More than four years ago, when a new football team called \u201cPhoenix\u201d assembled for its inaugural season, it brought together pieces and parts of another time and another place \u2014 kids and coaches from schools that nobody else wanted.<\/p>\n
Freeman had been dropped by Canistota.<\/p>\n
Marion was dropped by Menno.<\/p>\n
Freeman Academy just wanted a place to play.<\/p>\n
And on a chilly but still-comfortable fall Friday night, under the lights in Freeman and in front of a packed crowd made up of fans from these pieces and parts, it all came together in a way that can only be described as poetic.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Facing a salty, one-loss Hamlin team in the Class 9AA state semifinals \u2014 in the final year of the Phoenix partnership \u2014 Freeman\/Marion\/Freeman Academy took care of business in a big way by defeating the defending state champions 45-12.<\/p>\n
The Phoenix \u2014\u00a0the No. 1-seeded and No. 1-ranked team in Class 9AA \u2014 will play for a state championship against No. 2 Elkton-Lake Benton in the DakotaDome in Vermillion Thursday night, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m.<\/p>\n
FMFA is 11-0 and the Elks are 10-1 \u2014 their only loss coming against the Phoenix the third week of the season.<\/p>\n
Elkton-Lake Benton defeated No. 3 Parkston 14-8 in Friday night\u2019s other Class 9AA semifinal game.<\/p>\n
“I don’t know if there even are words; I’m kind of speechless in this moment,” Freeman senior Tate Sorensen said after the win. “We’ve worked four years for this moment and have gotten better every single year. No, the job’s not done, but it’s a blessing knowing where we are, because not everybody gets this opportunity.”<\/p>\n
The Phoenix\u2019s win over Hamlin was a complimentary effort between a devastating defense and a high-powered offense that fed off each other once both settled into the game. The Chargers used a dangerous passing game to march down the field and score on their first two possessions \u2014 an effort that was matched by FMFA \u2014 but things turned the way of the Phoenix midway through the second quarter when sophomore David Walter intercepted a pass deep in FMFA territory on Hamlin\u2019s third possession of the game.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The offense\u2019s response led to a 21-12 Phoenix lead, and FMFA made it a three-possession game on the opening drive of the third quarter when another touchdown and two-point conversion led to a 29-12 advantage.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Two more Phoenix touchdowns and a defensive stronghold following Hamlin\u2019s first two possession made it a blowout, sending these \u201cpieces and parts\u201d to one final showdown in the Dome.<\/p>\n
\u201cSpecial, special group of boys,\u201d said head coach Dustin Tschetter, who along with his support staff have led the Phoenix to winning seasons and playoff appearances every year since the partnership was established. \u201cWe\u2019ve been at this for four years; it\u2019s going to be an emotional week.\u201d<\/p>\n
Watch for much more FMFA coverage in the days to come.<\/p>\n
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