Watch on demand: Chatfield visits undefeated Pine Island hungry for bounce-back win
After losing last week for the first time this year, Class 2A Chatfield looked to make a statement against Class 3A Pine Island.
The Minnesota Star Tribune
When Pine Island hosted Chatfield on Wednesday, it was a matchup of a team with something to lose and a team with something to gain.
Pine Island, ranked No. 18 in Strib Varsity’s Minnesota Top 25, entered the game with a perfect record, with shutouts against five of its seven opponents. The Class 3A Panthers are averaging 41.6 points while holding opponents to an average of 3.9 points.
With good odds of reaching the state tournament for the first time since 2013, Pine Island wanted to maintain its streak and avoid a loss to end the regular season.
The Panthers’ Nick Thein is among the state’s top running backs, rushing for 1,106 yards and 20 touchdowns so far this season. Quarterback Alex Knox has passed for 11 touchdowns and rushed for two scores.
Chatfield suffered its first loss of the season last week at Caledonia, falling 14-0. The Gophers reached the Class 2A semifinals last year. They won the state title in 2021 and finished runner-up in 2022.
Pine Island coach Mitchel Schiltz appeared on Episode 9 of “Strib Varsity Live With Randy Shaver.” Watch the show here.
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