Redington uses win over rival to punch playoff ticket

Redington officially clinched a spot in the Division III playoffs with a 44-20 victory over rival Houston Saturday night at Redington.

Redington sophomore quarterback Landon Purvis threw for a touchdown to help the Huskies improve to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in conference play. The Huskies finished in third place, and will travel to Homer to meet the defending Division III state champion Mariners in the semifinals.

Ikaia Flores rushed for a pair of touchdowns for Redington. Cayden Ingraham gave Redington its first lead, scoring on a sweep from 14 yards out with 4:51 left in the first quarter.

The Hawks were able to cut Redington’s lead to a pair of points twice during the first half. Blake Basket threw an 18-yard touchdown pass with about 90 seconds left in the first quarter to cut it to 8-6. Moments after, Ikaia Flores used a 17-yard touchdown pass to Christian Marquez-Hopson that gave the Huskies a 16-6 advantage, Houston’s Elias Johnson returned the ensuing kickoff 75 yards for a score.

Redington led 16-14 with seven minutes left in the first half, but scored 28 straight points from late in the second until early in the fourth.

Two of those touchdowns came in a span of 55 seconds late in the first half. Flores, in the wildcat formation, ran for a 25-yard touchdown with 2:11 left in the half. Less than a minute later, Jake Murdock caught a 27-yard touchdown pass from Landon Purvis.

Redington added rushing touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters.

Houston scored on a 29-yard halfback pass in the fourth.

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