Minot's KalvinLarson doesn't deal in glamor statistics.

As a fullback-linebacker, Larson, a 6-foot-2, 215-pounder grinds things out one tackle and a few yards at a time.

So it was fitting that Larson's game-winning touchdown catch Friday night was a 5-yarder.

Larson grabbed Derek Somerville's lobbed screen pass and blasted into the end zone with 10 seconds to play Friday to give Minot a 16-15 football victory over Century.

Century lost for the first time in five West Region games. Minot, likewise, stands 4-1.

"We've probably only run it three or four times this year,"Larson said of the Magicians' game-winning play. "When we run it, it's been pretty successful. It seems we catch them off guard."

Larson's catch came on fourth-and-goal and closed out an 11-play, 41-yard drive that began with 3:40 to play.

Minot built its winning point total in an odd way, tallying two touchdowns, no conversions and two safeties.

The Magicians went ahead 2-0 in Century's second offensive series. CHSquarterback Hunter Johnson, facing a third-and-four from his own 15, was sacked in the end zone by linebacker Derek Borud.

Minot made the most of Century's subsequent free kick from its own 20. Jens Tengesdal returned the kick 18 yards to the Century 48. The Magicians immediately put senior tailback Spencer Bickel, the West Region's leading rusher, to work.

Bickel carried five times for 26 yards as Minot put together a nine-play scoring drive. Somerville, who entered the contest with just two TD passes, hit Ben Ware with a 7-yard scoring strike with 1:21 to play in the first period.

The Magicians played most of the game without kicker Zach Pulkinen, who was involved in the regional soccer tournament at Mandan. Without Pulkinen, they went for a two-point conversion, and Bickel was stuffed by Andrew Munson on a run.

Century responded immediately, driving 80 yards in nine plays to tie the game in its next possession. Bruce Govig closed out the march, bobbling a short pass from Johnson, securing the ball and spinning free for a spectacular 28-yard scoring strike.

Johnson hit Garret Jacobs with a conversion pass and the game was knotted at 8-8 with 9:46 to play in the first half.

Century kept Minot penned up in its own half of the field the rest of the half, but couldn't break the tie.

The Patriots finally broke through with 10:44 left in the game, Johnson firing a 13-yard scoring pass to wideout Jake Glass. Johnson's kick gave Century a 15-8 edge.

Minot drove 57 yards to the Century 16 in its next, but came up empty as Glass picked off a Somerville pass and was downed at the 1-yard line.

The Magicians managed to salvage two points on defense. Larson dumped CHStailback Cody Willits in the end zone with 7:24 to play to cut the Patriot advantage to 15-10.

"They tried to go straight ahead," Larson said."The tailback got the ball, the hole opened and I just attacked."

Minot again took the ensuing free kick and mounted a threat. Bickel dashed 29 yards and the Magicians drove 37 yards to the Century 12 before losing the ball on downs.

Century was unable to move the ball and Minot ended up with good field position at the CHS41 following a 26-yard punt.

The Magicians methodically tightened the noose on Century, driving to the CHS6-yard line in seven plays. A five-yard penalty and strong defensive stand kept Minot at bay until Somerville connected with Larson.

Minot coachBarry Holmen said the screen pass to Larson worked to perfection.

"They were coming hard and Kalvin got lost in the mess," Holmen said. "… We ran that play a couple of weeks ago against Bismarck and got burned on it."

Bickel, a 5-11, 180-pound senior, was the game's leading ground gainer with 164 yards in 29 carries.

Century managed just 74 yards on the ground, well under half its normal output. TailbackZachEmil, who was averaging over 120 yards a game, gained just 25 yards in 11 carries and ran the ball just once in the second half. Century coach RonWingenbach said Emil was slowed by tight hamstrings.

Holmen lauded the play of its defense, which was led by linebackers Larson and Wyatt Grindy. They were in on eight and 10 tackles, respectively.

"We struggled with a lot of things offensively but the defense played very well," Holmen said.

With its running game stymied, Century was forced to rely heavily on its passing game. The Patriots gained 123 of their 197 total yards through the air, but Wingenbach said even throwing the ball was a struggle.

" We just seemed a little out of sync the whole night with the passing game," Wingenbach said.

In fact, Wingenbach said the Patriots never really got into the flow of the contest.

"We've certainly had a lot more energy, even on the road," he said. "…We just kind of struggled all night."

Not so Larson.

"He was as big a factor on defense as on offense,"the CHScoach said. "He's a good football player and he's definitely gotten a step faster than last year."

n NOTES:Century lost senior lineman BillyAnderson and senior linebacker A.J.Anderson to knee injuries. Wingenbach said BillyAnderson is done for the year, and A.J.Anderson will miss at least one week. … A.J.Anderson had a game-high 12 tackles before leaving early in the fourth.

Minot 8 0 0 8 - 16

Century 0 8 0 7 - 15

First Quarter

M - Safety, Hunter Johnson tackled in end zone, 5:06.

M - BenWare 7 pass from Derek Somerville (run failed), 1:21.

Second Quarter

C -Bruce Govig 28 pass from Hunter Johnson (Garret Jacobs pass from Johnson), 9:46.

Fourth Quarter

C - Jake Glass 13 pass from Johnson (Johnson kick), 10:44.

M -Safety, Cody Willits tackled in end zone, 7:24.

M -KalvinLarson 5 pass from Somerville(pass failed), :10.

Team Statistics

Min Cen

First downs 12 12

Rushes-yards 50-236 31-74

Passing yards 37 123

Comp-Att-Int 7-10-1 9-22-1

Punts-avg 7-30 6-31

Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-0

Penalties-yards 4-20 2-10

Individual Statistics

Rushing: M - Spencer Bickel 29-164, Kalvin Larson 12-47, Jonas Tengesdal 7-26, Derek Somerville 1-minus 1. C - Bruce Govig 4-31, Zachemil 11-25, CodyWillits 8-21, Hunter Johnson 8-minus 3.

Passing: M - Somerville 7-10-1, 37 yards. C- Johnson 9-22-1, 123.

Receiving:M -Jarid Hoffman 3-14, Matthew Kuske 1-13, BenWare 1-7, Larson 2-3. C-Garret Jacobs 3-55, Govig 2-40, Jake Glass 2-17, Houston Bashus 1-9, JackBietz 1-2.

Interceptions:M -Hoffman.

Records:Minot 4-1 West Region, 5-2 overall; Century 4-1, 5-2.