Head Coach Rex King addressing his team on the field after the win

 
INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, Minnesota - The Simley Spartans were able to hold off a Henry Sibley Warriors team for the 2nd time this season. This time it was on the Spartans' home field as Simley defeated the Warriors by a final of 20-14.

The first 6:00 of the game saw three touchdowns on just 13 plays between the two teams to start the 1st Quarter. Those combined 21 points were more than the 19 total points put up when the two teams played in the regular season.

Simley scored on two Jake Short touchdown runs on their 1st two possessions; the 1st from 11 yards out and the 2nd of 8 yards. Henry Sibley scored their 1st TD on a 59-yard pass from Jackson Eskierka to junior wide receiver Kenneth Jinkins.

The 2nd Half saw the Warriors score on their first possession as star running back Anastacio VandenBosch-Romo nearly single-handedly carried the ball every play of the seven play drive, before getting in the endzone from 7 yards out to tie the game at 14-14.

At point of the 3rd Quarter, we saw turnovers on three straight possessions between the teams going Simley interception, Henry Sibley fumble, and then another Simley interception.

The Spartans would end the quarter on an eleven play drive that extended 2:00 into the 4th Quarter, before senior running back Hector Rabelo ran to the left pylon from 1-yard out. This was Rabelo's only carry of the game, which scored the Spartans' final touchdown.

Henry Sibley attempted to mount a comeback with multiple drives in the last 10:00 of the game, but turned the ball over twice, including a game sealing interception with 2:12 remaining in the game by Jake Short.

The Spartans move to 4-5 overall on the season and will take on the #1 seed Saint Thomas Academy Cadets in the Section 5, Class AAAAA Semifinals. Henry Sibley ends their season at 3-6.

Players of the Game:
Simley - RB Jake Short
Henry Sibley - WR Kenneth Jinkins