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...]
Volleyball: Lions Edge Falcons in Five, Fall to BA in Four
For the second straight season, #9 in A Spring Grove (4-seed, 27-4) eliminated Fillmore Central (5-seed, 19-10) in the section 1A quarters but could not topple #5 Bethlehem Academy (1-aeed, 19-10) in the semis. The Lions needed five sets to escape the Falcons 3-2 (25-18, 24-26, 13-25, 25-19, 15-12). SG scored seven of the last eight points in set four to get to a fifth set, … [Read more...]
Volleyball: Caledonia Takes Down #2 Z-M, Finishes as 1AA Runner-Up
Scott Koepke’s Caledonia Warriors almost joined Mabel-Canton in the state volleyball field. Team Cal knocked off the #2 in team in AA on its way to a 1AA runner-up finish. Caledonia (4-seed, 17-12) played Goodhue (5-seed, 16-13) in the 1AA quarters. Set two was the only real tussle. Caledonia trailed most of it, including 20-16. They then scored six straight points. … [Read more...]
Football: Lions Blank Burros for Section Crown, Head to State
Spring Grove (1-seed, 10-0) scored on the game’s third play and never allowed #7 Lanesboro (2-seed, 9-1) to get closer than 19 yards to the Lion goal line. With the 35-0 decision, the #3 Lions return to state for the first time since their 2018 state title. SG is the first regular-season 9-man champion in four years to also win the section crown. Elijah Solum completed 14 of 23 … [Read more...]
Football: Field Goal Propels #1 Chatfield to State Over #8 Caledonia
Caledonia. Chatfield. Football. Not much more has to be said. A match-up of the #1 Gophers (1-seed, 10-0) and #8 Warriors (2-seed, 8-2) in the 1AA title game marked the fifth such meeting since 2012. All four previous victors won state titles. The teams combined own eight (Cal 6, Chat 2) of the nines title (competed) since 2012 (2020 didn’t have one). Field goal. Erickson’s is … [Read more...]
Football: #2 Fillmore Central Soars to First Ever State Appearance
It was in dubious number: 0-8. Since its origins in 1993, Fillmore Central has sent eight football teams to section title games. All eight lost. Head Coach Chris Mensink has been around for a most of that, heading teams that lost the most recent two section titles agonizingly, 22-21 and 7-0 to R-P in 2016 and 2021. Well, the streak is over. Faribault B.A. (2-seed, 8-2) beat the … [Read more...]
Volleyball: #5 Mabel-Canton Ends 20-Year Drought, Makes State
Evidently, it was meant to be this way. Mabel-Canton Head Coach Lonnie Morken has led a lot of really good volleyball teams. He’s a coaching legend. But the Cougars haven’t been to state since 2001. Ten times since they lost in a 1A final. Eight were to Faribault B.A. (which has the advantage of being a private school in a city of 24,000) and twice to Medford. As Morken once … [Read more...]