Ball control was the difference when the Elko Indians and Galena Grizzlies collided in the semifinals of the Northern 4A football playoffs on Friday night.
Elko had the ball. Galena didn't. And predictably, the undefeated Indians emerged with a 23-3 triumph on their home Warrior Field to earn a shot at the Northern 4A championship next week.
McQueen, a 31-7 victor at Reno High on Friday, will travel to Elko (10-0) next Friday night to play for the title.
Galena (7-4) only ran three offensive plays in the first quarter, effectively setting the tone for the game. Elko took a 7-0 lead when Kyle Eklund scored on a 1-yard run, capping a 15-play drive in the first quarter.
Dusty Inman's 39-yard field goal made it 10-0 in the second quarter.
Galena drove to the 4 shortly before halftime, but no time-outs remaining, the Grizzlies had three passes fall incomplete and they had to settle for Graham MunroOs 19-yard field goal on the last play before the gun.
Inman kicked a 25-yard field goal in the third quarter to extend Elko's lead to 13-3 and quarterback Steve Ross scored on a 25-yard run in the fourth quarter. Inman closed out the scoring with a 42-yard field
