This State Quarterfinal game was played before the largest crowd ever at O’Shaughnessy Stadium on the campus of the University of St. Thomas. Both squads, sporting undefeated records, locked horns in a hard-fought, give-and-take battle throughout the game. The Big Red attack led by All-Conference quarterback, Paul Newman, along with running backs Gregg Thompson and Perry Preuss, moved the ball behind the blocking of linemen Dave Bixby, Mike Miller, Mike Foley and others. The defense, spearheaded by co-captain Gene Weitz, along with the aggressive play of seniors Tom Radke, Scott Hesse, Tom Reich and Scott Ries, kept the opponents at bay most of the game. Trailing 14-13 with seconds in the contest, quarterback Newman maneuvered the Ponies within striking distance from the Columbia Heights 25 yard line. All-state running back Thompson had the local fans exuberant when he kicked a 35 yard field goal to give the Ponies what appeared to be the winning points. A procedure penalty on the play not only nullified the field goal, but moved the ball back an additional five yards. Behind solid blocking from the forward wall, accompanied by a perfect snap and placement of the of the football, the screaming fans witnessed Thompson drill the winning field goal from 40 yards out - only to discover after the game that he had torn his ACL earlier in the contest! The following week with wide receiver, Jim Bergen, filling in at quarterback, the Ponies snapped Cambridge’s eighteen-game winning streak without the services of Thompson and Newman who were both sidelined with injuries.