Hamilton was host to Laurel for the Class A semi finals. Laurel is the No. 2 Seed from the East and had one loss. Hamilton was undefeated. The game was close throughout with both teams being evenly matched.
Laurel scored in the first quarter on a two-yard run by Beau Dantic. They scored again midway through the second quarter when quarterback Eli Aby pushed through from a yard out.
Hamilton finally got on the board when Tyson Rostad hit Ben Rooney for a seven-yard scoring reception. Austin Drake kicked the PAT. But Laurel wasn’t done in the half, they had one more score with :18 seconds remaining in the half when Aby passed to Emmett Renner for the score.
The two teams settled down to some knock down football in the third quarter with neither team scoring. It was almost a yard for yard battle on the ground and in the air for each team. Tristan Lewis made an interception for Hamilton on their own 13 yard line but just as the Broncs were building some momentum, James Oches of Laurel snagged the ball for the interception.
Just two-seconds into the fourth quarter, Rostad pushed through from two yards out for the score. With the extra point by Drake, the Broncs were only down a touchdown. After the kickoff, Hamilton held the Locomotives and forced them to punt. Hamilton took over at the 48 yard line and moved the ball up the field with Jaiden Klemundt leading the charge. Rostad unloaded a 24 yard pass to Liam O’Connell for the score and with the PAT by Drake, the game was tied.
“We did what we wanted to do,” said coach Bryce Carver.
Hamilton was pushing as hard as they could against Laurel but it was a tough fight. The two teams went back and forth. A fourth down with two inches to go for Hamilton caused them to turn the ball over on downs. A few plays later, Laurel scored and put the game away, 28-21.
“It’s hard to say goodbye to those seniors and watch them walk off the field for the last time,” said Carver. Hamilton finished with a 10-1 record.