Section football preview: Teams one win away from state berth

By Doug Wolter

October 31, 2017 12:53 PM

Somebody’s going to the Minnesota state football tournament.

But who?

And that, of course, is the fun part. Section championships will be determined in five classes Thursday and Friday involving southwest Minnesota high school football teams. On to the matchups:

In Section 2 9-Man, 10-0 Red Rock Central will face 8-2 Russell-Tyler-Ruthton at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Southwest Minnesota State University, Marshall. The Falcons are ranked No. 7 in the state and they have allowed only seven points in their last three games. Russell-Tyler-Ruthton has won six straight.

The two teams did not play each other during the regular season.

In Section 3 9-Man, 7-3 Mountain Lake Area plays 7-3 Westbrook-Walnut Grove at 5 p.m. Thursday at Southwest Minnesota State University, Marshall. Fourth-seeded MLA beat top-seeded Nicollet 30-24 in the semifinals last weekend. Third-seeded W-WG completed a come-from-behind win over second-seeded Edgerton/Ellsworth, 56-38.

Thursday will mark the first meeting of the season between the Wolverines and the Chargers.

In Section 3A, 10-0 Wabasso meets 8-2 New Ulm Cathedral at 1:30 p.m. Friday at SMSU, Marshall. Wabasso is the top-ranked team in Minnesota Class A and already has beaten New Ulm Cathedral this season, 38-0.

In Section 3AA, 8-1 Redwood Valley squares off against 9-1 Pipestone Area at 4 p.m. Friday at SMSU, Marshall. The Cardinals defeated Pipestone Area 29-14 during the regular season and have scored 42 or more points in each of their last three outings. Pipestone Area has scored 148 points in its last three games.

Redwood Valley is ranked No. 5 in Class AA. Pipestone Area is ranked No. 6.

In Section 3AAA, 8-1 Fairmont plays 8-2 Jackson County Central at 7 p.m. Friday at New Ulm High School. Friday’s clash will mark the third consecutive meeting between Fairmont and JCC for the section crown (JCC won the 2015 and 2016 showdowns). Fairmont, the section’s top seed this year, is ranked No. 4 in Class AAA. JCC is No. 13.

Friday will be the first meeting this year between the two schools.

For a recap of Saturday’s semifinal games, go online at www.dglobe.com .

By Doug Wolter

Doug Wolter joined the Worthington Globe in December of 1983 as a sports reporter. He later became sports editor, and then news editor and managing editor. In 2006 he moved to Mankato with his wife, Sandy, and served as an editor at the Mankato Free Press. In 2013 he and Sandy returned to Worthington to take up the job of sports editor at The Globe, and they have been in Worthington since.

Doug can be reached at dwolter@dglobe.com.

Section football preview: Teams one win away from state berth

Somebody's going to the Minnesota state football tournament. But who? And that, of course, is the fun part. Section championships will be determined in five classes Thursday and Friday involving southwest Minnesota high school football teams. On ...