By RICK SOLEM
rick@580wkty.com
The MSHSL football playoffs get underway today and that means there will be a lot of competitive middle-seed games and a lot of blowouts.
Blowouts like the one that’s about to happen in Caledonia, Minn., at 7 p.m. tonight when the 35-win-in-a-row Warriors put their 35-game winning streak on the line (kind of) against Dover-Eyota in the Class 2A opener.
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Caledonia |
Caledonia (8-0) has won three consecutive state titles and five of the past six, while compiling an 86-4 record over the past seven seasons. Its last loss was the season opener against Plainview-Elgin-Millville on Sept. 2, 2011.
The Eagles (0-8) have won just one game the last two seasons – both against Wabasha-Kellogg. While Caledonia is 35-0 in three seasons, D-E is 2-24.
The rest of the local Section 1, Class AA games consist of fourth-seeded Lewiston-Altura (5-3) hosting Hayfield (5-5); Triton (7-1) will take on 1-7 Cotter; and sixth-seeded St. Charles (2-6) heads to ninth-ranked Chatfield (7-1).
After a three-game skid to start the season, the L-A has won five in a row, while Hayfield has lost two of their last three.
CLASS 3A
No. 4 La Crescent (3-5) vs. No. 5 Lake City (3-5)
La Crescent has won two in a row after five consecutive losses, while Lake City comes in with a two-game losing streak.
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MSHSL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS No. 1 Spring Grove (7-1) vs. No. 8 Glenville-Emmons (0-8) CLASS 1A No. 2 Rushford-Peterson (6-2) vs. No. 7 Southland (2-6) CLASS 2A No. 1 Caledonia (8-0) vs. No. 8 Dover-Eyota (0-8) CLASS 3A No. 4 La Crescent (3-5) vs. No. 5 Lake City (3-5) CLASS 4A No. 3 Winona (3-5) vs. No. 6 Albert Lea (0-8) |
No. 3 Plainview-Elgin-Millville (5-3) vs. No. 6 Jordan (4-4)
P-E-M Won two of three, Jordan lost three in row and four of five.
NINE-MAN
No. 1 Spring Grove (7-1) vs. No. 8 Glenville-Emmons (0-8)
Ninth-ranked Spring Grove won this matchup 63-8 on Sept. 27. The Lions are led by Caleb Happel’s 975 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns. Teammate Keenan Siminski is 36-for-59 for 795 yards with 11 touchdowns and just two interceptions. His top target is Dustin Vickerman, who has 18 grabs for 465 yards and five TDs.
No. 4 Mabel-Canton (4-4) vs. No. 5 Houston (3-5)
This 4-5 matchup went to M-C 26-20 in Week 2 of the season.
The Cougars are led by Hunter Johnson’s 1,001 yards rushing and 13 TDs. Collin O’Bieglo is 39-for-71 for 555 yards with 5 TDs and 3 INTs.
No. 2 Lanesboro (7-1) vs. No. 7 Lyle/Pacelli (1-7)
Lanesboro only won 83-16 the first time these teams met. That was the third win of the Burros six-game winning streak.
With 24 touchdowns on the season, Lanesboro’s Niko Anderson broke the state total touchdown record with 102. He now holds both the total touchdowns and rushing touchdowns career records. This season, Anderson has 1,316 yards rushing to go with those 24 touchdowns.
Quarterback Garrett Boggs is 23-for-52 for 444 yards with 8 TDs and 0 INTs for Lanesboro.
CLASS 1A
No. 2 Rushford-Peterson (6-2) vs. No. 7 Southland (2-6)
This is a rematch of the season opener, which R-P took 28-20. The Trojans have won two in a row, while Southland has lost four of five.
No. 3 Bethlehem Academy (5-3) vs. No. 6 Wabasha Kellogg (3-5)
The Falcons, who have lost three in a row, are led by Austin Baab’s 1,134 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns.
Bethlehem Academy has lost two of three heading into the playoffs.
No. 4 Fillmore Central (3-5) vs. No. 5 Goodhue (3-5)
Goodhue comes in having won two of three and one of those two was a 20-6 win over Fillmore, which has lost four of five.
CLASS 4A
No. 3 Winona (3-5) vs. No. 6 Albert Lea (0-8)
This is a rematch of last week’s game in which Winona won 60-21.