Elk River Elks Run Away With Class AAAAA State Title

The best way to describe Saturday's Class AAAAA championship game would be to quote the title of a 1964 song by the Mankato group The Gestures "Run Run Baby" because that's all Nicholas Rice did as he scored three touchdowns and ran for 242 yards to lead the Elk River Elks to a 42-14 win over the Spring Lake Park Panthers at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

It was the first state title for the Elks in their 125 year football history in their second trip to the Prep Bowl.  Their last trip came in 1990 when they lost to the Anoka Tornadoes in the Class AA final.

Sam Gibas would score Elk River's only first quarter touchdown as he dashed into the end zone from 60 yards.  The Elks took a 7-0 lead.

Sherrod Kphan would begin the second quarter scoring for the Elks with a 50 yard touchdown run.  Then it was Rice's turn to fry the Panther defense as he ran like he was headed up Highway 169 as he scored his first two touchdowns.  The first came from 48 yards and the second was a 54 yard sprint.  Elk River led at halftime 27-0.

There would be no shutout for the Elks in the third quarter as the Panthers erased the yellow zero from the giant US Bank Stadium scoreboard on Nick Robinson's one yard touchdown run.  Rice would reach the end zone a third time, scoring from 49 yards to give Elk River a 34-7 lead.

Even the Elk River reserves got into the box score as Noah Weege, who replace Blake Hills at quarterback, scored on a 30 yard keeper touchdown.  Zachary Ojile also kept the ball for a touchdown, scoring from four yards with 1:07 left to play.

The Elks did not attempt a single pass in the Class AAAAA final.  In addition to rice's 242 yards, Sam Gibas ran 11 times for 105 yards.  The Panthers were led by Mark Buley's 11 carries for 118 yards.

Former Minnesota Golden Gopher and Indianapolis Colt Ben Utecht sang the National Anthem prior to the start of the game.

Elk River concluded their season with a record of 13-0 and Spring Lake Park ended the season at 12-1.  The last time Elk River had an undefeated season was 1947.