You have to take care of your own area. They bring a lot of the same options that we do and you have to be disciplined and really have to control what you can control. We just have to keep trying to get better and do capable of
doing.”