Prep football: Barnum falls to Mahnomen in Class A quarterfinal

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Mahnomen’s defense was every bit as good as advertised.

The Indians entered today’s Class A football state tournament quarterfinal having posted seven shutouts and given up less than four points per game.

After a 26-0 victory over Barnum at Public Schools Stadium, those numbers improved.

Top-ranked Mahnomen (12-0) suffocated the Bombers’ offense, allowing only 97 net yards and six first downs and forcing seven turnovers.

Mahnomen advances to play Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City in a semifinal next Saturday at the Metrodome in Minneapolis.

Barnum’s season ended at 9-3.

Quarterback Jacob Pavek, who rushed for a game-high 189 yards on 30 carries, scored from the 1-yard line on the final play of the first half to give the Indians a 14-0 lead.

The half was marked by nine fumbles — four lost by each team — on a rainy, windy afternoon in Duluth. Quarterbacks lost control of three of the game’s first four snaps.

Mahomen’s defense held the Bombers to one net yard in the half and one first down on 12 offensive plays. The Indians’ first-string defense did not allow a point in the regular season and the first round of section playoffs.

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