GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- Standing 5-foot-9 and weighing 148 pounds, Grand Forks Central sophomore flanker Ryan Chappell may not be the biggest or strongest player on his team.
However, Tuesday night in the Class 3A play-in game at the Alerus Center, he was the most versatile.
Chappell caught an 18-yard pass, threw a 42-yard completion and ran for 85 yards and two touchdowns to propel the Knights a 34-14 triumph over Wahpeton.
"We moved the ball well and most of that was because of Ryan Chappell," Central coach Mike Berg said. "We knew (playing on the artificial surface at the Alerus Center) that he could do some damage tonight."
The victory moves Central (6-4) into the Class 3A quarterfinals, where they will travel to Bismarck Century (8-1) Saturday.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Knights were forced to play the extra game because they lost a regular season tie-breaker with Fargo South. But after dropping its final two games of the year, both Berg and his players believe that the extra game was extremely crucial for Central's psyche.
"We needed this," GFC quarterback Brandon Kreitinger said. "We played pretty well last week, even though we lost. But we needed to get a win before the playoffs started."
Central's last regular season win came at the expense of Wahpeton on Oct. 11. In that contest, Knights' running back Coltt Breedlove ran for 189 yards.
Wednesday Breedlove did not carry the ball until the second half. "We knew they'd expect us to run the ball with (Breedlove)," Berg said. "But we thought Chappell and (Jason) Diedrich were better runners for these conditions. It's what we've been doing all year, just giving the ball to the guy with the hot hand."
All three players saw time in the backfield, combining for 236 yards on 33 carries as the Knights out-gained the Huskies 432-295.
Central's strategy included punishing the Huskies on the ground and throwing new faces into the backfield at every turn. Both Kreitinger and junior Eric Learing spent time under center, while seven different running backs touched the ball.
"They had a good game plan coming in," Wahpeton head coach Joel Bickford said. "We were down so quick tonight and we're not a very good come-from-behind team."
After starting the year 5-1, Wahpeton lost its last four games, including twice in Grand Forks to end the season at .500.
ADVERTISEMENT
"We just played the better teams at the end of the season," Bickford said.
Wahpeton 0 6 8 0 -- 14
GF Central 1 3 7 7 7 -- 34
GFC -- Diedrich 31 run (Schnichels kick)
GFC -- Diedrich 1 run (kick failed)
W -- Breur 7 pass from Rau (kick failed)
GFC -- Chappell 5 run (Schnichels kick)
GFC -- Hysjulien 64 pass from Kreitinger (Schnichels kick)
ADVERTISEMENT
W -- Marohl 31 pass from Rau (Hurby run)
GFC -- Chappell 2 run (Schnichels kick)
