WARNER – Facing a defense focused on stopping the ground game, Warner took to the air Thursday night.

Braydon Kroll passed for 241 yards and three touchdowns to help lead the Monarchs to a 51-6 quarterfinal playoff football win over Colman-Egan.

“They were really playing the run hard and they kind of stuffed us a little bit,” Kroll said, “but I think that helped us open up the pass game a little more and it worked for us.”

Kroll had a career passing night, hooking up with a variety of receivers to foil the Colman-Egan defensive game plan.

“It was awesome. It was fun throwing it out there to them and let them make a play,” Kroll said. “They made a couple of my not as accurate throws look pretty good for me, so that’s awesome.”

After Warner’s Beckham Cantalope had a huge game in a first-round win over Northwestern last week, the Hawks were determined not to let that happen again.

“They sold out on Cantalope. He had double coverage when he split out,” said Warner coach Derek Hoellein. “They were bringing people like crazy. That just opened things up for everybody else.”

Cantalope still had a big game, rushing for nearly 100 yards and two touchdowns, but it was Warner’s passing game that broke the game open.

“He’s a great running back. He does a great job of cutting back and we really worked hard to defend that,” said Colman-Egan coach Chad Williamson. “They have other players that made plays.”

One of those players was Parker Wood, who led the Monarchs with six receptions and finished with more than 100 yards of total offense.

“Credit to Braydon. He played an awesome game tonight, awesome passing,” Wood said. “I think he had three passing touchdowns, so that’s incredible.”

Wood is a threat to go the distance each time he touches the ball, and did major damage when he got out in space.

“That’s my favorite, one on one,” Wood said. “That’s what I probably prefer most, just one on ones with a lot of space.”

Cantalope scored on a 5-yard run in the opening quarter before Kroll fired three straight touchdown strikes, one to Cantalope and a pair to Alec Mikkelsen.

“Braydon played really well tonight,” Hoellein said. “He’s capable of doing that.”

Mikkelsen booted a 27-yard field goal to close out the half to give the Monarchs a 30-0 lead at the break.

That was more than enough offense for Warner, which held the Hawks to just four first downs in the contest.

“They did a great job of beating us in all phases of the game tonight,” Williamson said.

The leader of the Warner defense was Noah Bakeberg, who racked up 10 tackles and was always around the action.

“I was playing downhill,” Bakeberg said, “working with my brother in the middle, Gage, getting the tackles.”

Bakeberg said the Monarchs were disciplined with players fulfilling their responsibilities.

“Our D-line had anchors, we flowed, every man did their job,” Bakeberg said. “We trust each other and that helps a lot.”

Hoellein said that Bakeberg plays a pivotal role on defense.

“He’s kind of the tone setter for us. He played really well,” Hoellein said. “He got downhill. He does a really nice job of taking on blockers and still making the play.”

Bakeberg almost added an interception to his night’s work, but had a pass go off his hands.

“I was looking at the end zone,” Bakeberg said of potentially returning it for a score. “I want that one back.”

The Monarchs received a touchdown run from Cantalope and two from Cash Hanson in the second half.

Warner improved to 10-0 on the season with the victory and will now hit the road to take on top-rated Dell Rapids St. Mary, which is also undefeated, in the semifinals next Friday.

“It’s going to be a tough one, but I think it starts (Friday) in practice,” Wood said. “We have to have good practices all week leading into it.”

The Monarchs know what they will be up against in facing the defending champion Cardinals, and plan on bringing their best effort.

“If we go down,” Hoellein said, “we’re going to go down swinging.”

Colman-Egan (7-3) 0 0 6 0 – 6

Warner (10-0) 14 16 14 7 – 51

W – Beckham Cantalope 5 run (Alec Mikkelsen kick).

W – Mikkelsen 4 pass from Braydon Kroll (Mikkelsen kick).

W – Cantalope 19 pass from Kroll.

W – Mikkelsen 4 pass from Kroll (Mikkelsen kick).

W – Mikkelsen 27 field goal.

CE – Rowdy Bowen 30 run.

W – Cantalope 4 run (Mikkelsen kick).

W – Cash Hanson 8 run (Mikkelsen kick).

W – Hanson 1 run (Mikkelsen kick).

OFFENSE: Colman-Egan rushing (Bowen 14-138), passing 3-7 for 46 (Bowen 1-1 for 40, Logan Claflin 6-2 for 6), receiving (Rhyder Behnke 1-40), first downs 4; Warner rushing (Cantalope 11-98, Parker Wood 2-27), passing 15-19 for 241 (Kroll 15-19 for 241), receiving (Wood 6-74, Gage Knuppe 3-60, Mikkelsen 3-54), first downs 13.

DEFENSE: Colman-Egan, Zach Pedersen 5 tackles, Kale McLaughlin 5 tackles, Landen McManus 5 tackles; Warner, Noah Bakeberg 10 tackles, Knuppe 8 tackles.