The fall sports season is starting to wind down, albeit uncharacteristically. As of November 17, football and volleyball teams are in a state of flux due to COVID. Fillmore Central is on distance learning until December, annulling the Falcons from the football play-offs, ending their season. FC volleyball is down also, though a small possibility remains they play again (depending on COVID numbers in the county). R-P is the same. Hayfield forfeited a season finale with the Trojans on the gridiron, and R-P football won’t play in the play-offs. Their season is done at 3-3. The Section 1A football play-offs have just three teams (Goodhue, Randolph, and Blooming Prairie). R-P volleyball is hoping to return late in November to possibly play post-season. Chatfield is all go both volleyball and football, but the Section 1AA football play-offs have just three teams. Kenyon-Wanamingo (3-seed) plays at Triton (2-seed) for the other spot in the 1AA title game, as Chatfield (4-1, 1-seed, #7 in Class AA) sits waiting. Multi-time defending champion Caledonia is among those done for the season. All told, the vast majority of TRC teams are shut down, some (W-K, La Crescent) without playing or barely having played. Southeast Conference schools have fared better. M-C, Houston, SG, Lanesboro, and L-O football and volleyball teams are still going and have only been somewhat interrupted, per not being able to find opponents that aren’t shutdown or on COVID quarantine. GM football is gearing up for the play-offs, but the volleyball team is down until after Thanksgiving. Kingsland football has play-offs. Knight volleyball is hoping to get back after things starting November 20. The Section 1 9-Man play-offs has seven teams where normally there are eight. Purportedly, 74 teams are not competing in the Minnesota high school football play-offs. New guidance from Governor Walz regarding high school sports is also due imminently.
The State of Area Sports
