To say Shakopee junior quarterback Judah Forsberg directs a run-first offense is understating things.

Entering their Class 6A state quarterfinal matchup with Mounds View on Friday night, the Sabers had attempted five passes or more in a game just four times this season.

But the reliance on the run doesn’t mean they aren’t capable of striking from anywhere on the field. That was demonstrated against the Mustangs as Shakopee scored on touchdown runs of 75 and 71 yards by Forsberg and senior Zach Docteur on back-to-back possessions in the first half.

The scores helped build a lead that withstood a second-half Mounds View rally in a 24-17 victory at Spring Lake Park High School.

Shakopee (10-1) advances to meet Maple Grove (11-0) in the semifinals at 7:30 p.m. next Friday at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Mustangs finished their season 8-3 overall.

After the two teams traded punts on their opening possessions, Forsberg kept the ball around end and raced down the sideline for the game’s opening score on the third play of the Sabers’ second drive.

Then, on the third play of the Shakopee’s next possession, it was Docteur’s turn, taking a pitch from Forsberg and dashing for another touchdown that put his team on top 14-0 with 11:20 remaining in the first half.

The Mustangs had a chance to cut into the lead, driving to the Sabers’ 18-yard-line on the drive following Docteur’s touchdown, but they turned the ball over on downs. Shakopee then mounted a long drive capped by a 30-yard field goal from sophomore Quinn O’Fallon with under a minute to go in the first half, extending its lead to 17-0.

But Mounds View got on the board on the opening drive of the second half, scoring on a 4-yard touchdown run by senior quarterback Jacob Sampson that cut the gap to 17-7.

Then the Mustangs trimmed the lead to 17-14 when Sampson connected with junior Godson Rufus-Okomhanru on a 46-yard touchdown pass with 46.3 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Mounds View blocked a punt on Shakopee’s next possession, giving the Mustangs the ball at the Sabers’ 27. But the Shakopee defense tightened, throwing Mounds View for losses on two straight running plays, forcing an incomplete pass, then sacking Sampson for a loss of 18 on fourth down to take over at midfield.

From there, the Sabers’ running game ground its way down the field, setting up a 4-yard touchdown run by senior T.J. Clark to make the score 24-14 with 5:12 to play.

But the Mustangs didn’t go quietly, cutting the gap to 24-17 on a 29-yard field goal by senior Cooper Fellman with 2:25 remaining.

Shakopee, however, recovered the ensuing onside kick, enabling the Sabers run out the clock – picking up a big fourth-down conversion on fourth-and-3 at the Mounds View 38.

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