Litchfield Dragons’ Season Ends with 19-7 Loss to Annandale
UPDATE: The Litchfield Dragons’ remarkable football season has come to a heartbreaking end after a 19-7 defeat against the Annandale Cardinals in the Class AAA quarterfinals at Rocori High School’s Blattner Stadium earlier today. This marks the conclusion of Litchfield’s best season in 19 years, leaving players and fans devastated.
The Dragons, who entered the playoffs as the North’s fourth seed and made their first state appearance since 2006, fell behind early, trailing 12-0 at halftime. Despite a valiant effort, they were unable to close the gap after mounting significant drives in challenging conditions with temperatures starting at 31 degrees.
Litchfield junior running back Adrian Miller reflected on the loss, stating, “There is nothing to hang our heads on. We wish it would’ve ended up differently. But, you know, it didn’t.” The Dragons’ hopes rested on a critical drive that stalled at the Annandale 10-yard line, where a 27-yard field goal attempt hit the crossbar after a lengthy drive that consumed over 7 minutes.
Senior quarterback Alex Medina expressed disappointment: “It definitely would’ve helped if we could have punched it into the end zone.” Litchfield’s only touchdown came just before halftime, as junior running back Anthony Taylor powered through for a four-yard score, narrowing the score to 12-7.
However, the Cardinals, who remain undefeated at 11-0, proved too strong. They executed two scoring drives of their own, with the first covering 65 yards and the second 81 yards, both resulting in touchdowns. The final blow came with 7:57 remaining in the game when Annandale’s Isaiah Turner rushed for a nine-yard touchdown, bringing the score to 19-7.
“Annandale, they’re a great team and we know they’re a great team,” Medina acknowledged. “They answered pretty hard. We did our best and it wasn’t enough.”
As the game concluded, emotions ran high on the Litchfield sideline, with many players embracing amidst tears. Miller noted, “It’s just hard that we’re not going to be able to play with these seniors anymore. I’m really thankful that I got to play with them.”
Looking ahead, Annandale will face Minneapolis North, also undefeated at 11-0, in the semifinals at U.S. Bank Stadium at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 11, 2023. The Cardinals aim to capitalize on this momentum, as head coach Matt Walter emphasized the importance of consistent state appearances for the growth of the program.
As Litchfield reflects on a season filled with pride and achievement, the community rallies around its players, grateful for their hard work and resilience. The Dragons may have fallen today, but their journey has sparked hope for future seasons.
