Schools
PHOTOS: Richfield Football Inaugurates New Turf With a Win
Spartans defeat visiting North St. Paul 27-13, in season opener on Thursday.
officially on Thursday in the proper way as the , 27-13, in the season opener on Thursday night.
Senior wide receiver Erik Jimson scored the first touchdown on his team's new playing surface to help give the hosts a 7-0 lead early in the second half. North tied the score before halftime, however, and the two teams entered the second half knotted at 7-7.
The Spartans took the lead for good on a 59-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Corban Halbur to Jimson in the third quarter before the Polars nearly tied the score on a long touchdown play of their own.
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However, Richfield blocked the extra-point kick to keep a 14-13 lead—an advantage the Spartans built on in the final stanza on a pair of Halbur one-yard scoring plunges to put the game out of reach.
With the initial victory in the books, Richfield heads out on the road next Friday to face , the No. 2 ranked team in Class AAAA. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.