Hutchinson Routs Holy Angels, 49-7, In Class 4A

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Robbie Grimsley more than made up for an early mistake.

The junior ran for three long scores — including a Prep Bowl record 92-yard dash — and Hutchinson crushed the Academy of Holy Angels 49-7 Friday in the Prep Bowl to win its second straight Class 4A Championship and 26th straight game.

Grimsley, who finished with 261 yards on six carries before rolling his ankle, scored on runs of 76, 57 and 92 yards in the first quarter to put the Tigers (13-0) well on their way to a fifth school title. Tory Adams added three rushing touchdowns and a punt return for a score.

"It's exciting," said Grimsley, who fumbled away the opening kickoff. "You never want to fumble the football, especially to start the game like that in the state championship. I was lucky the coaches were willing to give me the ball again and trust me."

Grimsley entered the game with 772 yards rushing and nine touchdowns, less than half the 1,597 total yards and 25 touchdowns gained by Adams.

"His performance didn't surprise me," said Hutchinson coach Andy Rostberg. "He's a game-breaker. He doesn't need much of a crack. ... If he gets out into the secondary it's usually over."

"It was Robbie's night tonight. It's great," added Adams.

He had a pretty good night, too.

Adams returned a punt 50 yards for a score and added 21-, 6- and 9-yard scoring runs as part of his 19-carry, 147-yard day.

Hutchinson held a 454-82 rushing yard advantage.

"We knew we had to come out and establish the running game ... we didn't know it would be this good," Grimsley said.

Anthony Ekholm scored on an 8-yard run with 13 seconds left for Holy Angels (7-6), which had won four in a row after a 3-5 regular season. This was the fifth time this season the Stars failed to generate at least 10 points.

"They are who they are; they're doggone good," said coach Ray Betton.

On Hutchinson's first play from scrimmage, Grimsley burst up the middle and sprinted 76 yards to the end zone for a 7-0 lead. Starting at their own 12 on the next series, Adams rushed for 26 yards — and got five more on a face-mask penalty — before Grimsley went off right side for 57 yards and a score.

A pair of completions from Ekholm got the ball into Hutchinson territory before the Stars had to punt late in the opening quarter. It was downed at the 8-yard line.

Grimsley took the first-down handoff, ran through a hole on the right side and went untouched 92 yards to the end zone for a 21-0 lead.

Jordan Suhonen of Cromwell held the previous distance record, going 86 yards as part of his Prep Bowl-record 374 yards rushing in 2010.

Adams broke free of three tackles to return a punt 50 yards for a score less than 2 minutes into the second quarter to make it 28-0. His 21-yard score later in the quarter made it 35-0.

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