Hills-Beaver Creek went into Thursday's Nine-Player semifinal knowing that, despite its undefeated record and a season of impressive victories, it was considered an underdog. Its opponent, Mountain Iron-Buhl, had a remarkably similar season. But the Rangers had put up offensive numbers that boggled the mind and demanded attention, averaging 66 points per game, topping 90 once, 80 twice and 70 two other times.

So the Patriots used their platform at U.S. Bank Stadium to state their case. They were just as good, the feeling was. Now they had to prove it.

Which was exactly what they did.

Hills-Beaver Creek took an early lead, expanded that to a 10-point halftime margin, then matched everything Mountain Iron-Buhl did in the second half, emerging with a 26-20 victory and a berth in the Prep Bowl on Nov. 23.

"Everything has come pretty easy for them," Hills-Beaver Creek coach Rex Metzger said. "Our goal was, get them to have a little tension, get them a little bit uncomfortable."

Hills-Beaver Creek, 19 miles from Sioux Falls in the southwest corner of Minnesota, started strong, taking a 2-0 lead when Beau Bakken sacked Mountain Iron-Buhl quarterback Micaden Clines in the end zone.

The Rangers (12-1) trailed for the first time all season.

They bounced back with a 65-yard scoring pass from Clines to T.J. DuChamp, but Hills-Beaver Creek had the answer. Quarterback Jamin Metzger scored on a short run that capped a 14-play, 66-yard drive. A two-point conversion restored the two-point advantage, 10-8.

The Patriots (12-0) made it 18-8 just before halftime on a 16-yard pass from Metzger to Bakken, further emboldening them.

"Any attention they've gotten over the year was well deserved," Bakken said. "The attention that we didn't get didn't worry us too much. I think it was good to kind of fly under the radar."

The teams traded touchdowns in the second half.

Leading 26-14, Hills-Beaver Creek was poised to close out the victory but fumbled on its own 5. Mountain Iron-Buhl took advantage immediately, making the score 26-20 on Derik Dahl's 5-yard run.

The Rangers forced the Patriots to punt with less than a minute to go and got to the Hills-Beaver Creek 32 on a 50-yard pass from Clines to DuChamp with 30 seconds left. On the next play, Sawyer Bosch, whose fumble had given Mountain Iron-Buhl new life, atoned for the mistake by intercepting a Clines pass, clinching the victory.

"I'm so happy for the kid," coach Metzger said of Bosch's interception. "He was hurting after he fumbled the ball. Then for him to pick that off, uh, was pretty awesome."

Fertile-Beltrami tops LeRoy-Ostrander/Lyle-Pacelli 60-33

Isaiah Wright limped off the field midway through the second quarter after injuring his left ankle. It didn't prevent him from running wild.

A senior running back, he rushed for 361 yards on 24 carries with seven touchdowns — the second most in a state tournament game — leading third-ranked Fertile-Beltrami to a 60-33 victory over fifth-ranked LeRoy-Ostrander/Lyle-Pacelli in the second Nine-Player semifinal Thursday at U.S. Bank Stadium.

The state tournament record of eight rushing touchdowns is shared by Jerry Simonson of Franklin High School in Renville County against Echo in 1966 and Peter Warren of Cook County against Grand Marais in 2012.

"He is fast, shifty," Cardinals coach Trevor Carrier said. "He lets his blocking develop. He is patient, and one cut and he is gone."

Wright scored three touchdowns in the first half, when the Falcons (12-0) fell behind 27-22. He scored on runs of 13, 41 and 46 yards.

"We've been down in a few games this season," Falcons coach Brian Nelson said. "It doesn't bother our guys."

Wright stole the show in the second half, scoring on 6-, 38-, 43- and 56-yard runs. Three of his touchdowns came in a span of 2 minutes, 46 seconds, breaking open a close game. He added three two-point conversion runs.

"Without my linemen and lead blockers, this isn't possible," said the 6-0, 200-pound Wright, who has rushed for 2,428 yards on 154 carries with 39 touchdowns this season. "That was a lot of fun."

Senior quarterback Camden Hungerholt threw for three touchdowns and ran for a score, all in the first half, for the Cardinals (12-1). He threw touchdown passes of 36, 45 and 66 yards, two to younger brother, Reid, a sophomore, after opening the scoring with a 42-yard run down the sideline on a fourth-and-2 play. He finished 12-for-29 passing for 238 yards while running for 152 yards on 23 carries.

"Our defense played really good in the second half," Nelson said. "I think we wore them down."

Both teams pack plenty of firepower. They both average over 50 points per game.

"Losing isn't fun for anybody," Carrier said. "The loss is tough, but saying goodbye to the seniors is the hardest part. It's a terrible feeling."