Lourdes Football Captures 3A State Championship

The Rochester Lourdes football team completed an undefeated 13-0 season by capping it off with a win in the Minnesota Class 3A state title game to claim their third-ever state title, defeating New London-Spicer 35-14 at the University of Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium.

The Eagles jumped out to an early 14-0 lead, but a 91-yard kickoff return for a touchdown from New London-Spicer’s Shane Zylstra cut the lead to 14-7. Lourdes had control of the game and might have put the game out of reach early, but turnovers kept New London-Spicer in the mix and they eventually tied it at 14-14.

Lourdes scored another touchdown late in the first half to regain the lead and they never looked back, adding two more touchdowns in the second half, while forcing turnovers on defense and holding New London-Spicer scoreless during that same span.

Offensively, the Eagles relied on their rushing game, led by Zach Hillman’s 118 yards and two touchdowns, as well as 80 yards on the ground from Mason Carstens. New London-Spicer’s Shane Zylstra had 229 all-purpose yards for the game.

Lourdes last state title in football was back in 2010.