Bethlehem Academy is Section 2 Class A Football Champion

The Faribault Bethlehem Academy Cardinals defeated the St. Clair Cyclones 14-12 in Jordan Friday night to capture the Section 2 Class A title.

The win means the Cardinals are dancing in the State Tournament and will play at 1:00 p.m. Saturday in New Ulm.

Their opponent will be the unbeaten Wabasso Rabbits, a 48-6 victor over New Ulm Cathedral Friday at Southwest State Minnesota University.

Bethlehem Academy stuffed a pair of two point conversion attempts by the Cylcones while they kicked their extra points and that proved to be the margin of victory.

The Cardinals kicked off to start the game and the ball went out of bounds at the St. Clair 15 yard line.

The Cyclones made BA kick over and the short kick gave St. Clair the ball at the Cardinal 48 yard line.

A face mask penalty aided the six play drive ending in a 15 yard touchdown run by Noah Schruin with 9:06 to go in the first quarter.  Schruin attempted to run in the two point conversion and it was stuffed.

On the very next series the Cardinals had a 15 play 58 yard drive ending in a Damon Trump strike to Nate Bauernfeind for a 13 yard touchdown on a fourth down and 12 with 3:06 to go in the quarter. Anthony Langfeldt's extra point kick was good.

There was no scoring in the second quarter although St. Clair lived in the Bethlehem Academy side of the field.

The score at halftime was 7-6 Bethlehem Academy on top.

The Cyclones took the lead with 7:44 to go in the third quarter on a Schruin 3  yard run.  Schruin attempted to run in the two point conversion again and it was stuffed.

Bethlehem Academy scored with 2:03 to go in the third quarter on a perfectly thrown 50 yard pass to Bauernfeind from Trump again on a fourth and long situation.

Lanfeldt's kick was low but went over the crossbar and the Cardinals hung on for the 14-12 win.

It was a terrific high school football game fought by two evenly matched teams.

Bethlehem Academy ran 59 plays for a total of 245 yards and St. Clair had 193 yards on 53 plays.

Trump was 7 of 17 for 103 yards and two touchdowns through the air while St. Clair was 1 for 6 on the night with 4 total yards.

The Cyclones had 16 first downs and the Cardinals 13.  St. Clair had 14 rushing first downs and two by BA penalties.  The Cardinals had 13 total first downs.  8 rushing and 5 passing.

Bethlehem Academy's ability to throw the ball was a difference in the game along with the inability of St. Clair to move the ball that way.

The Cyclones were 5 of 10 on third down conversions and 0 for 3 on fourth down conversions.

The Cardinals were 4 of 15 on third down conversions and one for three on fourth down conversions.

Time of possession was pretty even with Bethlehem Academy in possession of the football for 23:39 and St. Clair 24:21.

The Cyclones amassed 189 yards rushing and the Cardinals 142.

Jack Clark had 97 yards for the Cardinals on 27 carries and Schruin finished the game for St. Clair with 136 yards on 31 carries.

Nate Bauernfeind had 5 catches for 73 yards to lead the Bethlehem Academy aerial attack.

On defense Langfeldt, led the Cardinals with 6.5 tackles along with Graham Ellendson and Zach Van Thomme.