Ness City won their first football state championship in school history on Saturday as the Eagles defeated Mankato-Rock Hills 40-8.
After a scoreless first quarter, Ness City used a big special teams play to start the scoring. The Eagles blocked a Grizzly punt into the end zone and Ness City's Will Frusher recovered for a 6-0 lead.
The Eagles then added a touchdown with a little over four mintues remaining in the half as quarterback Koltyn Ratliff hit Dalton Gantz on a 7-yard touchdown pass to make it 12-0 Eagles.
Gantz would provide the the separation just two minutes later as Gantz broke around the left side for a 61-yard touchdown run and a 20-0 lead for the Eagles at halftime.
Ness City held the Grizzlies to approximately 40 yards of total offense in the first half and two first downs; one of which was earned by penalty.
The Eagles and Grizzlies played a scoreless third quarter as an impressive Ness City drive to open the second half ended when Ratliff was intercepted in the end zone.
Mankato-Rock Hills looked to crawl back into the game with an impressive drive late in the third quarter, but Ratliff made the first of his two interceptions in the end zone.
The Eagles increased their lead to 32-0 in the final quarter with touchdowns by Ratliff on a 1-yard sneak and an pick-six in which Ratliff stepped in front of a Rock Hills lateral that appeared to be setting up a double pass.
Gantz scored the final TD for Ness City on a 22-yard run barreling over a defended and Garrett Flax added the two-point conversion.
Mankato-Rock Hill's only score of the game came late in the fourth quarter with a 1-yard run by Clay Cosand and a successful two-point conversion pass.
Ness City finishes the season with a perfect 13-0. Mankato-Rock Hills finished 11-2.
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