Goodhue vs. ZM Varsity Football

The final season game for the Wildcats was against Zumbrota- Mazeppa. Since the demolished the cougars, the Wildcats got home field advantage for the playoffs game.

The Wildcats scored on five of six possessions in the first half, including three in the first quarter and powered past the Cougars 40-0 to clinch the No. 1 seed in the Section 1A Tournament, which starts Tuesday.

Eric Ryan paced Goodhue's ground attempt with 210 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries. He scored from 13 yards out in the first, added a 6-yard scamper in the second and capped the scoring with a 31-yard run late in the third. Micah Huneke added 71 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries, while Kelby Buck rushed six times for 39 yards. Goodhue had a total of 409 yards on the ground.

Buck also finished 7 of 10 passing for 114 yards, 45 of which came on a touchdown strike to Brett Watson in the first. The Goodhue offense racked up 523 yards on 73 plays, averaging just over seven yards a play.

"We've been doing the same thing all season. The line's been making holes and we just have to run right through them," said Huneke, who also intercepted a pass, giving him a team-high six on the season, one ahead of Watson.

For the Cougars, it was an uphill battle in muddy conditions. Z-M tallied only 21 yards and one first down in a first half as they trailed 33-0.

Colby Mehrkens intercepted a Buck pass to open the second half and, following a 37-yard run by Phil Putratz, Z-M had some momentum. However three plays later including sacks by Goodhue's Bryce Dankers and Chad Meyer forced the Cougars to punt.

After the Wildcats reserved the punt . The Cougars defense forced Goodhue into a fourth-and-nine situation from the 16-yard line. Wildcat coach Clair Austin never hesitated before going for it with Z-M's punt-return team on the field. Buck hit Sean Thomforde on an out for 13 yards to keep the drive alive. Ryan later in a touchdown in from 31 yards out, capping a 15-play, 97-yard drive that ate up nearly six minutes of the clock.

Putratz's lone highlight on the ground was his 37-yard run, while Keane McWaters finished with 39 yards on eight carries. Drew Paukert was 2-for-5 for 16 yards and two interceptions.
Goodhue, who improves to 7-1 overall and to 5-1 in the Hiawatha Valley League, now eyes home field advantage throughout the Section 1A Tournament. The Wildcats have qualified for state four years in a row and look to make it five with a team that sports nine senior starters on each side of the ball.