Trey Feeney scores 9 TDs as Spuds cap undefeated COVID-shortened football season

MOORHEAD — The ongoing coronavirus pandemic prevented the Moorhead Spuds from chasing their state championship dream, but they were still able to achieve something notable: Perfection.

Moorhead senior quarterback Trey Feeney scored nine total touchdowns in his final high school game. The left-hander threw seven touchdown passes and also ran for two more as the Spuds cruised to a 63-7 victory against the Alexandria Cardinals on Friday night in the Minnesota Class 5A, Section 8 football playoffs at Jim Gotta Stadium.

"It’s going to be one that stays with me for a lifetime," Trey Feeney said. "I’ll never forget that whole game.”

The game was the final one this season as Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced earlier this week that high school sports would be paused after Friday night due to COVID-19. Prior to that decision, the playoffs were going to only be played through the section championship. Friday's game would have technically been the section semifinals.

“Thankfully we got to close it on a game," Spuds head coach Kevin Feeney said.

The Spuds (7-0) won all six regular season games this fall and their lone playoff game against Alexandria. They averaged 44.7 points per game, while allowing 5.4 points per contest. Moorhead finished the regular season with a 27-13 victory against Bemidji on Nov. 11, the Spuds' smallest margin of victory this season.

"This group, it’s a special one," Trey Feeney said. "Getting that last game, it was huge. It was going to end some time. It’s just a special group and I was excited to be a part of it."

The Spuds advanced to the state quarterfinals last season, but the state football playoffs were canceled this fall because of the pandemic.

"We really felt like we were a state championship football team, but I’m extremely proud of the kids," Kevin Feeney said. "We literally said every week that this was our state championship football game."

Trey Feeney completed his season with 36 touchdown passes with one interception in seven games. His rushing scores Friday night were his first two this season. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound Feeney has committed to play football at the University of North Dakota. He credited the playmakers around him for the numbers he put up.

"It was definitely an emotional one," Trey Feeney said of the last game with his high school teammates. "We went and celebrated one last time this year, again it will last a lifetime. It was just a fun night."

Feeney completed 27 of 38 passes for 372 yards Friday, finishing the season with 1,973 passing yards. Senior wide receiver Blake Walthall led the Spuds with 11 catches for 168 yards and two touchdowns against the Cardinals. His twin brother, Brady Walthall, added five catches for 53 yards and two touchdowns.

Spuds running back George Nyanforh had two catches for 95 yards and a score and rushed for 37 yards on five attempts.

The Spuds erupted for 42 points in the first half with Trey Feeney playing a role in all six scores. He threw four touchdown passes and rushed for two more scores. He capped his big first half with a 3-yard TD pass to Brady Walthall that gave the Spuds a 42-7 lead late in the second quarter.

Brady Walthall had two touchdown catches in the first half, while Blake Walthall added a 7-yard TD catch before halftime. Feeney also zipped a 7-yard score to Jacqui Fitzpatrick in the first quarter. Feeney rushed for two touchdowns in the second quarter as the Spuds scored 21 points in the first quarter and added 21 more in the second.

Brady Walthall finished the season with 55 catches for 799 yards and 14 touchdowns. Blake Walthall ended with 37 receptions for 582 yards and 11 TDs.

The Spuds defense limited Alexandria to 96 yards.

"It was a sharp performance tonight on a really emotional night," Kevin Feeney said. "Every phase of the game just flat out dominated tonight."

Alex 7 0 0 0— 7

MHS 21 21 14 7—63

MHS—Brady Walthall 30 pass from T. Feeney (Allawi kick)

MHS—Fitzpatrick 7 pass from T. Feeney (Allawi kick)

A—Heydt 52 pass from Gundberg (Sansted kick)

MHS—Blake Walthall 7 pass from T. Feeney (Allawi kick)

MHS—T. Feeney 2 run (Allawi kick)

MHS—T. Feeney 20 run (Allawi kick)

MHS—Brady Walthall 5 pass from T. Feeney (E. Feeney kick)

MHS—Nyanforh 65 pass from T. Feeney (Allawi kick)

MHS—Kainz 6 pass from T. Feeney (Allawi kick)

MHS—Blake Walthall 49 pass from T. Feeney (Allawi kick)