MOORHEAD — Field conditions and the football were slick Saturday afternoon at Jim Gotta Stadium with snow flurries falling and temperatures hovering around 30 degrees. Barnesville quarterback Adam Tonsfeldt proved just as slippery as the wet artificial turf.
Tonsfeldt rushed for more than 200 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Trojans to a 28-6 victory against the Osakis Silverstreaks in the Minnesota Class 2A football quarterfinals.
“It’s good to have a Tonsfeldt,” Barnesville head coach Bryan Strand said.
Tonsfeldt finished with 228 yards on 26 attempts. The 5-foot-7, 140-pound junior also completed 2 of 4 passes for 17 yards and a touchdown.
“We felt like me faking a little bit to my other guys might get me open,” Tonsfeldt said of his 26 carries. “Straight runs were going to be really hard tonight. They’re a great team, the best team by far we’ve played this year.”
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Barnesville (12-0) advanced to the state semifinals and will play four-time defending state champion Caledonia (12-0) at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 15, at U.S. Bank Stadium. Caledonia has won 66 consecutive games and defeated Barnesville in last season’s state championship game.
“Caledonia is fantastic,” Strand said. “They throw the ball as well as any team around. They have so many weapons.”
Tonsfeldt proved to be the most valuable weapon Saturday against Osakis. He had a big first half, rushing for 160 yards and two touchdowns on 16 attempts. Tonsfeldt added his touchdown pass in the second quarter.
Tonsfeldt gave Barnesville a 6-0 lead on a 3-yard scoring run with 7 minutes, 32 seconds to play in the first quarter. He scored an 8-yard touchdown run for a 14-0 lead with 1:55 to play in the first quarter. That score came on a fourth-and-goal play and Tonsfeldt had to slip a few tackles to find the end zone.
“When we need something, we’re going to Adam,” Strand said.
“I was trying to finish every run, give it everything I had,” Tonsfeldt added. “My line did an incredible job. I don’t have any of those long runs without them blocking so well.”
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Tonsfeldt capped his big first half with an 8-yard touchdown pass to senior tight end Hunter Zenzen that gave the Trojans a 20-0 lead with 5:03 to play in the second quarter.
“To get up right away, to get that confidence rolling, makes it not so cold outside, makes everyone smile," Tonsfeldt said. "It was awesome.”
Osakis had three turnovers in the first half, while Barnesville had two turnovers by halftime as both teams dealt with the cold and wet conditions.
“The ball was way more slippery, snaps weren’t easy,” Tonsfeldt said. “Both sides had a tough time with that.”
Tonsfeldt gave Barnesville a 28-0 lead after his 4-yard touchdown run with 9:23 to play in the fourth quarter.
Osakis countered with a 25-yard touchdown run from Isaac Hetland that sliced the Barnesville lead to 28-6 with 8:25 to play in the fourth. Hetland rushed for 126 yards and a touchdown on 14 attempts.
Tonsfeldt said the Trojans are excited to get another chance against Caledonia.
“We’ve been working for it all year,” Tonsfeldt said. “We’ll be ready.”
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OHS 0 0 0 6-6
BHS 14 6 0 8-28
BHS-Tonsfeldt 3 run (run failed)
BHS-Tonsfeldt 8 run (Schiefert run)
BHS-H. Zenzen 8 pass from Tonsfeldt (run failed)
BHS0-Tonsfeldt 4 run (Schiefert run)
OHS-Hetland 25 run (run failed)
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