ANOKA, Minnesota - It was interconference start to the section 7AAAAA playoffs as the #5 seeded Forest Lake Rangers traveled to Goodrich Field in Anoka to take on the #4 seeded Anoka Tornadoes. In an exciting start to the postseason Anoka scored with 1:36 to play to advance with a 31-28 victory on Wednesday night.

Anoka led 3-0 after the 1st quarter and 16-8 at the half. Forest Lake scored the only points of the 3rd quarter and it was 16-14 Anoka leading into what turned out to be a wild 4th quarter.

Anoka recovered a Forest Lake fumble at their own 5-yard line and drove 95 yards for a touchdown and 23-14 lead.

Forest Lake senior quarterback Zach Riedeman scored his 3rd touchdown of the night to cut the Tornadoe lead to 23-20 with just over six minutes remaining. After recovering an Anoka fumble, Forest Lake took its first lead of the evening on a 12 yard TD pass to Kevin Nelson and it looked like after leading the entire way, Anoka was going to let the game slip away.

But on the ensuing drive, Anoka methodically and quickly drove the length of the field. Pat Cotter scored on a 33 yard TD run to send the Tornadoes into the section semis on Saturday. Their semifinal game will kickoff at 1:00 pm when they take on the top seeded Blaine Bengals at Blaine High School.