WINDOM — The Martin County West Mavericks avenged a regular-season loss en route to producing a historic win during Tuesday night’s opening round of the Section 3AA football playoffs.

Sophomore quarterback Wyatt Geistfeld rushed for two touchdowns, while junior defensive back Thai Risk delivered the game-preserving interception late in the fourth quarter to propel the No. 5-seeded Mavericks to a 21-14 triumph over the No. 4-seeded Windom Area Eagles at Island Park in Windom.

Martin County West (2-7), which earned its first postseason victory since a 40-14 sectional quarterfinal decision over New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva on Oct. 22, 2013, advances to face Class AA No. 5-ranked and top-seeded Redwood Valley (7-1) in a 3 p.m. sectional semifinal on Saturday in Redwood Falls. The Cardinals earned a first-round bye.

Windom Area, who defeated MCW by a 27-12 regular-season decision on Sept. 15, ended its season with a 3-6 record.

“I’m so proud of our players and coaches for their efforts tonight, and happy to earn the program’s first playoff win in four years,” said second-year Martin County West head coach Tommy Elliott.

Tied at 14-all at halftime, Risk produced a pivotal play to open the third quarter. The hard-nosed running back returned the second-half kickoff to the Windom Area 38-yard line to set up what would prove to be the go-ahead and eventual game-winning drive.

Geistfeld, who finished with 53 rushing yards, capped the Mavericks’ offensive march with a 1-yard scoring run. Alec Weir kicked his third consecutive PAT to stake MCW to a 21-14 margin with 6:36 remaining in the third quarter.

Both defensive units shut out their respective opposing offenses during the fourth frame, with Risk pocketing an interception late in the game to close out the Mavericks’ win.

Knotted at 7-all after one completed quarter, defensive back Colby Williamson’s key interception led to the Mavericks’ go-ahead touchdown in the second quarter.

Risk delivered 11 of his team-leading 56 rushing yards to reach the 1-yard line before fullback Aaron Burmeister pounded his way into the end zone for a TD. Weir’s kick made it 14-7 with 4:45 remaining before halftime.

Geistfeld capped a six-play, 60-yard scoring drive with a 43-yard option sprint as time elapsed in the opening segment. Weir’s PAT kick tied the playoff game at 7-all.

Windom Area running back Alex Borsgard, who topped all rushers with 88 yards on 12 carries, scored the section quarterfinal game’s initial TD on a 45-yard gallop with 2:09 remaining in the first period. Juan Saavedra kicked the PAT for a 7-0 lead.

Trailing 14-7, Borsgard produced his second TD of the game by scoring on a 1-yard plunge before Saavedra kicked another PAT to knot the game at 14-all with 41 seconds remaining before intermission.

Sophomore running back Derek Dunlop contributed 43 and Burmeister added 31 to the Mavericks’ 178 rushing yards on the night.

Burmeister, who recovered a fumble, topped the MCW tackling charts with nine stops, while Payton Anderson, Derek Russenberger and Cam Dressen contributed seven, six and five tackles, respectively.

Windom Area quarterback Luke Gilbertson completed 8 of 18 passes for 108 yards and two interceptions.

MCW 7-7-7-0–21

WDM 7-7-0-0–14

Scoring Plays

1st Quarter

WDM–Alex Borsgard 45 run (Juan Saavedra kick), 2:09.

MCW–Wyatt Geistfeld 43 run (Alec Weir kick), 0:00.

2nd Quarter

MCW–Aaron Burmeister 1 run (Weir kick), 4:45.

WDM–Borsgard 1 run (Saavedra kick), 0:41.

3rd Quarter

MCW–Geistfeld 1 run (Weir kick), 6:36.

4th Quarter

No scoring.