Providence Lions Look To Continue Gritty Play At State

If Providence Academy's Class AAA state football tournament game tomorrow against Perham turns into a physical grudge match, the Lions will feel right at home.

They earned their first-ever trip to the state tournament in a grueling 15-14 win against Rockford last Friday. In reviewing the film from the PA-Rockford game, Lions Coach Nate Harrington saw 8 to 9 Lions defensive players consistently swarm at the Rockets.

“I could watch the film without the sound on and see the kids' energy and body language,” Harrington said. “It got me excited to see the high level that they played at.”

Phifer Nicholson led the Lions with 13 tackles in the game. Dan Leidall had eight tackles for the Lions, including a pair that helped lead to a turnover on downs by the Rockets inside the Lions 25-yard line.

Sean Mostrom had five tackles and a 26-yard field goal. Sam Pellegrene had an interception. As a team, the Lions held the Rockets to 134 total yards and only one play went for more than 25 yards.

“Intestinal fortitude all the way the across,” Harrington said immediately after the game. “They wanted it more.”

In addition to the defensive show, the Lions offense battled a tough Rockets defense in rallying from deficits of 6-3 and 14-9 in the second half. Running back Marshall Klitzke put the Lions ahead for good on his 20-yard rushing TD in the fourth quarter.

“We've got to thank them for giving us a great game,” Lions receiver/defensive back Nick Schmitz said after the win. “I want to thank the Lord for this. He let us play tonight.”

Kiltzke had spent the game trying to break a big run against the Rockets. He had come of a 378-yard, 5-TD performance against Breck, and the Rockets came prepared for him.

“It was tough all game,” Kliztke said. “I was getting four or five yards a pop. Then, finally at the end we started getting some push.”

“They were keying on me, so I didn't have much room to run,” Kliztke added. “At the end, we figured out the backside block, and it worked. My O-line did a great job of getting me open on that play.”

The Lions defense came out and stuffed the Rockets early and did not allow a first down on the Rockets' first three possessions. The Lions defense kept dominating, holding the Rockets to a pair of first downs and 21 yards of offense in the first half.

A pair of fumbles by the Lions tipped things in the Rockets favor at the start of the second half, but the Lions held the Rockets to just a passing TD after the two fumbles. Trailing 6-3, the Lions rallied at the start of the fourth quarter with a rushing TD by quarterback Jackson Canfield for a 9-6 lead.

Then, Rockford had the only play of the game that went for more than 20 yards, when Nick Monssen caught a 46-yard TD pass for a 14-9 lead at 8:49. The Lions answered back with Kiltzke's 20-yard TD on a 12-play drive.

“Our secondary thought the quarterback was down,” Harrington said about that and other pass plays. “We're going to have to get that out of our system.”

When the Lions take the field against the Perham Yellowjackets in Saint Cloud, they will likely see more of the same. The Yellowjackets use a double-wing formation and play hard-nosed, physical football. Their quarterback also runs effectively in the option and breaks tackles often, and he can throw the ball down field with more than 1,200 yards this season.

“He's more of an option type, but he's not afraid to use his arm,” Harrington said. “He likes to zing the ball all over.”

Both schools will likely have large crowds in as neighboring schools will also be playing at Saint Cloud State University that day.

Perham neighbor, Minnesota-State Moorhead, which has players from Perham, will play SCSU that afternoon.

Wayzata High School, five minutes from Providence, will play their state tournament game against Moorhead High School at SCSU after the Providence-Perham clash.

(Editor's Note: Want to check out the live coverage? Just check back here tomorrow and see the live blog with Matthew Davis on Plymouth Patch.)