Conference Semifinals, 2026

played in New Orleans, LA

52 degrees, fair, 7 mph wind

Minnesota Norsemen	7	6	7	12	-	32
New Orleans Delta Rays	0	14	7	12	-	33

Scoring Summary
1Q: 03:50 MIN - Jim Drake 2 run (Frederick Fly extra point)
2Q: 14:02 NOS - Gavin Ozga 6 run (Cedric Harden extra point)
2Q: 06:50 MIN - Frederick Fly 24 field goal
2Q: 02:45 NOS - Robbie Kirk 24 pass from Gavin Ozga (Cedric Harden extra point)
2Q: 00:03 MIN - Frederick Fly 38 field goal
3Q: 07:34 MIN - Jim Drake 3 run (Frederick Fly extra point)
3Q: 04:45 NOS - Robbie Kirk 19 pass from Gavin Ozga (Cedric Harden extra point)
4Q: 13:32 MIN - Thomas Newhart 3 pass from Marty Burke (Frederick Fly extra point failed)
4Q: 09:02 NOS - Luis Edinger 16 pass from Gavin Ozga (Raymond Montgomery run for conversion failed)
4Q: 05:32 MIN - Jim Drake 2 run (Marty Burke pass for conversion failed)
4Q: 02:39 NOS - Robbie Kirk 3 pass from Gavin Ozga (Gavin Ozga pass for conversion failed)

Scoring Summary
1Q: 03:50 MIN - Jim Drake 2 run (Frederick Fly extra point)
2Q: 14:02 NOS - Gavin Ozga 6 run (Cedric Harden extra point)
2Q: 06:50 MIN - Frederick Fly 24 field goal
2Q: 02:45 NOS - Robbie Kirk 24 pass from Gavin Ozga (Cedric Harden extra point)
2Q: 00:03 MIN - Frederick Fly 38 field goal
3Q: 07:34 MIN - Jim Drake 3 run (Frederick Fly extra point)
3Q: 04:45 NOS - Robbie Kirk 19 pass from Gavin Ozga (Cedric Harden extra point)
4Q: 13:32 MIN - Thomas Newhart 3 pass from Marty Burke (Frederick Fly extra point failed)
4Q: 09:02 NOS - Luis Edinger 16 pass from Gavin Ozga (Raymond Montgomery run for conversion failed)
4Q: 05:32 MIN - Jim Drake 2 run (Marty Burke pass for conversion failed)
4Q: 02:39 NOS - Robbie Kirk 3 pass from Gavin Ozga (Gavin Ozga pass for conversion failed)

Team Statistics MIN NOS
Record 10-8 12-4-1
First Downs 27 24
- by Rushing 10 9
- by Passing 16 13
- by Penalty 1 2
Total Net Yards 512 401
- Offensive Plays 70 52
- Yards per Play 7.31 7.71
Net Rushing Yards 117 153
- Rushing Attempts 28 26
- Yards per Rush 4.18 5.88
Net Passing Yards 395 248
- Att./Comp./Intrcpt 42 - 33 - 0 24 - 20 - 0
- Gross Passing Yards 395 256
- Sacks/Yards Lost 0/0 2/8
- Yards per Pass Play 9.40 9.54
Fumbles/Lost 0/0 0/0
3rd Down Conversions 11/15 6/8
- Avg. YtG on 3rd Down 6.4 7.0
4th Down Conversions 0/2 0/0
Penalties/Yards 6/60 5/37
Punt Returns/Yards 2/24 0/0
Kick Returns/Yards 4/94 4/79
Interception Ret./Yards 0/0 0/0
2pt Conversions 1/0 2/0
Red Zone Visits 5 4
- Red Zone TDs/FGs 4/1 4/0
Avg. Drive Start OWN 24 OWN 30
Time of Possession 34:40 25:20

Team Statistics	MIN	NOS
Record	10-8	12-4-1
First Downs	27	24
- by Rushing	10	9
- by Passing	16	13
- by Penalty	1	2
Total Net Yards	512	401
- Offensive Plays	70	52
- Yards per Play	7.31	7.71
Net Rushing Yards	117	153
- Rushing Attempts	28	26
- Yards per Rush	4.18	5.88
Net Passing Yards	395	248
- Att./Comp./Intrcpt	42 - 33 - 0	24 - 20 - 0
- Gross Passing Yards	395	256
- Sacks/Yards Lost	0/0	2/8
- Yards per Pass Play	9.40	9.54
Fumbles/Lost	0/0	0/0
3rd Down Conversions	11/15	6/8
- Avg. YtG on 3rd Down	6.4	7.0
4th Down Conversions	0/2	0/0
Penalties/Yards	6/60	5/37
Punt Returns/Yards	2/24	0/0
Kick Returns/Yards	4/94	4/79
Interception Ret./Yards	0/0	0/0
2pt Conversions	1/0	2/0
Red Zone Visits	5	4
- Red Zone TDs/FGs	4/1	4/0
Avg. Drive Start	OWN 24	OWN 30
Time of Possession	34:40	25:20

Drive Charts

Minnesota Norsemen
Quar	Began	Poss	From	Plays	Yards	Result
1	15:00	3:52	OWN 25	8	43	Downs
1	8:39	4:58	OWN 16	10	84	Touchdown
2	13:50	7:08	OWN 29	11	64	Field Goal
2	2:32	2:32	OWN 25	8	54	Field Goal
3	12:33	5:09	OWN 33	11	67	Touchdown
3	4:37	6:12	OWN 19	10	81	Touchdown
4	8:52	3:26	OWN 21	7	79	Touchdown
4	2:30	1:08	OWN 31	5	17	Downs

New Orleans Delta Rays
Quar	Began	Poss	From	Plays	Yards	Result
1	11:08	2:29	OWN 32	4	13	Punt
1	3:41	4:51	OWN 25	10	75	Touchdown
2	6:42	4:10	OWN 24	9	76	Touchdown
3	15:00	2:27	OWN 26	3	9	Punt
3	7:24	2:47	OWN 24	7	76	Touchdown
4	13:25	4:33	OWN 25	10	75	Touchdown
4	5:26	2:56	OWN 34	6	66	Touchdown
4	1:22	1:22	OPP 48	5	11	Game

Game MVP: Gavin Ozga, New Orleans Delta Rays

Rushing Statistics

Minnesota	Att	Yards	Avg	LG	10+	TD
RB Rich Ekernas	14	71	5.07	24	3	0
RB Jim Drake	11	25	2.27	5	0	3
QB Marty Burke	3	21	7.00	8	0	0

New Orleans	Att	Yards	Avg	LG	10+	TD
RB Raymond Montgomery	16	122	7.63	34	5	0
RB Cesar Hayes	6	24	4.00	9	0	0
QB Gavin Ozga	4	7	1.75	6	0	1

Passing Statistics

Minnesota	Att	Comp	Yards	Sk/Yd	TD	LG	Int	Rate
Marty Burke	38	30	330	0/0	1	48	0	111.6
Kent Jochen	4	3	65	0/0	0	50	0	116.7

New Orleans	Att	Comp	Yards	Sk/Yd	TD	LG	Int	Rate
Gavin Ozga	24	20	256	2/8	4	27	0	150.7

Receiving Statistics

Minnesota	Catch	Targ	Yards	Avg	YAC	LG	TD
WR Dillon Leydorf	6	9	68	11.33	29	24	0
WR Thomas Newhart	6	8	47	7.83	3	20	1
TE Junior Ferris	6	8	87	14.50	46	48	0
TE Buddy Irwin	6	7	74	12.33	47	28	0
WR Jonathan Pipkin	3	3	27	9.00	7	10	0
TE Francisco Minahan	3	3	38	12.67	6	20	0
RB Jim Drake	2	2	51	25.50	48	50	0
RB Rich Ekernas	1	1	3	3.00	0	3	0
WR Gage Ashe	0	1	0	0.00	0	0	0

New Orleans	Catch	Targ	Yards	Avg	YAC	LG	TD
RB Raymond Montgomery	4	5	12	3.00	7	9	0
WR Sammie Blades	4	4	45	11.25	11	20	0
WR Robbie Kirk	3	4	46	15.33	31	24	3
WR Mitchell Green	3	4	66	22.00	53	27	0
TE Leo Booker	3	3	43	14.33	40	26	0
TE Luis Edinger	2	2	35	17.50	11	19	1
WR Alan Schepis	1	2	9	9.00	2	9	0

Interception Statistics

Minnesota	Ints	Yards	Avg	TD

New Orleans	Ints	Yards	Avg	TD

Fumble Statistics

Minnesota	Fumb	Recov	Force	TD

New Orleans	Fumb	Recov	Force	TD

Punting Statistics

Minnesota	Punt	Yards	Avg	Net	LG	In20

New Orleans	Punt	Yards	Avg	Net	LG	In20
Perry Fitzgerald	2	95	47.5	35.5	53	2

Kicking Statistics

Minnesota	FGs	40+Yd	50+Yd	LG	PAT
Frederick Fly	2/2	0/0	0/0	38	2/3

New Orleans	FGs	40+Yd	50+Yd	LG	PAT
Cedric Harden	0/0	0/0	0/0	0	3/3

Punt Return Statistics

Minnesota	Ret	Yards	Avg	TD
Jonathan Pipkin	2	24	12.0	0

New Orleans	Ret	Yards	Avg	TD

Kick Return Statistics

Minnesota	Ret	Yards	Avg	TD
Jim Drake	4	94	23.5	0

New Orleans	Ret	Yards	Avg	TD
Gino Fisk	3	55	18.3	0
Alan Schepis	1	24	24.0	0

Defensive Statistics

Minnesota	Tack	Asst	Sack	RPlay	PPlay
ILB Roy Morrison	8	2	0.0	26	26
OLB Kent Oliveros	8	0	0.0	26	24
DT Bobby Dodge	4	2	1.0	22	23
CB Brad O'Donnell	3	3	0.0	25	26
CB Don Linquist	3	1	0.0	24	26
DT Raul Labonte	2	2	1.0	22	21
S Jermaine Henry	2	1	0.0	21	21
DE Kerry Giles	2	0	0.0	24	23
S Kaleb Barton	2	0	0.0	17	12
DT Dominic Laster	2	0	0.0	23	21
S Jamie Paquette	2	0	0.0	3	5
OLB Kevin Hicks	1	0	0.0	10	10
CB Tony Schultz	0	1	0.0	16	16
S Calvin Wayne	0	1	0.0	9	14
DE Derrick Houston	0	1	0.0	8	9

New Orleans	Tack	Asst	RPlay	PPlay
ILB Alex Mathews	11	3	28	39
OLB Brant Lindsay	11	2	23	42
S Mike Goehring	6	1	28	42
DE Jalen Heatherly	4	0	22	30
CB Gilbert Rutledge	3	1	7	13
ILB Mark Billick	3	1	18	14
CB Phil Keith	2	3	25	32
CB Lee Kueth	2	1	4	15
DT Orlando Flowers	2	1	25	20
DE Alfred Newland	2	1	22	35
S Ricardo Gozinsky	2	1	22	26
DE Edgar Fox	2	0	9	25
CB Gino Fisk	2	0	7	13
OLB Bennett Stelick	2	0	20	27
S Kenneth Schulz	1	4	3	16
CB Earl Bullock	1	1	23	42
DE Drake Kamm	1	0	5	5

Pass Rush Statistics

Minnesota	Sack	Hurry	Knock	PPlay
DT Raul Labonte	1.0	1	2	21
DT Bobby Dodge	1.0	0	0	23
DT Dominic Laster	0.0	1	0	21
ILB Roy Morrison	0.0	0	1	26
OLB Kent Oliveros	0.0	0	1	24

New Orleans	Block	Hurry	PPlay
DE Jalen Heatherly	1	0	30
DT Orlando Flowers	0	1	20
DE Alfred Newland	0	1	35

Pass Defense Statistics

Minnesota	Caught	PPlay
OLB Kent Oliveros	5	24
S Kaleb Barton	4	12
ILB Roy Morrison	3	26
CB Brad O'Donnell	2	26
CB Don Linquist	2	26
DT Dominic Laster	1	21
S Jamie Paquette	1	5
OLB Kevin Hicks	1	10
OLB Kris Wolfe	1	2

New Orleans	Caught	Defnsd	PPlay
OLB Brant Lindsay	7	0	42
S Mike Goehring	5	0	42
CB Phil Keith	3	0	32
CB Gilbert Rutledge	3	0	13
CB Lee Kueth	2	0	15
DE Edgar Fox	2	0	25
ILB Alex Mathews	2	0	39
S Ricardo Gozinsky	2	0	26
DE Alfred Newland	1	1	35
CB Earl Bullock	1	0	42
S Kenneth Schulz	1	0	16
CB Gino Fisk	1	0	13
ILB Mark Billick	1	0	14
OLB Bennett Stelick	1	0	27
DE Jalen Heatherly	1	0	30

Blocking Statistics

Minnesota	KeyBl	BlOpp	RPly	PPly
C Larry Palmer	6	12	28	42
G Arnie Corley	2	3	28	42
T Phillip Freeland	1	4	28	42
T Keegan Ferro	0	3	28	42
G Don Meacham	0	3	28	42

New Orleans	KeyBl	BlOpp	RPly	SckA	PPly
G Jerry Crawford	5	7	26	2	26
C Wayne Bayless	2	6	26	0	26
T Jackson Preston	2	2	26	0	26
T Percy Fisher	1	4	26	0	26
G Hector Goodwin	0	2	26	0	26
FB Earnest Kirchner	0	1	3	0	7

Special Teams Tackles

Minnesota	Tackles	STPlays
Skip Chaky	1	16
Jim Drake	1	16
Casey Morgan	1	14
Shane Lynch	1	14

New Orleans	Tackles	STPlays
Mark Billick	3	14
Sammie Blades	2	8
Lee Kueth	1	14

Participation

Minnesota	RPlyOff	PPlyOff	RPlyDef	PPlyDef	STPly	Total Plays
T Phillip Freeland	28	42	---	---	2	72
G Don Meacham	28	42	---	---	2	72
C Larry Palmer	28	42	---	---	---	70
TE Junior Ferris	21	33	---	---	16	70
G Arnie Corley	28	42	---	---	---	70
T Keegan Ferro	28	42	---	---	---	70
WR Thomas Newhart	28	41	---	---	---	69
QB Marty Burke	21	38	---	---	---	59
RB Jim Drake	14	28	---	---	16	58
WR Dillon Leydorf	25	32	---	---	---	57
ILB Roy Morrison	---	---	26	26	---	52
CB Brad O'Donnell	---	---	25	26	---	51
OLB Kent Oliveros	---	---	26	24	1	51
CB Don Linquist	---	---	24	26	---	50
DE Kerry Giles	---	---	24	23	---	47
CB Tony Schultz	---	---	16	16	14	46
DT Bobby Dodge	---	---	22	23	---	45
DT Raul Labonte	---	---	22	21	2	45
DT Dominic Laster	---	---	23	21	---	44
S Kaleb Barton	---	---	17	12	14	43
S Jermaine Henry	---	---	21	21	---	42
TE Buddy Irwin	16	24	---	---	---	40
RB Rich Ekernas	14	12	---	---	6	32
WR Jonathan Pipkin	1	13	---	---	14	28
RB Shane Lynch	6	4	---	---	14	24
S Calvin Wayne	---	---	9	14	---	23
WR Gage Ashe	13	9	---	---	---	22
OLB Kevin Hicks	---	---	10	10	---	20
WR Skip Chaky	0	3	---	---	16	19
CB Casey Morgan	---	---	1	2	14	17
DE Derrick Houston	---	---	8	9	---	17
OLB Kris Wolfe	---	---	1	2	13	16
DE Kim Middleton	---	---	2	4	8	14
TE Francisco Minahan	2	11	---	---	---	13
QB Kent Jochen	7	4	---	---	---	11
K Frederick Fly	0	0	---	---	8	8
ILB Parker Eliot	---	---	0	0	8	8
S Jamie Paquette	---	---	3	5	---	8
CB Butch Metzenbaum	---	---	4	1	---	5
S Jamie Enochs	---	---	2	0	---	2
C Lincoln Vaughn	0	0	---	---	2	2
T D.J. Novak	0	0	---	---	2	2
G Braxton Grant	0	0	---	---	2	2
P Rodolfo Clayton	0	0	---	---	2	2
CB Roberto Hutton	---	---	0	0	---	0
C Javier Howard	0	0	---	---	---	0

New Orleans	RPlyOff	PPlyOff	RPlyDef	PPlyDef	STPly	Total Plays
S Mike Goehring	---	---	28	42	2	72
ILB Alex Mathews	---	---	28	39	2	69
CB Earl Bullock	---	---	23	42	2	67
OLB Brant Lindsay	---	---	23	42	2	67
DE Alfred Newland	---	---	22	35	2	59
TE Leo Booker	26	19	---	---	14	59
CB Phil Keith	---	---	25	32	---	57
T Jackson Preston	26	26	---	---	2	54
G Hector Goodwin	26	26	---	---	2	54
WR Sammie Blades	21	25	---	---	8	54
G Jerry Crawford	26	26	---	---	2	54
T Percy Fisher	26	26	---	---	2	54
C Wayne Bayless	26	26	---	---	---	52
QB Gavin Ozga	26	26	---	---	---	52
DE Jalen Heatherly	---	---	22	30	---	52
S Ricardo Gozinsky	---	---	22	26	---	48
OLB Bennett Stelick	---	---	20	27	---	47
ILB Mark Billick	---	---	18	14	14	46
DT Orlando Flowers	---	---	25	20	---	45
WR Robbie Kirk	22	22	---	---	---	44
WR Alan Schepis	15	15	---	---	12	42
DE Edgar Fox	---	---	9	25	2	36
RB Raymond Montgomery	19	17	---	---	---	36
CB Lee Kueth	---	---	4	15	14	33
S Kenneth Schulz	---	---	3	16	14	33
OLB Carlton Tatum	---	---	6	11	16	33
WR Mitchell Green	9	8	---	---	12	29
RB Cesar Hayes	7	5	---	---	14	26
CB Gino Fisk	---	---	7	13	6	26
CB Gilbert Rutledge	---	---	7	13	2	22
FB Earnest Kirchner	3	7	---	---	12	22
TE Luis Edinger	8	11	---	---	---	19
DT Jamal Fairfield	---	---	4	11	2	17
OLB Rico Barton	---	---	7	4	---	11
DE Drake Kamm	---	---	5	5	---	10
WR Jon Brandon	0	1	---	---	6	7
K Cedric Harden	0	0	---	---	6	6
P Perry Fitzgerald	0	0	---	---	2	2
C Preston Barber	0	0	---	---	2	2
TE Spencer Boone	0	0	---	---	---	0
C Ashton Swift	0	0	---	---	---	0
T Eddie Elliott	0	0	---	---	---	0
CB Antonio Springer	---	---	0	0	---	0
RB Rich Fantozzi	0	0	---	---	---	0
G Cody McGhee	0	0	---	---	---	0
QB Malachi Beechler	0	0	---	---	---	0

Directional Rushing Statistics

Distance	Att	Yards	Avg
Left	1	1	1.0
Middle	19	63	3.3
Right	8	53	6.6
None	0	0	0.0

Distance	Att	Yards	Avg
Left	6	80	13.3
Middle	13	27	2.1
Right	5	48	9.6
None	2	-2	-1.0

Detailed Passing Statistics

Minnesota	Att	Cmp	20+	BdTh	Drop	Dfns	Hurr	Knck	Intc
Marty Burke	38	30	5	2	2	1	2	0	0
Kent Jochen	4	3	1	1	0	0	0	0	0

New Orleans	Att	Cmp	20+	BdTh	Drop	Dfns	Hurr	Knck	Intc
Gavin Ozga	24	20	5	1	1	0	2	4	0

Directional Passing Statistics

Distance	Att	Comp	Yards	Avg
Screen	8	6	91	11.4
Short (0-8 Yds)	22	20	208	9.5
Medium (9-18 Yds)	8	6	76	9.5
Long (19+ Yds)	4	1	20	5.0

Distance	Att	Comp	Yards	Avg
Screen	9	8	71	7.9
Short (0-8 Yds)	11	8	129	11.7
Medium (9-18 Yds)	3	3	42	14.0
Long (19+ Yds)	1	1	14	14.0

Detailed Receiving Statistics

Minnesota	Targt	Caugt	Dropd	Yards	20+	PPlay
WR Dillon Leydorf	9	6	1	68	1	32
WR Thomas Newhart	8	6	1	47	1	41
TE Junior Ferris	8	6	0	87	1	33
TE Buddy Irwin	7	6	0	74	1	24
WR Jonathan Pipkin	3	3	0	27	0	13
TE Francisco Minahan	3	3	0	38	1	11
RB Jim Drake	2	2	0	51	1	28
WR Gage Ashe	1	0	0	0	0	9
RB Rich Ekernas	1	1	0	3	0	12

New Orleans	Targt	Caugt	Dropd	Yards	20+	PPlay
RB Raymond Montgomery	5	4	0	12	0	17
WR Robbie Kirk	4	3	0	46	1	22
WR Mitchell Green	4	3	1	66	2	8
WR Sammie Blades	4	4	0	45	1	25
TE Leo Booker	3	3	0	43	1	19
TE Luis Edinger	2	2	0	35	0	11
WR Alan Schepis	2	1	0	9	0	15

Red-Zone Rushing Statistics

Minnesota	Att	Yards	Avg	Overall Avg
RB Jim Drake	5	12	2.40	2.27
RB Rich Ekernas	4	4	1.00	5.07
QB Marty Burke	1	7	7.00	7.00

New Orleans	Att	Yards	Avg	Overall Avg
RB Raymond Montgomery	1	3	3.00	7.63
QB Gavin Ozga	1	6	6.00	1.75

Red-Zone Passing Statistics

Minnesota	Att	Comp	Yards	Avg/Att	Overall Avg
Marty Burke	6	5	30	5.00	8.68

New Orleans	Att	Comp	Yards	Avg/Att	Overall Avg
Gavin Ozga	6	4	45	7.50	10.67

Red-Zone Receiving Statistics

Minnesota	Target	Catch	Yards	Avg/Targ	Overall Avg
WR Thomas Newhart	3	2	6	2.00	5.88
TE Junior Ferris	1	1	10	10.00	10.88
TE Buddy Irwin	1	1	9	9.00	10.57
TE Francisco Minahan	1	1	5	5.00	12.67

New Orleans	Target	Catch	Yards	Avg/Targ	Overall Avg
WR Robbie Kirk	3	2	22	7.33	11.50
TE Luis Edinger	1	1	16	16.00	17.50
WR Mitchell Green	1	0	0	0.00	16.50
WR Sammie Blades	1	1	7	7.00	11.25

Third Down Rushing Statistics

Minnesota	Rushes	Conversions
RB Jim Drake	2	2
RB Rich Ekernas	1	1

New Orleans	Rushes	Conversions
RB Cesar Hayes	4	3
QB Gavin Ozga	1	1

Third Down Passing Statistics

Minnesota	Att	Comp	Conversions
Marty Burke	10	9	7
Kent Jochen	2	2	1

New Orleans	Att	Comp	Conversions
Gavin Ozga	2	2	2

Third Down Receiving Statistics

Minnesota	Targ	Catch	Conversions
WR Dillon Leydorf	3	3	1
WR Thomas Newhart	3	2	2
TE Junior Ferris	2	2	2
TE Francisco Minahan	2	2	1
RB Jim Drake	1	1	1
TE Buddy Irwin	1	1	1

New Orleans	Targ	Catch	Conversions
TE Luis Edinger	1	1	1
WR Mitchell Green	1	1	1

Section Attendance
Stadium 70,000 (70,000 capacity)
Upper Deck 21,400 (21,400)
End Zone 15,400 (15,400)
Mezzanine 8,900 (8,900)
Sideline Seats 13,600 (13,600)
Club Seats 7,400 (7,400)
Luxury Boxes 3,300 (3,300)

Section	Attendance
Stadium	70,000 (70,000 capacity)
Upper Deck	21,400 (21,400)
End Zone	15,400 (15,400)
Mezzanine	8,900 (8,900)
Sideline Seats	13,600 (13,600)
Club Seats	7,400 (7,400)
Luxury Boxes	3,300 (3,300)