Chaska beat Waconia in overtime to advance to the divisional football semifinals against the defending champions

A pair of kickers decided an overtime score in the Class 5A, Section 2 football quarterfinals at Waconia on Tuesday.

Chaska, buoyed by Quinn Meyer’s two field goals and making the biggest difference a point later, defeated Waconia 13-12.

With its win, No. 5 seed Chaska (5-4) advances to the semifinals, scheduled for Saturday at defending Class 5A champion Chanhassen at 3 p.m. Chanhassen, as the group’s top seed, relaxed with a first-round bye. Waconia (4-5) was the fourth seed.

Hawks quarterback Matthew Welter ran for the overtime touchdown. Meyer, a three-year veteran kicker who kicked two field goals in the third quarter, added point after point trying to seal the outcome.

“He can do the job; He’s been kicking since his second year,” Welter said. “He’s probably the best Chaska has ever had. He’s ice cold.”

Waconia freshman Elijah Seim’s failed field goal attempt ended the first half, and two failed point-after attempts later played a big role in the Wildcats’ loss. His coach Corey Shea spoke well of Seim and his efforts.

“I told him he basically saved our season because we didn’t have a kicker,” Shea said. “He’s an All-Star on our football team and he’s really helped us this year. There is still work to be done, but it is an important part of our plans for the future.”

Chaska struggled scoreless in the first half, helped in part by a strong north wind that blew the team’s striped jerseys. Credit also went to the Waconia defense, which stopped a promising first-quarter drive from Chaska on fourth down.