Football (11/4)

Knights Blank M-C, Down #6 SG on Field Goal to Make Section Final

It has been a pretty remarkable two years for Kingsland football, coming off many years that were not. For a second straight campaign, Matt Kolling’s group will play to go to state. They made it that far in about as memorable a way as possible. Kingsland (3-seed, 6-2) started with a quarterfinal matchup with Mabel-Canton (6-seed, 3-5). M-C had one good first half drive, making the Knight three-yard line before turning the ball over on downs. Four plays later, Knight Kaaleem Reiland bolted 64 yards to make it 14-0. Kingsland then led 21-0 at halftime and got a 61-yard K-Reiland TD run on their first second half offensive play to go up 27-0. They posted their first shutout win, and handed the Cougars their first shutout loss of the season, by a 43-0 final. K-Reiland (15-158, 2 TDs rushing) and Zach Reiland (10-86, 2 TDs rushing) each scored twice on the ground. Parker Johnson added a 1-yard TD run while notching three sacks and four TFLs. Seth Howard had 17 total tackles to lead the defense. Trent Aarsvold (3-76 rushing) added a late 51-yard TD run. Tyler Larson (18-79 rushing) and Kale Tollefsrud (16-47 rushing) led the Cougars. M-C finishes at 3-6.

Kingsland (3-seed, 7-2) then trekked to Spring Grove for a rematch with the #6 Lions (2-seed, 9-0). The Lions beat Grand Meadow (7-seed, 1-7) in the quarterfinals 52-6 (See “Section 1 9-Man Football Playoffs”). Spring Grove never trailed and visiting Kingsland never led until the final play of this section semifinal – in overtime. Caden Reiter kicked a 17-yard field goal for a 17-14 overtime win that sent the Knights (8-2) into the 9-player section finals for the second straight season while denying the Lions (9-1) a third straight trip to the section title tilt. Both quarterbacks carried inside the one-yard line in overtime. But it was a fourth down play when Bryce Berns was tackled by his counterpart Kaaleem Reiland. When three plays later, Reiland was stopped inside the one by a trio of Lions, including Berns, Kingsland still had one play remaining. The Knights lined up with a full-house backfield, and Spring Grove called time out. Kingsland then turned to Reiter, who delivered on his first field goal attempt of the season. He had previously booted 31 of 41 extra points, including two on this afternoon. 

The Lions scored the first 14 points and the Knights the next 14 to tie the score with 8:38 to play in the third. The first big play was a first-quarter 38-yard reverse pass from Lion Zach Brumm to Ben Udstuen, the longest play of the game. Two plays later, Berns threw 13 yards to Udstuen, who made a spectacular leaping catch in the back corner of the end zone. In the second period, the Lions launched the longest drive of the game, 14 plays for 75 yards that ended with a fourth-down fumble at the KHS two-yard line. But one play after the Knights punted out of their end zone, Berns hit Brumm with a 24-yard TD pass (the latter’s sole catch). Udstuen, whose earlier point-after kick had been blocked, caught a two-point pass from Berns to put SG ahead, 14-0, with only 2:14 left in the first half. But suddenly, the Kingsland offense came alive. All-State Parker Johnson capped a 48-yard possession with a four-yard run to make it 14-7 with 45-seconds remaining. The Knights recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff. With 10 and 17-yard completions, they reached the Lion 10 before the halftime clock expired. With the first possession of the second half, K-Reiland scrambled for 31 yards, igniting a 59-yard, eight-play Kingsland drive with K-Reiland carrying for the final five yards. Reiter booted the PAT to pull even, 14-14. Defenses controlled the final quarter and a half of regulation. With a fumble recovery, a blocked KHS punt and a short KHS punt, the Lions could not take advantage of great field position, twice denied on downs after reaching the 12- and 15-yard lines. In the final minute, KHS prevented one Lion TD with pass interference. The penalty was enforced, but SG would still not score. On the next play, a Lion TD was called back by a procedure penalty. In overtime, KHS sophomore Bently Wiersma made two stellar defensive plays – a last-second pass breakup in the end zone and a solo tackle at the six-yard line. Both high-powered offenses did not have as much success as they had in their first meeting, a 36-32 Lion win. In this rematch, each team had 14 points and 13 first downs heading into overtime. Spring Grove snapped the ball for 55 plays, Kingsland 56. The Lions had eight penalties for 55 yards, KHS seven flags for 52 yards. The Grove guys had 227 yards of total offense, their fewest of the season. But the Knights were limited to a slightly better 262, their worst since week one. After facing each other two times this season, SG scored 50 total points, KHS 49. SG scored with two passes, KHS with two short runs and finally a short field goal. The Lions went to the air much more often (22 pass attempts to 9) for a 157-to-51-yards aerial advantage. The Knights had the advantage on the ground, 211 yards to 70. Grove, including six sacks, averaged only 2.1 yards per rush with the longest run only a 13-yard Berns scramble. KHS averaged 4.7 yards per carry, but the Lion defense gave up only two plays of 20 yards or more, a 31-yard scramble by K-Reiland (23-110, TD rushing) and 20-yard carry by Zach Reiland (17-71). Johnson and Ira Schmidt were each credited with two sacks of the Knights defensively. Berns finished 8 of 26 for 157 yards and the 2 TDs passing while also leading SG on the ground (24-57 yards). Udstuen caught two for 51 and a TD. For the second straight year, the Lions season ended with a loss to Kingsland, last year in the section championship game. Spring Grove was the section champion and state runner-up in 2022. Kingsland was the section champion and state runner-up in 2023. The Knights (3-seed, 8-2) move on to face #5 L-O/L/P (1-seed, 10-0) in the section final.

#9 Fillmore Central Makes Fourth Straight 1A Title Game

Fillmore Central football continued its recent surge by posting quarterfinal and semifinal wins to move back to the a 1A title game. The 9th-ranked Falcons (3-seed, 7-1) handily dispatched with Hayfield (6-seed, 2-6) in the quarters. FC got two Kane Larson rushing TDs, two Bridon Bahl to Anthony Kiehne passing TDs, and then two Bahl to Greg Kennedy passing TDs, in succession, for their first six scores. Hayfield’s offense yielded eight first half yards as FC led 35-0 at the break. The Falcons prevailed 48-14. Bahl (15-24, 220 yards, 4 TDs passing), Kennedy (4-70, 2 TDs receiving), Kiehne (3-50, 2 TD receiving), and Larson (7-51, 2 TDs rushing) did the big work. Josh Haugerud added three catches for 61 yards. Quinci Kaase had a 68-yard TD reception from Rylan Ristau, Davis Penhollow a 56-yard interception return TD. It was FC coach Chris Mensink’s 100th career win. The #9 Falcons (2-seed, 8-1) then trekked back west for a big re-match with #7 Blooming Prairie (2-seed, 8-1). With 7:34 left in the contest, Falcon senior Atlee Hershberger kicked a 22-yard field goal to give FC a three-score lead at 39-20. Up until that point, FC had only trailed once, 6-0 after BP’s Brady Kittleson scored on a 62-yard TD run on the game’s first play. FC then scored 22-unanswered to lead 22-6. The edge was 29-14 at intermission and 36-14 early in the third. But trailing 39-20, BP scored in just three plays, Kittleson hitting Bradley Boyd for a 14-yard shovel pass to make it 39-26. FC then went three-and-out. BP scored in three plays again, a Kittleson 23-yard TD run. With PAT, the Blossoms were within a score at 39-33 (4:30)! The Falcons then got a 28-yard pass from Bahl to Kennedy, but three plays later Alex Lea intercepted Bahl and authored a 37-yard return. With a very short field, BP scored in just two plays. Lukas Loverlink capped the drive with a 4-yard run to tie the contest 39-39 (2:32)! But the go-ahead PAT was missed. Lacking momentum but not resiliency, the Falcons made the game’s last huge scoring play. On 2nd and 10 from the 45, Bahl went deep for Haugerud. The senior might have pushed off, but it also might not have mattered, and it was not called. Haugerud reeled in the pass, stayed on his feet, and made the end zone for a huge 55-yard TD reception (1:42)! Hershberger added the PAT for a 46-39 lead. BP then got a couple of chunk plays from Kittleson to Loverlink. With 0:58 left, they had first and 10 at FC’s 20. But Falcons Hershberger and Larson then held two run plays to two yards total. The Falcons then held on two pass plays. The latter saw Kittleson evade pressure, but stop short scrambling forward. He retreated and then throw a desperation incompletion. FC held on by the 46-39 tally, clinching their fourth straight trip to the 1A finals! Bahl (18-23, 311 yards, 4 TDs, INT passing), a sophomore, threw for four TDs for a second straight playoff game. Kennedy (6-164, TD receiving) caught five passes of 28-yards or better. Haugerud (2-100, 2 TDs) had two big scoring receptions. Kiehne (9-47, TD receiving) caught a lot of short-range targets. Larson (34-155 yards, 2 TDs rushing) bruised his way on the ground. Kittleson (14-144, 2 TDs rushing; 17-29, 256 yards, TD, INT passing) was again a tough hombre to stop. Loverlink (7-126 receiving; 4-yard TD run) did all but one yard of his work in the second half. He also hit Kittleson for a 2-yard shovel pass score. Boyd (6-60 receiving) and Cole Wangen (7-41 rushing) added TDs. FC put up 465 yards total offense (147 rushing, 318 passing), BP 450 (192 rushing, 258 passing). The #9 Falcons (9-1) move on to face #4 in A Goodhue (10-0) for the 1A final. The Falcons have won eight straight after the overtime loss to BP in week two. 

“Red Kingdom” Blasts to Second Straight 9-Man Title Game

Trevor Carrier’s LeRoy-Ostrander/Lyle/Pacelli Cardinals (8-0) entered the playoffs as Section 1 9-Man’s top seed. Through the first two rounds, they delivered with two massive wins. Versus 8-seed Lanesboro (0-8) in the quarters, #5 in 9-Man L-O put up a 30-point first quarter with four touchdowns and PATs plus a safety (bad punt snap through end zone). The lead was 50-0 at half and L-O/L/P cruised to a 70-14 victory, running for 358 yards. Camden Hungerholt (5-6, 156 yards, 3 TDs passing; 7-98, TD rushing) accounted for four scores. Carson Roe (6-63 rushing) had a couple scores on the ground while racking up a team-best 15 total tackles. Tyson Stevens (6-54, TD rushing), Reid Hungerholt (82-yard TD run), Carter Sweeney (72-yard TD reception), Talon Lewison (31-yard TD reception), Landon Meyer (2-41, TD receiving), Jayden Smith (8-yard TD run), and Gabe Nagel (2-yard TD run) each also found paydirt. Senior Cole Sass (27-113 rushing) accounted for both Burro scores. Quarterback Mason Gilbertson ran six times for 51 yards. The Burros finished at 0-9. L-O/L/P (1-seed, 9-0) then hosted Southland (4-seed, 5-4) in the semis. The final tally was a score-fest, a 61-28 Cardinals win. But it was not competitive as the Cardinals jumped out 40-0 in the second quarter. Southland kept trying and scored some points, but they could not stop L-O/L/P senior quarterback Camden Hungerholt who had another mammoth game. Hungerholt ran for 324 yards on just 12 carries with four touchdowns. All were long; 64, 75, 68, and 64 yards. His line of Dylan Christianson, Spencer Goodale, Logan Diemer and Ryder Stern controlled the trenches. Through the air, Hungerholt completed 10 of 11 passes for 262 yards and four more touchdowns. He thus compiled 586 yards total offense and eight scores! Carter Sweeney (6-148 receiving) caught touchdowns of 37 and 34 yards. Tyson Stevens’ only catch was a 76-yard TD. Landon Meyer (2-30 receiving) added a 25-yard TD reception. Stevens (10-79 rushing) added a score on the ground. Yet, of all those stats, the Cardinals’ defense may have boasted the biggest feat. They tackled Rebel sophomore QB Henry Wiste 15 times behind the line! Christianson (5 ½), Stern (3 ½), and Roe (3) all had at least three sacks. Wiste did throw for 305 yards on 23 of 39 passing with four TDs and two picks. Stevens and C-Hungerholt had the interceptions. Landon Chilman (7-70, 3 TDs receiving) and Kaleb Yunker (4-107, TD receiving) were his top targets. But the Rebels, much due to all the sacks, ran for -3 yards as a team. Wiste had 26 carries for -15 yards! The Cardinals (10-0), “Red Kingdom,” thus moves on to a rematch of week one versus Kingsland (3-seed, 8-2), which beat 2-seed #6 Spring Grove 17-14 in overtime in the other semifinal. 

#8 Warriors Slip Past L-A, Get Rematch with Chatfield

On the backs of two second quarter touchdown passes, 2-seed and #8 in Class AA Caledonia (6-2) built a 20-6 halftime lead on 3-seed Lewiston-Altura (7-2). The Cardinals scored first and last but did not score quite enough as Carl Freuchte’s Warriors posted a 20-12 victory. A Carter Cady 60-yard TD run put L-A up 6-0 to start, but Caledonia answered with 20-unanswered points. Second quarter touchdown passes by Ethan Stendel to Will Allen (15 yards) and Fischer Wait (5 yards) gave the Warriors 20-6 halftime lead. L-A scored the only points of the second half via Peyton Snikter to Hunter Odegaard 36-yard pass play. But Cal’s 20-12 lead held up, as neither team scored in the fourth. Stendel (16-24, 157 yards, 2 TDs passing; 13-68 rushing) and Ben Stemper (19-112 rushing) led the Warriors attack. Noah Schroeder added a 1-yard second quarter TD run. Tristan Meyer (6-73 receiving) was Cal’s leading receiver with Wait (4-43) and Allen (3-20) catching scores. Caledonia (2-seed, 7-2) moves on to a rematch with #2 in Class AA Chatfield (1-seed, 9-0), which took down Dover-Eyota 53-14 in the semifinals. Caledonia received a bye in the first round, as Section 1AA has just six teams. 

#2 Gophers Roll Past Eagles, #8 Warriors up Next 

After a first quarter feeling out period, Chatfield football (1-seed, 8-0), ranked #2 in Class A, rolled to 24 second quarter points in taking command versus Dover-Eyota (4-seed, 4-5) in a 1AA semifinal. An 8-7 game in the second turned into a 32-7 halftime lead and Jeff Johnson’s crew continued to mow down foes, this time by a 53-14 final. Senior quarterback Carson Rowland accounted for three scores (6-8, 162 yards, 2 TDs passing; 9-61, TD rushing), hitting Tobin McMahon (70-yard) and Ben Carrier (28-yard) through the air. McMahon caught three for 126 yards. Carrier ran the ball 10 times for 134 yards and a TD, an 80-yarder in the first quarter. D’Andre Williams (15-yard run) and Chase Johnston (13-yard run) added rushing scores in the third quarter. Ethan Eickhoff fell on a Carrier fumble in the end zone for another score. Chatfield’s offense was again a juggernaut, racking up 416 total yards including 254 on the ground. Chatfield (1-seed, 9-0) will play #8 Caledonia (2-seed, 7-2) in the Section 1AA final. Chatfield received a bye in the first round, as Section 1AA has just six teams.

Section 1 9-Man Football Playoffs (10/22 & 10/26)

7-seed Grand Meadow (1-7) 6, 2-seed #6 in 9-Man Spring Grove (8-0) 52 (SG: B. Berns 10-12, 212 yds, 5 TDs passing, 3-51 rushing; Ben Udstuen 2-79, TD receiving, 6 for 6 PAT kicks; Zach Brumm 2-65, 2 TDs receiving; Ezra Griffin 2-53, 2 TDs receiving. GM: Nathan Fretty 6-39 rushing; Parker Armagost 7-28 rushing. Total Offense: SG 402 yards, GM 72. Grand Meadow finishes at 1-8) 

5-seed Houston (4-4) 14, 4-seed Southland (4-4) 27 (H: M. Rodriguez 22-111 rushing, 5-64 receiving; Morgan Rohweder 12-23, 118 yards passing, 7-37, 2 TDs rushing; Lee Klunder 14-78 rushing; Zach Olson 6-43 receiving, 4-20 rushing. Southland led 7-0 at halftime. The Rebels then built a 27-8 lead in the fourth quarter) 

Section 1A Football Playoffs (10/22 & 10/26) 

5-seed Rushford-Peterson (3-5) 42, 4-seed Wabasha-Kellogg (3-5) 6 (R-P: J. Bunke 26-252, 4 TDs rushing, 2-14 receiving; Caden Lea 6-16, 54 yards, INT passing; Caden Mattson 30-yard TD run; Carson Johnson 31-yard TD run, 2-28 receiving; Owen Lange 8-51 rushing. Just days after falling 14-12 to the Falcons, the Trojans held W-K to 99 yards total offense before their final 87-yard drive, the Falcons’ only scoring series of the game when the score was 42-0. R-P ran for a season-high of 363 yards. Their previous high was 343 versus Hayfield in week five. The Trojans ran for 101 yards in week eight versus W-K) 

5-seed Rushford-Peterson (4-5) 14, 1-seed #4 in A Goodhue (9-0) 32 (R-P: Car. Johnson 25-yard TD reception; Domanick Corcoran 23-yard TD pass to Landon Dahl; C. Lea 5-15, 42 yards, TD, 3 INTs passing. Goodhue had three 10-plus play first half drives but only led 10-6 at halftime. For the game, the Trojans had just one drive of over 50 yards, the Wildcats four. They racked up 20 first downs to R-P’s five. Nonetheless, R-P scored in the fourth close to down 18-14. Wildcat Nathan Buck then had a 68-yard TD run to make it 25-14. R-P was held to 79 yards of offense. Goodhue had 381)