This Class A final pits two big names in small school football with Mahnomen and Dawson-Boyd. Both teams come in at 11-0 and ripped through their respective schedules without much resistance. Today we found out who is the better of the best.

Mahnomen would get on the board first. With a pace setting 11 play 75 yard drive that ticked away 4:59 of the first quarter. Senior RB Avery Fairbanks would finish the drive with a 1 yard run at 7:01 of the first quarter. Kick would fail, 6-0 Mahnomen.

Dawson-Boyd didn’t even flinch, a drive like that could make most teams fearful and play tight, not the Blackjacks. They would score the next 3 touchdowns of the first half. Sophomore Joey Lee would get the first, on a 1 yard td run. Kick was good 7-6 D-B. Esten Weber would get the next, on a 5 yard TD run, and Justin Lee from 2 yards at 2:05 of the 2nd quarter to make the halftime score 21-6.

The first half was even in yards, TOP, first downs. The factor as usual was turnovers. The 2 fumbles lost by Mahnomen was too much to overcome, and that would be the deciding factor of the half and eventually the game.

After some back and forth 3 and outs forced by both defenses, Mahnomen would put together an impressive 8 play 79 yard drive that Jacob Pavek would finish with a 1 yard dive. With a perfect 2 point conversion play, Mahnomen trimmed the lead to 21-14.

Dawsom-Boyd would respond immediately with a 9 play 58 yard drive of their own as Justin Lee gained his 2nd rushing td of the game to extend the lead for good. Later in the 4th quarter, Webber would also get his 2nd td of the game to put it on ice for the Blackjacks. Mahnomen would score as time expired in garbage time.

Final score: Dawson-Boyd 35 Mahnomen 20