NEW ULM – Not even cold winds and falling snow could slow down the Awesome Blossoms as BP blew past United South Central 42-0 in the Minnesota Class A State Quarterfinals in New Ulm High School Saturday.

With BP driving into heavy winds in the first quarter, the Blossoms (12-0 overall) stayed patient on the ground as they had three punts on their first three possessions. When the wind came at BP’s back in the second quarter, they opened things up – scoring on three straight drives to take a 21-0 lead into the break.

Gabe Hagen jumped over a defender and ripped the ball out on an 80-yard score from Kaden Thomas to make it 7-0, Matthew Pryor had a two-yard TD burst on fourth down to make it 14-0 and Thomas found Tim Wolf for an 18-yard TD to make it 21-0 with 1:26 left in the half.

Thomas, who went 12-for-15 with 222 yards and three TDs, was anticipating having the wind at his back in the second quarter.

“I wanted to go out throw a couple of touchdowns right away, which we ended up doing,” Thomas said. “We got up big.”

Hagen finished the game with 154 yards and two touchdowns receiving and he also ran a fumble back 82-yards for a TD in the fourth quarter. Hagen said BP wasn’t fazed by the cold and he added that the team is adjusting to playing with Thomas at quarterback after senior Seth Peterson went down with an injury a few weeks ago.

“It was cold at first, but after a couple of minutes into the first quarter, you get used to it,” Hagen said. “I have faith in Kaden. We used to play together when were younger. We have a connection.”

BP’s ground game was key on a day that was freezing and windy. Pryor ran hard throughout the win as he racked up 135 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

“We were able to grind out those quarters and we actually won those quarters against the wind,” BP head coach Chad Gimbel said. “A lot of credit goes to the offensive line and Matthew Pryor running the football well. Matthew’s been getting stronger and stronger as the season’s been going on and our offensive line has gotten better and better.”

The win was BP’s second shutout of the postseason and the third overall this season. BP senior Trenton Swenson said that everything is coming together on that side of the ball.

“We’ve had technique, we’ve known our alignments and assignments and we’ve played as a team instead of individuals,” Swenson said. “We play as one group with 11 men on the field, who have 11 jobs working as one.”

While Hagen gives the BP defense a boost up front, he also had a huge impact on the win over USC (10-1 overall) with his hands as he made a few contested grabs for big plays.

“That first catch (by Gabe) was amazing,” Gimbel said. “He took it away from the guy. Those balls are 50-50, but we believe our guys can get 80 percent of those jump balls.”

BP will play BOLD in the state semifinals in USBank Stadium in Minneapolis at 9 a.m. Saturday.

SCORING SUMMARY

USC 0 0 0 0 – 0
BP 0 21 7 14 – 42

First quarter
No scoring

Second period
(BP) Gabe Hagen 80 pass from Kaden Thomas (Carson Brennecke kick) (1 play, 80 yards) 10:58
(BP) Matthew Pryor 2 run (Brennecke kick) (6 plays, 42 yards) 3:42
(BP) Tim Wolf 18 pass from Thomas (Brennecke kick) 1:26

Third quarter
(BP) Pryor 17 run (Brennecke kick) (4 plays, 42 yards) 8:26

Fourth quarter
(BP) Hagen 3 pass from Thomas (Brennecke kick) (4 plays, 36 yards) 11:42
(BP) Hagen 82 fumble recovery (Brennecke kick) (1 play, 82 yards) 6:00

BP STATS

Rushing: Matthew Pryor, 24-for-135, 2 TDs; Alex Baldwin, 1-for-16; Payton Simon, 2-for-8; Kaden Thomas, 2-for-2

Passing: Thomas, 12-for-15, 222, 3 TDs; Tim Wolf, 0-for-1

Receiving: Gabe Hagen, 6-for-154, 2 TDs; Tim Wolf, 2-for-44, TD; Baldwin, 3-for-27; Simon, 1-for-1

Defense: Karson Vigeland, interception; Gabe Hagen, 1 fumble recovery; Jarett Larson, 1 sack; Trenton Swanson, 1 sack; Tim Wolf, 1 sack; Mitchel Fiebiger, 1 sack

Penalties: 2-for-30

USC STATS

Rushing: 55

Passing: 112

Penalties: 2-for-10