It was a great year for area volleyball teams. Mabel-Canton (36-3) won the SEC-East, Section 1A, and took third place at state. Caledonia (19-13) won the TRC and finished as 1AA runner-up. Spring Grove (28-5) and Chatfield (26-3) set school records for wins while taking second in their conferences. Rushford-Peterson (21-8), Fillmore Central (19-11), and Grand Meadow (17-12-2) … [Read more...]
Football: Falcons Post 20-Point Rally, Fall One Point Short in State Semis
It is certainly not a game Fillmore Central football nation is going to forget. Minneota nation won’t forget it either. The state semifinal between the #2 Falcons (Section 1A Champ, 12-0) and #10 Vikings (Section 5A Champ, 10-2) had two complete opposite halves, the first controlled by one team, the second the other. It had a furious 20-point comeback including a fourth and 29 … [Read more...]
Football: #3 Spring Grove Earns Third Prep Bowl Appearance
After giving up an early touchdown, the Spring Grove defense took control of a 9-man state semifinal between undefeated teams. During the 27-6 Lion win against state-ranked #2 Fertile-Beltrami, Tysen Grinde logged 198 yards of all-purpose running, including a stunning 76-yard punt return TD. Despite Elijah Solum completing 12 of 18 passes, the #3 Lions, for the first time this … [Read more...]
Football: Defensive Stands Again Huge as #1 Gophers Make Prep Bowl
They say defense wins championships. The Chatfield defense wasn’t lights out in the 1AA state semifinals versus #5 Eden Valley-Watkins (Section 5AA Champion, 11-0), but it was pretty salty (as Gopher Hall of Famer Ken Jacobson would say). Chatfield (Section 1AA Champion, 12-0) notched two more key 4th down stands to a post-season resume already peppered with stymies. Both were … [Read more...]
Cross Country: LARPH and Six Individuals Take on State Meet
The Journal 11 cross country programs were again well represented (as a whole) at the 2022 State Cross County Meet in Northfield. All five sent at least one individual to compete. Lewiston-Altura/Rushford-Peterson/Houston’s boys made their fourth straight trip to the state meet behind Coach Matt Kingsbury. For a second straight year, Kingsland sent Garrison Hubka and Cole … [Read more...]
Football: Fourth Down Domination, Balanced Attack Sends #3 SG into Semis
Elijah Solum broke Spring Grove single-season records for both passing yardage and passing touchdowns during a 40-22 win over Hancock in a 9-man state quarterfinal at St. Paul. Solum was responsible for all six Lion touchdowns, running for three and passing for three. Third-ranked Spring Grove (12-0) will face #2 Fertile-Beltrami (11-0) in the semis. The Lions won nine of the … [Read more...]
Football: #1 Gophers Ride #2 All-Time Rusher to The Bank
Top-ranked Chatfield (Section 1AA champ, 11-0) scored on its first two second half drives, to blow open a 14-0 halftime lead in downing Blue Earth Area (Section 2AA Champ, 9-2) in the state quarters. The first half was denoted by two Gopher TDs, three Gopher turnovers, and two Chatfield defensive stands. It took the Gophers just six plays to score, as Sam Backer capped their … [Read more...]
Football: #2 FC Tops #1 Lester Prairie 18-16 to Make State Semis
It won’t just be a state season. Fillmore Central football, in uncharted territory (it’s first state playoff), will get a chance to play in the state semis at U.S. Bank Stadium. In a battle of undefeated teams in the state quarters, the #2 in Class A Falcons (Section 1 Champ, 11-0) stopped #1 Lester Prairie (Section 2 Champ, 11-0) on 4th and three at the Falcon 38 with 1:13 in … [Read more...]
Volleyball: Cougars Take Third at State
It was and will always be a memorable and monumental year for Mabel-Canton volleyball. The Cougars finally got to showcase their skills on the state stage, an overdue occurrence. M-C didn’t have the length and depth of hitter to make the championship match, but they battled and ended the year as one of just two teams in Class A to win their final game. A state trophy will come … [Read more...]
Volleyball: Gophers Serve Past LCH… Fall to #6 Cannon Falls in Semis
Young Chatfield got its feet wet in the 1AA playoffs, making the semis. In the quarters, Molly Thomas’ Gophers (3-seed, 25-2) matched up with La Crescent/Hokah (6-seed, 11-6). Chatfield lived by its serving and the hops and swing of its star hitter. In game one, the Gophers had seven service errors. And yet, they still led 19-13. But Lancer sophomore Abbi Ernster served six … [Read more...]
