Larson leads Mahnomen

MAHNOMEN¸Minn. - A potent rushing game carried Mahnomen past Frazee 43-16 in the opening round of the Class 2A, Section 8 playoffs Tuesday.

The Indians rushed for 425 yards - 103 from Kyle Larson, 92 each from Kyle Hanson and Patrick Dahl, and 90 from Cory Houska.

After scoring on its first possession, Mahnomen never looked back.

Junior running back Tyson McArthur had a 13-yard touchdown run on the fourth play of the Indians' first drive to start the scoring.

Larson, Mahnomen's junior quarterback, added two touchdown runs in the second quarter.

Using the option play for most of the night, Larson controlled the offense.

Either keeping the ball, handing it off to a fullback, or pitching it to one of the many halfbacks, Larson gave the Hornets defense plenty of trouble.

"The option play is tough because you have to defend the inside and outside play," said Mahnomen head coach John Clark. "It all starts with our quarterback Kyle Larson."

With the Indians' rushing attack controlling the game, Frazee's offense had a tough time moving the ball all night.

"We didn't get off to a very good start with a fumble early in the game," said head coach Steve Carlson. "It has been like this all year, we get down early and have to change our game plan and it makes it tough to come back."

Frazee sophomore quarterback Morgan Vetter connected with sophomore Ron Reynolds on two scoring passes late in the game, the Hornet's only points.

"Obviously we would have liked to win a few more games," said Carlson of the Hornets' 2-7 season.

"We got such a good group of seniors, it was a pleasure coaching them," added Carlson.

Mahnomen visits Hawley Saturday for a semifinal matchup.

"Our offensive line has really come together the last few weeks," said Clark. "When we can move the ball on the ground and get it in the end zone early, it gives us a lot of confidence."

"Hopefully we can get it going against Hawley," said Clark

Frazee 0 0 0 16-16

Mahnomen 16 14 13 0-43

M-McArthur 13 run (Hanson run)

M-Hanson 11 run (McArthur run)

M-Larson 18 run (Schoenborn kick)

M-Larson 42 run (Lavoy kick)

M-Hanson 36 run (Lavoy kick)

M-Houska 2 run (run failed)

F-Reynolds 8 pass from Vetter (Shipman pass from Vetter)

F-Reynolds 14 pass from Vetter (Taylor run)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: Frazee, Taylor 6-46, Bachmann 6-38. Mahnomen, Larson 9-103, Houska 13-90, Hanson 9-92, Dahl 8-92.

PASSING: Frazee, 6-7-2 66 yards. Mahnomen, Larson 1-5-0 21.

RECEIVING: Frazee, Reynolds 2-22, Mahnomen, Schoenborn 1-21.

Readers can reach Forum reporter Michael Baso at (701) 241-5504