Chanhassen defeats Andover in OT thriller in MSHSL Class 5A football semifinal

The Storm combined for over 900 yards of offense in the Minnesota high school football semifinal

MINNEAPOLIS — The Chanhassen Storm (12-0) defeated the Andover Huskies (10-2) 54-46 in overtime in the Minnesota high school football Class 5A semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium.

After throwing an interception in the red zone down by 10 points, quarterback Chase Pemberton led the Huskies to a touchdown and a 2-point conversion to cut the lead to three with four minutes remaining in the game. 

Chanhassen coach Cullen Nelson was called for an unsportsmanlike penalty, which allowed the Huskies to move up 15 yards on the ensuing kickoff. 

The Huskies executed an onside kick recovery, and kicker Carter Eklund also hit a 33-yard field goal to tie the game at 46 with 1:42 remaining later in the drive. 

Neither offense scored in the final two minutes and the Storm and the Huskies went to overtime.

In overtime, Chanhassen scored on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Brayden Windschitl to Sam Macy, his first catch of his career. The Storm converted the 2-point attempt on a screen pass lateral to running back Maxwell Woods.

"We practiced and prepared, so the pressure wasn't really too big for us," Woods said. "We've worked on that play a lot. Me and Daxton have just had unbelievable chemistry from we were preschooler, and now it's working out in overtime of the state semifinals."

Chanhassen stopped the Andover offense in the first overtime to win the game.

"It sucks that somebody has to lose," Andover head coach Tom Develice said. "That was a battle. That was a fight. It hurts now, but I could not be prouder of our kids and what they do and how they continued to fight tonight."

Woods finished with 27 rushing attempts, 221 rushing yards and two touchdown. Windschitl finished 14-of-24 with 224 passing yards and three touchdowns, and he had 69 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.

Neither offense blinked in the first half. With a halftime score of 31-28 in favor of Chanhassen, the teams combined for 588 yards of offense, and of the 12 drives, nine results nine resulted in points scored. 

Two special teams fumbles prevented the Storm from owning a bigger halftime lead. The Storm defense forced an Andover punt, but Chanhassen's return man muffed the fair catch, and Andover recovered and scored on the next play. 

Later in the half, after an Andover touchdown, Chanhassen fumbled the kickoff return and gave the Huskies great field position again, and the Huskies capitalized with a touchdown. 

"You're relieved to be up one score after giving up 28," Macy said. "We're talking about what we need to fix and what we need to do better, and honestly a lot of it was on special teams and how we can limit turnovers."

Halftime seemed a time to regroup for both defenses. The first three drives of the second half ended with two turnovers on downs and one punt, but Andover missed a critical opportunity to score when Cameron Begalle dropped an open touchdown on third down. Andover failed to convert the fourth down.

Chanhassen running back Maxwell Woods scored the first points of the third quarter with a 13-yard touchdown run for a 38-28 lead. 

"They just make plays," Nelson said. "They make me look smart. I'm the luckiest coach in Minnesota, and I'm really proud of them."

Chanhassen will play for its first state title in its 15 years as a school. The Storm will play St. Thomas Academy (10-2) in the Class 5A Prep Bowl on November 25 at 7 p.m.

Live updates: Andover vs. Chanhassen in the MSHSL Class 5A semifinal

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