It has been a big year for Journal 11 cross country athletes. The 2021 Section 1A Meet was an identifier of that success. One team and five individuals qualified for the 2021 state meet. And this year they’ll get to compete in Northfield. Battling a steady rain, the LARPH guys team, Kingsland runners Garrison Hubka and Cole Kruegel, Chatfield’s Logan Thompson and Lexi Kivimagi, and LFC’s Lillyan Kiehne all will run another day. Matt Kingsbury’s LARPH guys brought home their first ever 1A title. They made state in 2019 and 2020, but both times as runner-up. LARPH (66) was four points better than second place Lourdes (70). Journal 11 schools Chatfield (223), LFC (228), Kingsland (236), and GMLOS (302) took 8th, 9th, 10th, and 12th respectively of 19 full teams. LARPH was led by senior stand-outs Tyler Rislov, who took second overall (16:57), and Andrew Hoiness, who took third (17:06.8). Each also finished top five last year. The duo’s five combined points was key in beating Lourdes. The Eagles’ top two combined for 12. The Eagles’ Kevin Turlington was the 2021 1A champion (16:50.8). Six of LARPH’s runners finished top 45 in a 135-man field. Sophomores Ryan Prinsen (15th > 17:56.6), Tyler Betthauser (18th > 18:10) and Sam Adamcyk (28th > 18:38.8) were also scoring runners. Freshman Matthew Sprague (19:31.9) took 45th. A year ago, LARPH’s fourth and fifth runners took 32nd and 44th. Individually, Kingsland qualified two for state, which is the same amount the Knights have had the last decade. Junior Garrison Hubka repeated by taking fifth overall (17:16). Fellow junior Cole Kruegel, a break-out performer this year, took ninth overall (17:25.4), grabbing the sixth of six open individual state spots. One spot ahead of him was the third Journal 11 state individual qualifier, Chatfield senior Logan Thompson. He took eighth (17:24.4), also coming out of left field. He took 51st last year. LFC had two in the top 20, 2020 state qualifier senior Carson Ruen (17th > 18:05.3) and sophomore Isaac Snyder (19th > 18:11.1). GMLOS was led by 7th grader Tate Goergen (29th > 18:40). Chatfield junior Treyton Lanning (18:52.5) took 30th. On the girls side, Chatfield had state hopes but they came up just short. Jayna Harstad’s girls (97) took third behind state teams, 1A champion Lake City (88) and Cotter (90). All seven Gopher athletes finishing top 40. They just didn’t have enough high finishers. Lake City had 10 points after two runners and Cotter four, while Chatfield was at 21. The Gophers last three scoring runners tallied a 76, Lake City 78, and Cotter 86. LFC (172) took 6th, LARP (216) 8th, GMLOS (283) 12th, and Kingsland 15th (375) of 17 complete teams. Qualifying individually for state were LFC 8th grader Lillyan Kiehne (20:38.8), who took 5th, and Chatfield 7th grader Lexi Kivimagi (20:46.7), who took sixth. Each was the highest finisher from their grade. Cotter frosh Sonja Semling (20:01.3) took first over Lake City’s Olivia Yotter (20:22.3). Just missing the state cut was GMLOS junior McKenna Hendrickson (21:14.1), who took 12th. She was the seventh highest qualifier not from a state qualifying team. The top six make state. After that, Gopher girls, junior Aletta Strande (16th > 21:30), senior Tessa McMahon (21st > 21:57.7), and freshman Charlotte Oeltjen (29th > 22.22.8) made the top 30. Strande (2019) and McMahon (2020) are former state qualifiers. LARP was led by sophomore Lauren Honken (22nd > 21:59). LFC senior Brielle Ruen (23rd > 22:07.2) also made the top 25. LFC senior Morgan Pickett (31st), Chatfield senior Katelyn Dornack (32nd), junior Belle Carr (36th), and freshman Ella Bakken (37th) finished top 40 (of 126 runners). The race was held at Rochester’s Northern Hills Country Club
Photo by Christine Vreeman
Johnson and Cardinals Power Past #7 GM to Section Title Game
Rivals Leroy-Ostrander (3-seed, 7-2) and #7 in 9-Man Grand Meadow (2-seed, 8-1) did battle in a wild Section 1 9-Man semifinal. At the start, turnovers hampered L-O’s plight. The Cardinals fumbled the opening kick, then had an interception. GM turned both into points, as Taylor Glynn found Dustin Copley (25-yards) and Jace Kraft (61-yards) for TDs (each on 3rd an 8). GM led 12-0 very early. But the Cardinals scored the next 25 points. Touchdown runs by new fullback Tanner Olson (3-yards) and Johnson (32-yards, 10-yards), a PAT, a conversion, and a safety (GM punt snap through end zone) had the Cardinals up 25-12. Gary Sloan’s Larks ended the 25-point run with a Glynn to Copley 51-yard screen pass TD in the second quarter (on 3rd and 12), their third “3rd and long” TD pass. GM had four first downs but three touchdowns and the halftime score was 25-20 L-O. The third quarter then saw five turnovers in the first 10 plays, six total. The Cardinals took a Camden Hungerholt interception and went 68-yards in 11 plays. Chase Johnson’s third TD run (11-yards) made it 31-20. Johnson then snagged a pick, returning it some 30 yards. One play later, Olson burst for a 30-yard TD run. With conversion, and with the quarter waning, L-O led 39-20. But GM took to the air, scoring quickly early in the fourth, a Corbin Ludemann 26-yard TD run the capper (39-26). L-O worked the clock, churning out three first downs, but punted (5:41). GM frantically again made it downfield, a Glynn to Kraft 1-yard TD pass the capper. With conversion run, L-O’s lead was cut to 39-34 (3:32). The Larks needs just one defensive stand. But Johnson and his offensive line, Malyk Schaefer, Hayden Sass, Morgan Jasper, and Gavin Sweeney, prevented it. The 5’6” 170-pound strong and fast senior authored all six runs on L-O’s final drive. They picked up two first downs, and that was it. L-O avenged an earlier loss to GM and made their first 9-Man section final since 2004 courtesy of a 39-34 win. Johnson was a beast; 38 carries for 256 yards and 3 TDs rushing. Tanner Olson, who started the year at tight end, gave L-O a key secondary running threat (18-117, 2 TDs rushing). The Cardinals completed just one pass, as 376 of their 380 total yards came on the ground. Johnson also had his interception, Olson 1 ½ sacks. L-O defensive ends Sweeney and Olson were constantly applying QB pressure. L-O won both trench wars, as the Cards limited GM’s rushing too. Meadow was led by Taylor Glynn (18-26, 276 yards, 4 TDs, 3 INTs passing), Copley (5-90, 2 TD receiving), Kraft (5-100, 2 TDs receiving), and Ludemann (5-53, TD rushing; 4-53 receiving). Copley added an interception and a fumble recovery. The Larks ran for 83 yards and gained 276 through the air. L-O (8-2) moves on to face Lanesboro (1-seed, 10-0). GM has a seven-game win streak snapped. They finish at 8-2. GM beat Houston 42-18 and L-O beat M-C 47-6 in the quarters (See “Football”). GM Head Coach Gary Sloan announced his retirement a day later. He went 230-84 since 1993 with four state titles (2013-2016). The 59-year-old is a coaching legend.
Photo by Paul Trende
Christianson Dime to Corson Propels FC to 1A Final
Fillmore Central (2-seed, 8-1), in a 1A semifinal, played from behind nearly the whole game versus Faribault B.A. (3-seed, 7-2), a team the Falcons beat in the regular season. FC looked up at a 16-7 third quarter deficit, but on 2nd and goal from the 14 yard-line in the final minute, sophomore QB Chase Christianson dropped a dime to junior utility back Bryce Corson. The 14-yard pass and catch put FC ahead 21-16. It was the game-winner, as the Falcons dramatically moved on to a section final. FC posted the game’s first TD in the second quarter. B.A. twice scored and twice got conversions to lead 16-7 in the third. Their second TD came after having to go just 15 yards, as the Falcons had punted from their own end zone and B.A. had a good return. FC answered right back in the third quarter to trail 16-15, which remained the score until the final fireworks. The drive preceding FC’s game-winner, the Falcons had a 1st and goal at the four, but came away empty. That was a 14-play series, all runs. Corson’s fingers were everywhere. He scored all three Falcons TDs (16-60, TD rushing, 4-53, 2 TDs receiving, 38-yard pass). He also kicked a PAT and threw a conversion pass (had his hand in all 21 of FC’s points) while authoring a game-ending interception. Alec Sikkink (20-107 rushing) did some dirty running. Christianson (7-13, 112 yards, 2TDs, INT) threw both his scores in the second half. Jayce Kiehne (2-88 receiving) led FC in receiving yards. Elliot Viland (7-12, 88 yards TD, INT passing) and Brady Strodtman (15-69, TD rushing, 2-34 receiving) led B.A. FC (9-1) moves on to the section final versus R-P (10-0). FC beat Kingsland 18-0 in the quarters (See ‘Football’).
Bunke Dime to Hengel Propels R-P to Section Title Game
It was a wild finish. The final quarter of Rushford-Peterson (#3 in A, 1-seed, 9-0) versus Randolph (4-seed, 6-3) in a 1A semifinal was a rollercoaster. R-P led 14-8. The Trojans got an interception to have first and 10 on the Randolph 18, only to go backward and punt (on 4th and 29). Randolph took over on the two (4:24). They proceeded to go 98 yards in 10 plays, completing a 40-yard hook-and-ladder TD pass on 3rd and 25. The point after failed, leaving the score tied 14-14 (1:41). R-P then got a good kick-off return (37 yards) into Randolph territory, but threw an interception. The Rockets then went backward, including suffering two sacks, before punting. The Trojans took over at the Randolph 22 (1:07). R-P had a 21-yard TD pass called back by holding penalty. One play later, Bunke dropped a dime to Grady Hengel. The 32-yard pass and catch (with 0:24 left) propelled R-P to victory. The final was 21-14. It was a game of passing. Neither had a rusher with 35-plus yards. Bunke (13-26, 205 yards, 3 TDs, INT passing) threw scores to Hengel (6-63, TD receiving), Prinsen (2-30, TD receiving), and Alex Ronnenberg (40-yards). Tommy Ekern (3-40 receiving) and Justin Ruberg (32-yard catch) also had big snags. Jacob Weckup (24-43, 274 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs) threw a lot to Nathan Weckup (7-156, TD receiving) and J.J. Root (11-76, TD receiving) in particular. When the teams played in the regular season, R-P won 67-7. The Trojans (10-0) move on to face Fillmore Central (9-1) in the 1A final. R-P beat W-K 32-6 in the quarters (See “Football”).
Grove Girls Surge into 1A Semifinals
Spring Grove (20-9), with the No. 4 section volleyball seed, began the playoffs with a 3-0 home win over No. 13 Kingsland and then subdued No. 5 Fillmore Central, 3-1, in an early Saturday quarterfinal at Rochester. Saturday milestones included a 1,000th career assist for Lion senior setter Rachel Normann and the 1,000th career dig for junior libero Maggie Lile. Versus Kingsland (25-20, 25-14, 25-4), the Lions put together scoring runs in each set. The Knights led set one, 16-15, before SG closed with a 10-4 run. Kingsland held its greatest lead at 6-1 in set two and was ahead 8-4 before the Lions roared away with a 17-to-2 scoring splurge. In set three, the Knights were competitive again, trailing only 14-13 before SG took 11 of the final 12 points with 10 attacks, seven kills, and no errors. The Lions served a superb 99% (72 of 73) with six aces. KHS served 90% with four aces, five errors. For SG, Addyson McHugh scored with 13 kills and three aces while defending with 18 digs. Kenadee Gerard put away another 13 kills and Lydia Solum six. Normann directed the attack with 30 assists and served two aces. On defense, Lile led with 18 digs, Normann 11, Julia Halverson 10. There were no individual stats available for Kingsland, which closed at 14-14. Most memorable in the win versus FC (25-16, 28-30, 25-20, 25-16) was the marathon second set that was tied 14 times with the Falcons saving four set points and SG saving two before FC won, 30-28, with a block from Kammry Broadwater and a kill by Abby Bothun. But the critical momentum swing came in set three, which FC led 18-17 before SG closed with an 8-2 run to lead the match, 2-1. Then in set four, the Lions used six-point and five-point scoring spurts on the way to a nine-point win. Overall, SG outscored FC at the net with 10 more kills (51-41) and two more blocks (6-4). The Lions hit with 17% efficiency to the Falcons’ 7%. SG served 95% with five aces, five errors. FC lost points with six aces, 10 errors while serving 88%. For SG, Gerard (27% efficiency) poured in 21 kills along with two solo blocks and an assist. Brielle Neeley (33%) scored four kills on only nine swings. McHugh (22%) put away 15 kills along with a team-high 20 digs. There was solid play from Normann (36 assists, 17 digs), Solum (5 kills, 3 blocks, 2 aces) and Halverson (15 digs). From the back row, Lile aired up 7 assists to go with a dozen digs. For the Falcons, Broadwater had 16 kills and Bothun eight along with a team-high 18 digs, Lauren Mensink was valuable with 29 assists plus five kills and 12 digs. Libero Kyla Hellickson dug 14 times for FC, which closed at 16-13. Additional stats on our website. FC beat W-K in the Round of 16 (See “Volleyball”).
Warrior VB Sweeps to Section Semis
They are the number three-seed, the TRC champions, and a perennial Section 1AA powerhouse, meaning, it was expected. But Caledonia still had to live up to those expectations in the first two rounds of the 1AA play-offs, and they did so with a pair of sweep wins. In the Round of 16, Scott Koepke’s Warriors (3-seed, #8 in AA, 20-8) handled La Crescent/Hokah (14-seed, 7-19) in straight sets (25-10, 25-20, 25-17). Logan Koepke had a double-double (16 kills, 16 digs) to lead the way. Jovial King (24 assists, 18-18 serving, 3 aces) set and served. Emme Kittleson (10 digs), Sadie Treptow (7 kills, 3 total blks), Paige Klug (5 kills), Brianna Stemper (3 kills, 10 digs), Grace Myhre (5 kills, 3 total blks), and Emma Rommes (3 kills, 10 assists) helped. Next up was a battle with Chatfield (6-seed, 19-8), which defeated Cotter 3-1 (25-17, 25-22, 16-25, 25-13) in the Round of 16 (See “Volleyball”). The Gophers led game one 13-10, but Caledonia got back to even at 14-14, then got three straight Koepke kills to lead 19-17. Team Cal scored nine of the final 13 points to grab the 25-20 victory. Game two was then the tightest. The Warriors led by as many as six (17-11) but Chatfield came back to tie at 19. Five ties later, it was 24-24. But a back-to-back Brianna Stemper kills, the last with aid of the net, propelled Caledonia to the 26-24 win, the 2-0 lead. Game three then saw Caledonia annul a 9-4 Chatfield lead with a 10-0 run, as Klug scored nine straight service points (up 14-9). Chatfield then went 4-0 to make it 14-13. With it 17-16 Cal, the Warriors went 4-0 to lead 21-16. Chatfield couldn’t recover and fell 3-0 (25-20, 26-24, 25-21). Koekpe (15 kills, 21 digs), just a sophomore, notched another double-double. Stemper (8 kills, 10 digs), Klug (7 kills, 19-19 serving), Myhre (6 kills), and Treptow (4 kills, 4 total blks) helped offensively. Rommes (18 assists) and King (15 assists) set. Kittleson (8 digs) helped defensively. The Gophers were led by Zayda Priebe (11 kills), Jaelyn LaPlante (7 kills), and Kennedie Schmaltz (8 kills) offensively. Sydney Allen (16 assists, 7 digs) and Devann Clemens (12 assists, 14 digs) did the setting. Shelby Nolan (9 digs) led the defensive effort. The Warriors stayed away from Peyton Berg (8 digs). She had 27 digs the regular season match, which Cal won 3-1 (25-21, 23-25, 27-25, 25-17). The Warriors (22-8) move on to face Zumbrota-Mazeppa (2-seed, 22-6) in the semis. Chatfield’s very good season ends at 19-9.
Cougar VB Drops Set, Win Six Straight to Make Semis
It wasn’t the best start to Mabel-Canton’s volleyball post-season. The 7th-ranked Cougars (2-seed, 28-4) took on Randolph (15-seed, 4-21) in the Round of 16. M-C entered just having lost the SEC Showcase game to Grand Meadow in five sets. Versus the Rockets, the Cougars promptly lost game one, and did so 25-16. But Randolph then never got to 12 in the final three sets. M-C got the 3-1 win (16-25, 25-7, 25-11, 25-10). The Cougars were led offensively by Saijal Slafter (11 kills, 3 aces), who sat (injury) the GM game. Sophie Morken (10 kills, 14 digs), Emily Carolan (8 kills, 7 digs), Kinley Soiney (8 kills, 4 total blks), and Molly Lee (4 kills, 11 digs, 4 aces) helped. Sahara Morken (37 assists, 17 digs) set. MaKenzie Kelly (13 digs, 23-23 serving, 4 aces) played “D” and served well. The Cougars (29-4) moved on to a 1A quarter versus 7-seed Hayfield (15-12). The Vikings offered up formidability, having gone five sets each with section 5-seed FC (win), 3-seed K-W (loss), and 1-seed Faribault B.A. (loss). The Vikings beat Lanesboro 3-1 in the Round of 16. Set one saw M-C lead 12-7, but Hayfield came back to tie at 17-17. Middle-hitting (Soiney and Slafter) has been a key for the Cougars. Slafter had two key kills in the game to put M-C up 20-18. Hayfield then got within one three times. But a big block by Soiney of a big attack by Viking top hitter Reese Baumann made it 24-21. M-C prevailed 25-22. Game two saw the Vikings lead early including 15-10. But a 5-0 Cougar run tied it at 15. With it 17-17, Slafter ripped off three kills in a four-point Cougar run, as they went ahead 21-17. The freshman had five or her six kills in M-C’s final eight points, as the Cougars took the game 25-21. Hayfield was then deflated and M-C rolled in game three 25-14. They got the sweep 3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-14). Slafter (12 kills) and Soiney (10 kills) were big on “O.” Carolan (8 kills, 14 digs), So. Morken (6 kills, 8 digs, 16-17 serving), and Lee (5 kills, 15 digs) gave the Cougars balance. Sah. Morken (38 assists, 12 digs) set the table. Kelly (16 digs) was again strong in the backrow. Hayfield was led by Baumann (13 kills, 3 blks) and 1,000-digs libero McKenna Chick (25 digs). M-C got to 30 wins (#7 in A, 2-seed, 30-4) and will play Kenyon-Wanamingo (#8 in A, 3-seed, 18-4) in the semis.
Chatfield Football Rolls Triton to Make 1AA Title Game
They met in week two. The final was 21-20 Chatfield. A match-up of the Gophers (#6 in AA, 1-seed, 8-1) and Triton (4-seed, 6-3) in a 1AA semi was then not at all so close. The Gophers R-O-L-L-E-D. Chatfield scored 14 first quarter points but 28 in the second quarter, all without a reply. They blocked two Triton punts. Junior running back Sam Backer accounted for all six of those TDs, rushing for five (1, 4, 9, 21, and 41 yards), throwing a 28-yard scoring strike to Cole Johnson. The score was 42-0 at the half. It was wham-bam-thank-you-leave-Chatfield to the Cobras. The Gophers moved on to the 1AA final by a final of 54-0. Backer (17-198 yards, 5 TDs rushing; 3-8, 48 yards, TD passing) continued to be a juggernaut. Parker Delaney (5-53, TD rushing) and Ben Carrier (6-38, TD rushing) added second half TD runs. Triton had 20 carries for 28 net yards, 36 passing yards, 64 total yards. The Gopher defense was dominant in yielding two first downs. Chatfield (9-1) plays Goodhue (7-3) in the 1AA final. The Gophers beat Cotter 60-14 in the 1AA quarters (See “Football”).
Photo by Paul Trende
Rein/Semmen Run Burros Back to 9-Man Title Game
Lanesboro football (#2 in 9-Man, 1-seed, 9-0) used its two heralded senior ball carriers to run past Southland (4-seed, 4-5) in 9-Man semi. J.T. Rein and Seth Semmen combined for over 400 yards and six rushing TDs, five of which were over 39 yards. The Burros scored just before the half (0:09) to lead 24-7 at intermission. They had control from there in posting a 45-21 win. Rein (21-223, 4 TDs rushing) and Semmen (15-222, 3 TDs) are big, strong, and fast “dudes” (aka, really good players), and the Rebels had no answer for the duo. The Burros line again imposed its will, helping Lanesboro rush for (way) over 300 yards for the 10th time this year. James Semmen’s group had 53 carries for 524 yards (almost 10.0 YPC). Hayden Lawstuen (11-75, TD rushing) also chipped in some good work, as the Burros threw just two passes. Harrison Hanna (22-42, 361 yards, 3 TDs, INT passing) and Brendan Kennedy (9-173, TD receiving) led Southland’s mostly aerial attack. They were held to -1 yards rushing. The Burros (10-0) move on to play L-O (8-2) in the 9-Man section final. Lanesboro is the defending section champs. They beat L/P in the quarterfinals 53-0 (See “Football”).
Hot Shots
Nine-seed Rushford-Peterson beat eight-seed Grand Meadow in five sets in a 1A Round of 16 volleyball match. Kaylee Ruberg had 18 kills. She then had 28 kills, but the Trojans fell 3-1 to B.A. in the quarterfinals. Lanesboro’s Kaci Ruen had 21 kills and Jessie Schreiber 16, but the Burro fell to Hayfield in the 1A Round of 16. Zayda Preibe had 17 kills and eight total blocks as Chatfield beat Cotter 3-1 in the 1AA Round of 16. Sam Backer rushed for two and threw two scores as Chatfield beat Cotter 60-14 in a 1AA quarterfinal. Malachi Bunke three four TD passes as R-P beat W-K 32-6 in a 1A quarterfinal. FC beat Kingsland 18-0 in another first round game, as the teams combined for nine turnovers and the game wasn’t truly decided until a 4th quarter TD pass from Chase Christianson to Bryce Corson. Six different Burros ran for scores as Lanesboro beat L/P 53-0 in a 9-Man quarterfinal. Tanner OIson ran for four TDs as L-O beat M-C 57-6 in the quarters.
Football
(10/26 & 10/30)
(1AA) 8-seed Cotter (2-6) 14, 1-seed #6 in AA Chatfield (7-1) 60 (C: S. Backer 5-96, 2 TDs rushing, 2-3, 51 yards, 2 TDs passing, 39-yard reception; P. Delaney 8-9, 231 yards, TD, INT passing, 4-28, TD rushing; Drew O’Connor 5-138, TD receiving; C. Johnson 3-93, 2 TDs receiving; Luke Carrier 12-yard TD reception, 8-yard TD run; Carson Rowland 2-yard TD run)
(1AA) 6-seed Lewiston-Altura (3-5) 34, 3-seed Caledonia (4-4) 14 (C: Eric Mauss 18-83, 2 TDs rushing; Lewis Doyle 13-21, 129 yards, INT passing, 12-40 rushing; Jackson Koepke 5-47 receiving; Ayden Goetzinger 5-49 receiving. Cardinals led 14-7 at halftime (14-7), broke open game with two third quarter TDs (27-7). Caledonia had five turnovers. The Cardinals also beat Caledonia in the regular season 21-14. The Warriors season ends at 4-5)
(1A) 8-seed Wabasha-Kellogg (0-8) 6, 1-seed #3 in A Rushford-Peterson (8-0) 32 (R-P: M. Bunke 6-9, 114 yards, 4 TDs passing; J. Ruberg 2-48, TD rushing; T. Ekern 2-34, TD receiving; A. Ronnenberg 2-32, 2 TDs receiving; Brady Gile 4-47, TD rushing. Trojans built a 32-0 halftime lead. W-K had a 15-play 99-yard TD drive in the second half)
(1A) 7-seed Kingsland (3-5) 0, 2-seed Fillmore Central (7-1) 18 (FC: B. Corson 16-80, TD rushing, 2-77, TD receiving; A. Sikkink 12-71, TD rushing, 3-65 receiving; C. Christianson 6-12, 150 yards, TD, INT passing; Jake Fishbaugher 6-62 rushing; J. Kiehne two interceptions. K: James Howard 10-48 rushing. Knight passers combined to go 7 of 24 for 49 yards with three INTs. TOs: FC 5, K 4. Knights played 9-Man all regular season. They finish 3-6)
Photo by Paul Trende
(9-Man) 8-seed Lyle/Pacelli (0-7) 0, 1-seed #2 in 9-Man Lanesboro (8-0) 53 (L: J.T. Rein 11-176, 2 TDs rushing; Boston Wright 9-121, TD rushing; S. Semmen 6-73, TD rushing, 4-7, 50 yards, TD passing; H. Lawstuen 6-37, TD rushing; Mason Howard 4-32, TD rushing; Jordan Peterson 17-yard TD reception; Gage Highum 1-yard TD run. Burros again ran for 300-plus yard (468))
(9-Man) 5-seed Spring Grove (3-4) 12, 4-seed Southland (3-5) 19 (SG: Elijah Solum 18-39-2, 243 yds., 2 TD passing; Tysen Grinde 9-90 receiving; Hunter Holland 16-67 rushing, 72-yard TD reception; Carson Gerard 2-43, TD receiving. Spring Grove, twice in the fourth quarter, was unable to score the tying or go-ahead touchdown, stopped first at the one yard-line, then in the final minute with a fumble at the five. Twice down by two touchdowns, the Lions rallied with 41 and 72-yard TD passes. SG outgained the Rebels, 350 yards to 219. SG finishes at 3-5. Additional coverage/stats on our website)
(9-Man) 7-seed Houston (2-6) 18, 2-seed #7 in 9-Man Grand Meadow (7-1) 42 (GM: T. Glynn 8-14, 163 yards, 2 TDs passing, 3-yard TD run; D. Copley 14-140, 2 TDs rushing, 2-30 receiving; Dustin Stejskal 6-88, TD rushing; J. Kraft 3-82, 2 TDs receiving. H: Kenneth Grupe 11-54, 2 TDs rushing; Morgan Rohweder 7-16, 82 yards passing; Maddox Rodriguez 27-88 rushing; Tanner Kubitz 4-36 receiving. Each team had a safety. Houston finishes at 2-7)
(9-Man) 6-seed Mabel-Canton (4-4) 6, 3-seed LeRoy-Ostrander (6-2) 57 (L-O: C. Johnson 3-4, 128 yards, 2 TDs passing, 7-60 rushing, 30-yard fumble return TD; T. Olson 10-144, 4 TDs rushing; G. Sweeney 2-124, 2 TDs receiving; M. Jasper 3-31, TD rushing; Ryder Stern 5-43 rushing. M-C: Robert Michels 16-81 rushing; Cayden Tollefsrud 23-69, TD rushing. Johnson hit Sweeney on a 91-yard TD pass. Olson ran for four TDs on five carriers at one point. M-C finishes at 4-5)
Photo by Paul Trende
Volleyball
(10/25 -10/30)
(1A) 17-seed Houston (4-15) 3, 16-seed Southland (7-15) 1 > 24-26, 25-7, 25-19, 25-23 (H: Emily Botcher 13 kills, 20 digs, 4 aces; Sydney Torgerson 9 kills, 12 digs, 4 total blks; Jaden Woodard 9 kills, 19 digs, 4 aces; Lilly Carr 3 kills, 26 assists, 11 digs; Priya Kingsley 8 assists, 18 digs; Calley Colsch 8 digs)
(1A) 20-seed Lyle/Pacelli (1-25) 0, 13-seed Kingsland (13-13) 3 > 25-22, 25-15, 25-13
(1AA) 11-seed Cotter (7-15) 1, 6-seed Chatfield (18-8) 3> 25-17, 25-22, 16-25, 25-13 (Ch: Z. Priebe 17 kills, 8 total blks, 3 aces; P. Berg 5 kills, 18 digs; D. Clemens 17 assists, 8 digs, 17-17 serving; S. Allen 14 assists, 8 digs; J. LaPlante 8 kills, 6 digs; Harper Goldsmith 9 digs; K. Schmaltz 5 kills, 6 digs; S. Nolan 7 digs; Kara Goetzinger 5 kills, 4 total blks)
(1A) 17-seed Houston (5-15) 0, 1-seed #9 in A Faribault B.A. (16-11) 3 > 4-25, 10-25, 8-25 (Hurricanes finish at 5-16)
(1A) 9-seed Rushford-Peterson (17-11) 3, 8-seed Grand Meadow (16-8) 2 > 21-25, 25-19, 25-16, 12-25, 15-9 (RP: K. Ruberg 18 kills, 10 digs, 4 blks; Isabelle Kahoun 3 kills, 31 assists, 9 digs; Elly Malone 7 kills, 16 digs; Hannah Ronnenberg 6 kills, 14 digs; Torryn Schneider 16 digs. GM: River Landers 14 kills, 3 blks; Kendyl Queensland 9 kills, 7 digs, 3 aces; Anna Oehlke 7 kills, 22 digs; Emma Grafe 6 kills, 24 assists, 21 digs; Isabelle Fretty 16 assists, 11 digs; Sydney Cotten 24 digs; Lauren Queensland 20 digs. Trojans led game 20-17, but Larks ended 8-1 for win. RP controlled games two and three, GM game four. Ruberg had three kills each of the first four sets, but six in set-five to propel R-P. They make their first trip to Rochester since 2015. GM finishes at 16-9)
(1A) 12-seed Wabasha-Kellogg (6-20) 0, 5-seed Fillmore Central (15-12) 3 > 25-11a, 25-14, 25-19 (FC: L. Mensink 3 kills, 18 assists, 10 digs; K. Broadwater 9 kills; A. Bothun 7 kills, 12 digs, 25-26 serving, 3 aces; K. Hellickson 11 digs; Regan Hanson 5 kills)
(1A) 10-seed Lanesboro (17-10) 1, 7-seed Hayfield (14-12) 3 > 17-25, 20-25, 25-18, 21-25 (L: K. Ruen 22 kills, 10 digs; J. Schreiber 16 kills, 14 digs, 22-23 serving; Ella Cambern 36 assists, 17 digs; Malia Tessum 35 digs; Lynsey Ruen 13 digs. Burros finish at 17-11)
(1A) 11-seed LeRoy-Ostrander (13-10) 0, 6-seed Alden-Conger (20-7) 3 > 12-25, 16-25, 12-15 (L-O: Jordan Runde 4 kills, 14 digs, 3 aces; Gracie O’Byrne 10 digs; Sam Volkart 5 kills; Benita Nolt 5 kills; Jenna Olson 10 assists, 6 digs; Anna Welsh 7 assists, 5 digs. Cardinals finish at 13-11)
(1A Qtr) 9-seed Rushford-Peterson (18-11) 1, 1-seed #9 in A Faribault B.A. (17-11) 3 > 23-25, 25-20, 15-25, 23-25 (R-P: K. Ruberg 28 kills, 18 digs; E. Malone 14 kills, 21 digs, 21-21 serving; I. Kahoun 34 assists, 19 digs; H. Ronnenberg 6 assists, 17 digs, 21-22 serving, 3 aces; Torryn Schneider 17 digs. R-P led game one 8-1 and game three 7-2 only to lose. They trailed game four 14-9, but were tied as late as 21-21. Trojans finish at 18-12)
*The Fillmore County Journal Sports page is a written collaboration of Paul Trende and Lee Epps.