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SIOUX CITY – For just the second time in program history, Algona is headed to the state football semifinals.
The Bulldogs avenged a regular season loss to district rival Bishop Heelan, 31-0. Algona (7-4 overall) will play next Saturday from the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.
Nathan Manske had two rushing touchdowns for No. 15 Algona, with Coyer Spear and Owen Moe adding TDs of their own on the ground in a 267-yard rushing performance.
The only other time Algona reached the final four was in 2019 when they fell to eventual state champion OABCIG, 41-32. Former Iowa Hawkeye All-American and current Philadelphia Eagle Cooper DeJean led the Falcons with over 400 total yards and five touchdowns.
The first half was a dominant showing in all three areas by Algona. The Bulldogs outgained Heelan, 176-35, forcing interceptions on back-to-back pass attempts. They also had 10 first downs to just three by the Crusaders.
Spear, who had a failed fake punt attempt late in the first, made up for it with a 34-yard run to paydirt. After a 17-play, 76-yard drive came up without points, this one ended with the Spear touchdown after nine plays and 64 yards.
On Algona's first three possessions of the game, they had 130 yards of total offense, including 121 rushing yards, to just 11 for Heelan.
Caden Kuecker's interception set up a 36-yard field goal by Adrian Foster to make it 10-0, as Owen Moe had another interception on the very next pass attempt. From there, Manske finished things off with a 1-yard plunge into the end zone.
Kuecker added a second interception during the second half on a play that sidelined Heelan quarterback Eli Mielke for a series.
In the regular season, the Crusaders picked up a 24-14 decision to secure the district title and home-field advantage for the rematch. Algona was held to 149 rushing yards in that one, a number they easily surpassed in the opening half.
Manske finished with 77 rushing yards, Spear had 72 and Cael Rotert 58. Rotert also caught two passes from Manske for 31 yards, as Landon Campe caught a 30-yard pass.
Tayton Rummel and Brody Shipler each had quarterback sacks, as Mason Ulrich and Will Limbaugh shared a sack of backup QB Ceron Bridges.
Before taking out the starters, the Algona defense held Bishop Heelan to minus-7 yards rushing and just 57 passing yards for four first downs. The Crusaders were averaging 28 points per game and had won five straight coming in.