RACINE - There was 5:05 left on the clock.

Eric Oertel, the all-everything running back and linebacker for the Racine Lutheran High School football team, was on the sideline with a neck stinger that he initially thought would end his season.

Algoma, trailing 20-14 in a WIAA Division 6 quarterfinal game at Horlick Field, faced a second-and-goal at Lutheran's 15-yard line after a false start penalty.

With Oertel, the Midwest Classic Conference's Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year, still trying to shake off his injury, someone needed to step up. That someone was Neko Graf.

Diagnosing a play perfectly, the free safety stepped in front of Algoma's tight end, made the interception and, quite possibly, the game-saving play in Lutheran's thrilling 26-21 victory over the Wolves.

Lutheran (10-2) advances to the semifinals for the first time since the merger between private and public schools in 2000. The Crusaders play Eau Claire Regis (11-1), a 57-27 winner over Fennimore Saturday night. The date and site have not yet been determined.

But Graf, who doubles as Lutheran's quarterback, wasn't finished. After the two teams traded touchdowns within 46 seconds - Oertel returned to score his fourth touchdown of the night (a 9-yard run) to give Lutheran a 26-14 lead before Algoma came right back on a 2-yard run by Sid Geldmeyer - the Crusaders faced a critical situation.

With Lutheran facing a fourth-and-one at Algoma's 36 with 1:16 to play, Graf followed the blocks of center Andrew Rosenberg and guards Braiden Moriarity and Andrew Tague to gain that crucial first down. With Algoma out of timeouts, Graf's plunge effectively ended the game.

"Words can't explain it," Graf said of the victory.

Words also can't explain Oertel. The senior running back rushed for 150 yards, which matches the Racine County single-season rushing record (including playoffs) of 2,632 yards, set last year by Park's Deon McLain. He also rushed for touchdowns of seven, 31, one and nine yards.

But his most significant play might have come almost before fans were settled in their seats.

After a short opening kickoff, Algoma ripped off plays of 14 and seven yards to advance to Lutheran's 35. But Oertel intercepted a pass and made a spectacular return to Algoma's 17.

Five plays later, Oertel's touchdown gave Lutheran a big shot of confidence against Algoma (8-4) when the Crusaders easily could have found themselves in a quick 7-0 hole.

Algoma came back on its ensuing series to tie the score at 7-7. But early in the second quarter, strong safety Kenny Meyer made the first of his two interceptions, setting up Oertel's 31-yard touchdown run out of the wildcat formation as Lutheran took a 14-7 lead that would hold up the rest of the first half.

The two teams traded touchdowns in the third quarter and Lutheran held onto a 20-14 lead. But with 11:54 to play, Oertel suffered his stinger on a running play and was sprawled on the ground for several minutes.

The game was very much hanging in the balance at that point.

"When it first happened ... I thought an ambulance would have to come," Oertel said. "I've played football for 12 years and I never had a stinger this bad. I thought I was done. When I was on the ground, I was screaming because I really thought something was wrong."

But everything turned out all right - thanks to Graf and a return by Oertel.

"I wasn't going to let my team down by staying out," Oertel said.

Said Lutheran coach Scott Smith, "He said, 'At least let me play on offense.' He came out with an attitude and the rest of the team just ate that up. That charges them."