LANGDON — The unlikely run through the state tournament ended for the Ray/Powers Lake Outlaws on Saturday as the Outlaws fell in the semifinals to the Langdon Area/Munich Cardinals, 21-7.

The Outlaws started the state tournament with a 20-6 win on the road against Bowman County, followed by a 20-18 win versus previously undefeated Ellendale/Edgeley/Kulm in the quarterfinals.

The underdogs got off to a strong start in the semifinal game as well, forcing a Cardinal punt on the opening possession of the game and getting on the scoreboard first.

A Jace Becker to Blake Bergstrom completion kept the first Outlaw drive alive, and then it was a Becker moonball to Cody Rystedt that broke a scoreless tie in the first.

7-0 would remain the score until a 45-yard Cardinal score with 6:25 to go in the second quarter tied the game at seven apiece.

The biggest play of the game came late in the second quarter, when a Cardinal special teams touchdown off a blocked punt gave the home team on the scoreboard the lead with 16 seconds to go in the half.

Neither team would score in the third, but the Cardinals recorded some insurance in the final period with a touchdown down the seam, making the score 21-7 with 6:16 to go.

This would be the score as the clock hit all zeroes, giving the defending state champion Cardinals the berth in the finals.

The Outlaws finish their campaign with a 9-3 record and just a couple bounces away from a state championship appearance.