BRAINERD -- If you blink for a second, Barnesville's Power-T offense will make your head spin.
Holdingford felt that way after trailing 16-13 at the end of the first quarter to the Trojans in a Class 2A state football quarterfinal game on Friday, Nov. 7, at Brainerd High School's Don Adamson Field.
The Power-T, or Wing-T as many football purists like to call it, is all about deception and employs three running backs (a fullback, wing back and tailback). Barnesville sophomore quarterback Jacob Strand ran it to near perfection in the first quarter with fakes, misdirection and tight formations that had the Huskers on their heels.
But Holdingford's trio of senior quarterback Jaxon Bartkowicz, senior running back Masyn Patrick and senior wide receiver Nate Streit proved to be too much for the Trojans (8-4) in the end as the Huskers advanced to the Class 2A state semifinals with a 40-24 win.
"That offense tests your discipline and your focus," Holdingford head coach Luke Mitchell said. "We knew we were going to give up a few big plays just because of their style. Our kids bent but didn't break. We did enough defensively to make enough plays in the second half. We knew it might take a quarter or two to get used to it because you can't replicate that in practice."
Holdingford will next play at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 14, at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Huskers, the top seed from the north, will play the low remaining seed from the south side of the bracket.
Patrick caught touchdown passes of 7 and 19 yards from Bartkowicz in the first quarter to put Holdingford up 13-8. But Strand and senior running back Major Ness responded with a quick drive, that was capped by a 2-yard TD run from Ness, to put Barnesville up 16-13.
"We've never played a Power-T offense like that and it was our first time seeing it," said Patrick, who plays cornerback on defense. "You can only prepare so much until you see it in person. Our guys did a good job of overcoming adversity and powering through.
"We slowed it down in the second half and scored the ball when we had to."
Bartkowicz and the Huskers came right back with their own quick scoring drive to begin the second quarter. It ended with Bartkowicz scoring on a 3-yard touchdown run to give Holdingford the lead for good at 20-16.
Instead of sticking to the Power-T philosophy on the next drive, Barnesville opted to pass down the middle of the field. Strand threw a floater and Streit, playing as a safety on defense, picked it off at the Holdingford 15-yard line.
That turnover swung the momentum in Holdingford's favor. On the second play of the ensuring drive, Bartkowicz darted down the middle of the field for an 81-yard touchdown run to give his team a 26-16 lead.
"They were playing back and not trying to give up big plays," Bartkowicz said. "We were dumping it off with screens and things like that to force them up. We played mind games on offense with them and we eventually hit ones down the field."
It looked like the Huskers would go up even bigger at the end of the first half. Bartkowicz had a 62-yard run to the Barnesville 3-yard line, but the Trojans were called for a facemask penalty. Since a half can't end on a penalty, the Huskers were allowed to run one more play. However, Bartkowicz was stopped on a short run.
The good news for Holdingford was that it got the ball back to start the second half. The Huskers took full advantage with senior running back Kolton Harren charging in for a 64-yard touchdown run with 11:46 on the clock. The Huskers went up 33-16.
Barnesville cut it to 33-24 with a 6-yard touchdown run from Cameron Halverson with 4:54 left in the third, but the Huskers responded again. Bartkowicz hit Streit for a 22-yard touchdown pass with 1:52 on the clock to make it 40-24.
Bartkowicz finished with three touchdown passes and two touchdown runs.
"We haven't been this far in 12 years," Patrick said. "No one in Holdingford history has ever played at U.S. Bank Stadium. This means a lot to our town and our team."