The Fargo South-West Fargo football game Friday had three difference-making plays in the first half.
South made all three.
The Bruins scored on a long TD run, blocked a punt for a safety and had a long pass play that set up another TD.
Those plays, along with stingy defense, sparked South to at 24-0 Eastern Dakota Conference victory at West Fargo.
"We hope that we have some good athletes that can make good plays," South coach Kevin Feeney said.
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The Bruins (7-1, 5-1) clinched the No. 2 seed for the playoffs and home field in the first round. West Fargo (5-3, 3-3) lost its third straight game.
"They were clearly the better team and they were going to get us in the long run," West Fargo coach Jay Gibson said of South.
South junior Catlin Solum made two of the key plays in the first half. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound wing back scored a 53-yard touchdown on his sixth carry of the game.
The Bruins led 7-0 with 3 minutes, 11 seconds to play in the first quarter.
On the TD run, Solum cut off right tackle to the short side of the field, sliced through a pair of West Fargo defenders and exploded up the sideline.
"The line got a good seal on the edge and it was off to the races," Solum said.
Solum rushed for 105 yards in the first half and ended with a game-high 123 yards on 15 carries.
South appeared determined to get Solum involved early in the game. He carried the ball six times on the Bruins' first two possessions for 85 yards.
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"I really like the way he runs," Gibson said. "He's just got this stop and go thing going on. He'd probably be a good dancer."
Solum delivered his second big play on special teams.
He raced off the edge of the lineto block a West Fargo punt, which the Packers recovered in the end zone for a safety.
The Bruins led 9-0 with 1:49 to play in the half.
The Bruins weren't finished in the first half, taking the ensuing free kick and driving 68 yards for a touchdown.
Evan Savageau capped that drive, making a one-handed 2-yard TD catch with 6 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Savageau set up that scored with a 42-yard reception, moving the ball to the West Fargo 17-yard line.
"They play a lot of press coverage," Savageau said of the West Fargo defensive backs. "They were as good as we've seen all season. I like a challenge."
That was more than enough for the South defense, which held the Packers to 67 yards, including minus-28 yards rushing. West Fargo had just six first downs.
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"Everyone was just really pumped up for this game, it was a big rivalry," South junior linebacker Joey Dawson said. "Everyone was just flying around."
South 7 10 0 7-24
West Fargo 0 0 0 0- 0
FS-Solum 53 run (Olson run)
FS-Safety, blocked punt into end zone
FS-Savageau 2 pass from Larson (Olson kick)
FS-Sholl 32 run (Olson kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
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RUSHING: FS, Solum 15-123, Sholl 6-74, German 9-32, Zollinger 4-14, Wenell 1-2, Horner 1-0, Larson 3-(-8). WF, Swanson 4-9, Gatz 5-(-7), Bishoff 2-(-12), Gibson 3-(-18).
PASSING: FS, Larson 9-16-1 101 yards. WF, Bishoff 5-16-1 42, Gibson 2-2-0 (-1), Gatz 4-11-1 54.
RECEIVING: FS, Savageau 6-78, Kramer 2-19, Solum 1-4. WF, Gibson 3-59, Horsager 2-14, Wolden 1-11, Bertek 1-11, Swanson 1-3, Urlaub 3-(-3).
Readers can reach Forum reporter Eric Peterson at (701) 241-5513
