Moorhead is coming of age, and still has some growing to do.
The youthful Spuds edged Alexandria 36-34 in a clash of Class 5A powers when Cardinals senior kicker Daniel Jackson’s 43-yard field goal sailed wide left with 20 seconds remaining, starting a wild celebration for the Spuds at Viking Bank Stadium in Alexandria. The jubilant group was waved back to the sideline by the Moorhead coaching staff.
Alexandria (6-1) entered the matchup ranked No. 1 in Class 5A, and Moorhead (7-0) was No. 2.
The Cardinals took advantage of a short field to take a 27-22 lead on their first possession of the second half, two plays after a 6-yard punt went out of bounds at the Spuds 40-yard line. Thompson hit senior Evan Kludt with a 33-yard touchdown pass.
After a back-and-forth first half, the Spuds took a 22-20 lead into the locker room at halftime. Jett also hooked up with Mack on a 22-yard touchdown pass and with Battle on a 48-yarder in the first half, and sophomore Taye Reich scored on a 7-yard run.
Alexandria countered with touchdown runs of 2 yards by senior Macklen Heydt and 4 yards by Thompson before Thompson found senior Mason Gorghuber with a 3-yard scoring strike with three seconds left in the first half.
