Wednesday’s regular-season finale between Brainerd and Spring Lake Park was crucial for both teams, for different reasons.

Spring Lake Park remained perfect with a 17-10 win at home and enters the playoffs without a misstep this season. Brainerd was hoping get back to .500 and find something to build upon in the section tournament.

Watch the replay here.

Spring Lake Park, No. 11 in Strib Varsity’s Minnesota Top 25, is 8-0 overall and has defeated every other team in its section, putting the Panthers on track to make the state tournament for the first time since 2019.

The Panthers were averaging 37.6 points per game while holding opponents to an average of 11 points. Quarterback Nolan Roach had passed for nine touchdowns and rushed for six TDs.

Brainerd started the season 3-0 but has lost five games in a row.

Jayden Barnum led Brainerd into Wednesday’s game, having rushed for 696 yards and 16 touchdowns this season. Quarterback Bo Schwartz also was one to watch after he passed for a season-high 232 yards last week against Alexandria.