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Velva embracing challenge of facing Beulah in Class A quarterfinals

Garrick Hodge/MDN Velva quarterback Nicholas Effertz (18) surveys the field during a game earlier this season.

VELVA — Velva football couldn’t have asked for a better start to its postseason Saturday.

The No. 2-ranked Aggies (9-0) came out of the gates roaring against Hazen, holding a 20-0 lead after the first quarter and eventually winning the contest 40-7.

“We got off to a good start and we took advantage of good field position early,” Velva coach Larry Sandy said. “After a 20-0 lead, that’s always big in any kind of game. We got the game going well and established where we were at. We came out of halftime and took it down and scored and kept it going.”

Running back Elijah Hackman and tight end Hayden Lee each had two touchdowns for the Aggies and quarterback Nicholas Effertz threw for three in the victory over Hazen

“We have a pretty balanced attack between the run and pass and mix things up offensively,” Sandy said. “We’ve been able to attack with the big plays in the air and our quarterback does a nice job of delivering the ball to our wideouts. It’s all predicated by our guys blocking up front for us.”

It only gets harder from here from the Aggies, though. The Region 3 champions welcome Beulah for a 1:30 p.m. Class A quarterfinal matchup Saturday in Velva and hope for another fast beginning out of the gate.

“They’re a good team,” Sandy said. “They’re athletic, defensively they do a nice job in their scheme and they tackle really well. Offensively, they run a system no one runs and it’s a little difficult to prepare for because of that. Their offense is hard to replicate in practice because they run a lot of people in the backfield and run a lot of misdirection and smoke and mirrors type of stuff.”

Beulah (8-1) is coming off a 38-7 dismantling of Bishop Ryan in which it ran for 381 yards. The Miners’ lone loss on the season was 21-0 to No. 4 Dickinson Trinity on Oct. 6. Despite the difficult challenge, Sandy said he’s been impressed with his team’s preparation in the playoffs. With a win, the Aggies would make their first appearance in the semifinals since 2015.

“I think the athletes we have now have been working hard for this their whole career,” Sandy said. “A lot of them were part of the playoff run we had two years ago. They’ve been working hard and getting better athletically. Hopefully, it shows up on the football field for us.”

The winner of this matchup takes on the winner of Langdon Area/Edmore/Munich vs. the Ellendale/Edgeley/Kulm Thunder in the Class 11A semifinals on Nov. 4.

Garrick Hodge covers Minot State athletics, the Minot Minotauros and high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @Garrick_Hodge.

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