KM football wins section title over Byron
The Kasson-Mantorville Komets avenged a regular season loss to the Byron Bears to win the section 1 AAAA title on a dreary Halloween evening. The Komets were able to make a pivotal fourth down stop on a quarterback keeper by Byron’s Eli Rodemeyer with under three minutes left in the game. Byron was driving, down 28 – 31, at K-M’s four-yard line when a gang tackle allowed the Komets to take over on downs. K-M was then able to run out the clock for the victory.
The #1 seeded Bears faced off with their rival the #2 seeded Kasson-Mantorville Komets in the section 1 4A finals at Mayo High School Field in Rochester. Both teams earned a first-round bye. The Bears came into the game undefeated after defeating Winona 40 – 0 in the section semifinals on Oct. 25. The Komets came in having only lost one game, to Byron on Oct. 3. Byron won that game 34 – 20, on a last-minute fumble recovery returned for a touchdown by Mateusz Kawczynski. The Komets defeated Stewartville 10 – 7 on a game ending field goal by Miles Bungum in their semifinal game.
Byron got off to a hot start scoring on their first possession when Jordan Heimer ran in a seven-yard touchdown. Heimer would add another touchdown in the second quarter on a nine-yard touchdown run.
With Byron up 14 – 0, a Miles Bungum field goal put K-M on the board. However, Byron would answer right back when Heimer would take a quick out pass to the house to add to the Bear’s lead, 21 – 3. Undeterred, the Komets would add a touchdown of their own when Camryn Tottingham caught a touchdown pass from Grady Babcock to make the half time score 21 – 10.
The Komets came alive, scoring on their opening possession of the second half when Jeremiah Peterson-Gordon ran in a pitch to bring the score to 21 – 17.
After an interception by K-M’s Chase Boelter on Byron’s ensuing drive, the Komets took their first lead of the game on Parker Richards two-yard touchdown run.
Byron and K-M were trading scores when Heimer ran in another touchdown, this time from 20 yards out.
The Komets would go on top for good when Peterson-Gordon ran right from the left hash for a 15-yard touchdown with nine and half minutes left in the game.