Renegades Fight Hard But Fall Short in Semifinals [VIDEO]

COLLEGEVILLE -- The Granite City Renegades prepared to host the Semifinals in the MPFL playoffs today against the Brainerd Lumberjacks a team they have faced twice this season.

This team has come so far in the past three seasons since its inauguration something head coach and owner Brett Weaver has believed his team could do all along.

"Seeing the guys we had and the talent we had, the speed, the depth, you know I really thought that this was our chance," says Weaver.

The team pulled together a 5-3 record going 3-0 to start the season.

As the semifinals got under it was the defenses that stood out as neither team could get on the board ending the first quarter tied at zero.

Then in the second both teams were able to make it inside the twenty, but the only score came from Renegades player Anthony Carpenter as he kicked a field goal early in the second and would put his team up 3-0 heading into the locker room.

In the third quarter both teams continued to have trouble finding the endzone and as time ticked away the end of the third brought us the same 3-0 score.

Most of the fourth quarter was the same until the final minute. Lumberjacks march down the field and score on a touchdown pass from Marc Hummel to Geoff Niemi, to put the Lumberjacks up 8-3 (two point conversion) with 51 seconds to go.

Renegades then respond with a drive of their own thanks to a bomb thrown by Jermaine Holmes to Andrew Rousslange to take back the lead 9-8.

Following kick-off with 1.3 seconds remaining Lumberjacks lateral the ball around hoping to get something, when Alex Johnson finds a hole, breaks a few tackles and heads into the endzone for the game winning touchdown as the Lumberjacks win 14-9.

The win puts the Lumberjacks in the Premier Bowl against the winner of the Minnesota Sting/ West Central Broncos game.

After the game we caught up with a few players to hear their thoughts on this unforgettable season.

"We have awesome football players but we have better guys," says Quarterback Matthew Sickler. "What ever happens next year this team is going to be in good hands."

"Brett Weaver thank you," says Defensive Tackle Mendell Midy. "The players -- I don't know if there is any words really."

Renegades will now head into the off-season and start preparing for next season.