Saturday was the final day of football state semifinals at U.S. Bank Stadium, and five more teams moved into next week’s Prep Bowl.

The scoring plays and stats for each game are on Strib Varsity. All games were streamed live on NSPN.

Find Prep Bowl matchups, schedules, streaming and ticket info here.

Saturday’s schedule

Class 1A: 9 a.m., Minneota 28, Mahnomen/Waubun 14; 11:30 a.m., Breckenridge 28, Murray County Central 21

Class 3A: 2 p.m., Waseca 14, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 13; 4:30 p.m., Annandale 36, Minneapolis North 20

Class 5A: 7 p.m., Chanhassen 22, Elk River 19

Final: Chanhassen 22, Elk River 19

The champs go down. Chanhassen avenged last year’s loss to Elk River in the Class 5A semifinals at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Storm now are going for their second state title in three years after winning it in 2023. They’ll play Spring Lake Park next weekend in the Prep Bowl.

— Marcus Fuller

4Q: Chanhassen 22, Elk River 19

Defending Class 5A champion Elk River found itself trailing by three points late in the fourth quarter Saturday night, but it seemed to know exactly what to do. Pound it. Pound it. Pound it. The Elks ran the ball 19 times to get within striking distance at the 4-yard line. But Chanhassen wouldn’t break in the end. Tim Schuller sacked Levi Harris for a 7-yard loss on third-and-goal. Peter Vidmar then intercepted a pass from Harris in the end zone on fourth-and-11 with 1:43 left to play. It was only the second pass attempt of the game for Elk River. Time now to run out the clock.

— Marcus Fuller

4Q: Chanhassen 22, Elk River 19

Best tight end in the state of Minnesota? Yes. But Kade Bush isn’t just a pass-catching threat. The 6-5, 220-pound senior and West Virginia commit received the snap on fourth-and-1 and spun to lose two defenders before scoring on a 42-yard touchdown run to give the Storm the lead again. He also has eight catches for 35 yards in the game.

— Marcus Fuller

3Q: Elk River 19, Chanhassen 15

What a response by Elk River. After trailing for the first time in the game, the Elks answered with a five-play, 80-yard scoring drive that took just 2:24 off the clock. Braedon Becker scored his second TD of the game, from 37 yards out. Suddenly this game is being taken over by offense. Becker has over 140 yards rushing.

— Marcus Fuller

3Q: Chanhassen 15, Elk River 12

The Storm defense did its part and the offense took care of the rest to give Chanhassen its first lead of the game. A big sack of Levi Harris on fourth-and-6 shifted the momentum in the middle of the third quarter. That helped Chanhassen put together a five-play, 54-yard scoring drive, capped by a 18-yard run from Graham Degler. Nathan Ramler’s two-point conversion pass put his team up by a field goal late in the quarter.

— Marcus Fuller

Halftime: Elk River 12, Chanhassen 7

Elk River didn’t have a ton of points to show for it, but it punished Chanhassen with its Power T rushing offense in the first half. The Elks handed off to Braedon Becker up the middle for a 37-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-11 with under 40 seconds to play in the second quarter. They rushed 21 times for 217 yards in the first half, including Levi Harris’ 103 yards. Chanhassen finally scored, though. And the five-play, 59-yard drive only took 25 seconds. Nathan Ramler connected with Loghan Gustad for a 22-yard touchdown pass as time expired in the half. It’s a game, folks.

— Marcus Fuller

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How Annandale reached the Class 3A Prep Bowl

This time last year, Isaiah Turner watched — confined to the sidelines after a tackle resulted in six surgeries and a long scar on his right leg — as Annandale fell short in the state quarterfinals. On Saturday, he got his shot at redemption, both for his team and for himself.

In the fourth quarter of the Class 3A semifinal against Minneapolis North, No. 41 in crimson danced on the field, light on his feet, to score the last two touchdowns and advance the Cardinals to the Prep Bowl with a 36-20 victory.

“It feels great to be playing once again,” Turner said. “Most of the season last year, you know, it was tough. They said I wouldn’t be able to play again.”

The wide receiver’s first time into the Polars’ end zone came in the third quarter, when the scoreboard read 21-14, but a penalty nullified the touchdown. The call, and subsequent boos from Annandale’s student section, only fueled Turner.

The fourth quarter brought the fire out in Turner. His first touchdown was a tidy 11-yard rush, but that was only a warmup before the big 36-yard show that came later as the clock ticked down. His standout moments were propped up by two other key players for the Cardinals: quarterback Michael Kovall and wide receiver Colton Purcell. “Kovall to Purcell” echoed around the U.S. Bank Stadium oval on repeat as Purcell made five catches for 125 yards.

The Cardinals didn’t quite shut down Minneapolis North (11-1) and quarterback Logan Lachermeier, who leads the state in touchdown passes. The senior reached 3,190 career yards and raised his touchdown pass total to 44. The Polars, who last won a state title in 2016, recorded 17 first downs and 347 total yards to Annandale’s 23 and 409.

On Saturday, the Cardinals (12-0) will take on Waseca for a chance at their first state title. Turner, once told he would never step on a football field again, will lead the team there.

— Olivia Hicks

2Q: Elk River 6, Chanhassen 0

Chanhassen’s offense looked to capitalize off a huge defensive stop to end the first quarter. The Storm used a 22-yard screen pass from Nathan Ramler to Peyton Ramsey to get to the opposing 10-yard line. Elk River decided to return the favor. The Elks kept the Storm out of the end zone on four plays, including stuffing Kade Bush at the 1-yard line. Two plays later, Levi Harris broke away down the sideline for a 98-yard touchdown run to finally put points on the scoreboard. Of course, it had to be done the hard way.

— Marcus Fuller

End 1Q: Elk River 0, Chanhassen 0

The Elks avoided falling behind early after their opening turnover on special teams and took control of the first quarter with a lengthy drive. But they ended with nothing to show for it. Three different backs picked up first downs on a 13-play, 64-yard drive that lasted a little more than seven minutes. Elk River quarterback Levi Harris was foot-tackled by Lukas Ladue for a 4-yard loss on fourth down inside the 10-yard line.

— Marcus Fuller

1Q: Elk River 0, Chanhassen 0

Elk River and Chanhassen faced off Saturday night in a Class 5A semifinal as the last two teams to celebrate state championships from their class at U.S. Bank Stadium. It was a defensive battle early as the Elks stopped the Storm’s first two drives, including on fourth-and-long in their territory midway through the first quarter. Chanhassen wasn’t able to take advantage of recovering a fumble on Elk River’s first punt return of the night.

— Marcus Fuller

Final: Annandale 36, Minneapolis North 20

A stream of red and black helmets rushed onto the field as Annandale advanced to the Class 3A final. Wide receiver Isaiah Turner scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to ensure his team’s victory and the chance to play Waseca next weekend in the Prep Bowl.

— Olivia Hicks

4Q: Annandale 36, Minneapolis North 20

The Polars aren’t giving up just yet. With four minutes left on the clock, Logan Lachermeier added to his state-leading touchdown pass total with one hurled to J’Marion Sanders. The senior wide receiver carried into the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown.

The situation has a similar flavor to Minneapolis North’s section final, when Lachermeier and teammates scored two touchdowns with seconds left.

— Olivia Hicks

4Q: Annandale 36, Minneapolis North 14

After Isaiah Turner’s nullified touchdown in the third quarter, two consecutive touchdowns made up for it in the fourth quarter. The first came on an 11-yard run. Cardinals quarterback Michael Kovall set it up when he threw to Colton Purcell for 16 yards.

North QB Logan Lachermeier responded with precision and a pass play to J’Marion Sanders that went 28 yards. Any opportunity to match the Cardinals was stamped out when Lachermeier’s throw near the end zone was intercepted by Rylan Horsch, who returned it 36 yards.

Turner’s second touchdown ensued, a 36-yard rush straight into the North end zone.

— Olivia Hicks

3Q: Annandale 21, Minneapolis North 14

Annandale immediately responded to the Polars’ points gain with their own. Isaiah Turner’s 11-yard touchdown run didn’t count because of a penalty, but the Cardinals, fueled by a sea of red fans booing, bounced right back. Michael Kovall, one of the team’s quarterbacks, lofted the ball into Colton Purcell’s gloves for a 21-yard catch in the end zone.

Annandale’s numbers continue to dwarf Minneapolis North’s stats: 157 rushing yards to the Polars’ 67. The Cardinals boast 15 first downs and 284 total yards while the Polars have eight first downs and 167 total yards.

— Olivia Hicks

3Q: Annandale 14, Minneapolis North 14

Something shifted between the first and second halves. Minneapolis North came back from the break with a vengeance.

Tyshone Jenkins ran for two first downs in the first minute of the third quarter. Two near-identical quick handoffs from quarterback Logan Lachermeier set up Jenkins to gain 13 yards.

Senior wide receiver J’Marion Sanders’ 21-yard catch-and-run, on a pass from Mr. Football finalist Lachermeier, set up Jenkins’ 1-yard touchdown run.

As students clad in white overalls screamed, Jenkins turned to his teammates, crouched down low and shimmied in celebration.

— Olivia Hicks

Halftime: Annandale 14, Minneapolis North 7

Minneapolis North slowed Annandale’s progress as the second quarter came to a close. One of the Cardinals’ quarterbacks, Braylon Fobbe, lofted the ball into the Polars’ end zone, where North’s Cordae Williams intercepted. The move ended Annandale’s eight-play, 52-yard possession.

The Polars didn’t turn the opportunity into points, part of a first half in which they made five first downs and produced 111 yards of offense. Annandale made 11 first downs and had 223 total yards.

— Olivia Hicks

2Q: Annandale 14, Minneapolis North 7

If the first quarter was defined by the Cardinals showing dominance — with eight first downs and 143 total yards to Minneapolis North’s three and 64 yards — the team upped the ante as the second quarter began. Running back Cameron Ergen ran for 24 yards just 15 seconds into the quarter. Another 4-yard run and a 1-yard final stretch by Ergen put Annandale ahead. The drive went 75 yards in seven plays.

— Olivia Hicks

1Q: Annandale 7, Minneapolis North 7

It’s a standoff here at U.S. Bank Stadium in the first quarter.Junior quarterback Braylon Fobbe gave the Cardinals fans something to cheer for when he looked right and launched the ball to Colton Purcell. The junior wide receiver danced around Minneapolis North defenders and scored on a 19-yard play.

Annandale dominated the first quarter with six first downs and 92 yards, with senior running back Cameron Ergen gaining three of the Cardinals’ first four first downs. But any chance of entering the Polars’ end zone early in the game was shot down by Minneapolis North’s defensive line.

On North’s first possession, the Polars produced 3 yards in three plays. On the second chance, Logan Lachermeier’s pass to Anthony Deline resulted in a 29-yard touchdown.

— Olivia Hicks

Pregame: Annandale vs. Minneapolis in Class 3A

Here in purple territory, fans are trickling in and painting U.S. Bank Stadium blue and red ahead of the Class 3A semifinal between Annandale and Minneapolis North.

Both schools have state tournament histories, but only the Polars have a first-place trophy in their past. They will attempt to re-create 2016’s championship run, this time carried by quarterback and Mr. Football finalist Logan Lachermeier. The senior leads the state in touchdown passes with 42 and has 2,933 passing yards to his name. Minneapolis North’s section final game against St. Croix Lutheran, clinched via two touchdowns scored with mere seconds remaining in the game, showed just how determined the team is to repeat history.

But North’s 11-0 record will come under pressure today. Annandale also is 11-0 and is one of the best defensive teams in the state. The Cardinals also visited state last season and will attempt to do what they have never achieved: take home the title.

— Olivia Hicks

Final: Waseca 14, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 13

Waseca advances to the Prep Bowl for the first time in program history. The sack by Waseca’s Brady McKenna on fourth down sealed the win.

The blocked extra point by Waseca early in the fourth quarter was the difference maker.

4Q: Waseca 14, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 13

1:09 left to play. DGF on the Waseca 28. Fourth-and-4.

A clutch sack from Brady McKenna leads to a turnover on downs.

4Q: Waseca 14, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 13

Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton used four plays — and a 15-yard facemask penalty on Deron Russell — to score again, this time a 20-yard run from Jace Baumgartner.

The extra point was blocked. The Bluejays are less than nine minutes away from securing a spot in the Prep Bowl for the first time in school history.

4Q: Waseca 14, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 7

A pass interference penalty on DGF gave Waseca a fresh set of downs from the 10. Two plays later, the Bluejays reclaimed the lead on a 4-yard run from quarterback Kellen Klinger.

Just over 10 minutes remaining in the game.

4Q: Waseca 7, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 7

Waseca reached the DGF 14-yard line to start the final quarter. A sack pushed the Bluejays back to the 20, setting up a third-and-long.

3Q: Waseca 7, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 7

Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton tied the game on a 26-yard connection from Brady Wadena to tight end Nolan Verdi.

The scoring drive for the Rebels: 10 plays for 62 yards over five minutes. The Rebels have the edge in total yards so far: 168-130.

Halftime: Waseca 7, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 0

North Dakota State commit Deron Russell hauled in a 25-yard catch between two defenders for the score with one second left in the quarter. The Bluejays drove 95 yards in a little over two minutes.

On the 10-play drive, Waseca quarterback Kellen Klinger found his grove. He’s 9 of 15 for 96 yards with an interception.

Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton has moved the ball well on the ground with 86 rushing yards but is 0-for-5 on third down conversions.

2Q: Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 0, Waseca 0

Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton turned the ball over on downs after being a few steps away from the end zone.

The Rebels reached the Waseca 6-yard line on a six-play, 22-yard drive but Waseca got the stop.

End 1Q: Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 0, Waseca 0

Two punts apiece, an interception (thrown by Waseca) and four penalties, three of them committed by Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton, happened in the first quarter.

Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton dominated time of possession, a byproduct of the Rebels’ run-first offense (34 yards on 12 carries).

Pregame: Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton vs. Waseca, 3A

Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton (9-2) was the Class 3A runner-up in 2022. The Rebels advanced to the state semifinals with a 28-7 win over Pierz, the No. 3-ranked team in the final state medial poll.

Waseca (11-0), ranked fourth in the media poll, is seeking its first trip to the Prep Bowl. The Bluejays defeated Holy Angels 14-0 in the quarterfinals to advance to the semifinals.

Final: Breckenridge 28, Murray County Central 21

Murray County Central turned the ball over on downs after a tackle in the backfield put the Rebels at third-and-long with just over a minute left.

Breckenridge took a knee to run out the clock. David Erlandson led the Cowboys with 123 rushing yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner.

Breckenridge advances to the Class 1A Prep Bowl, its first title game since 1995, where it will play defending champ Minneota.

4Q: Breckenridge 28, Murray County Central 21

Two personal fouls by MCC and a big third-down conversion by Breckenridge brought the Cowboys to the goal line.

From there, David Erlandson got his third touchdown of the game, again on a 1-yard gain.

Murray County Central has less than two minutes to tie or take the lead but has only passed the ball twice this game, both attempts incomplete.

4Q: Breckenridge 21, Murray County Central 21

Murray County Central fumbled the ball on a pitch just a few yards from the end zone and it wass recovered by Breckenridge deep in its own territory.

Under seven minutes left.

4Q: Breckenridge 21, Murray County Central 21

MCC is driving into Breckenridge territory for a chance to take the lead. The Rebels will certainly eat some time off the clock on this drive.

Time of possession: Murray County Central 22 minutes, Breckenridge 14 minutes.

3Q: Breckenridge 21, Murray County Central 21

The Rebels tied the game on a 3-yard run from Carson Lewis. That was a 17-play, 81-yard drive that lasted just over six minutes.

MCC has nearly 250 rushing yards in the game.

3Q: Breckenridge 21, Murray County Central 14

Breckenridge was close to extending its lead. A 37-yard run by David Erlandson that would have put Breckenridge at first-and-goal was called back for holding, leaving the Cowboys at third-and-24. They punted.

Halftime: Breckenridge 21, Murray County Central 14

With six seconds left in the quarter, a penalty for roughing the passer put Breckenridge at first-and-goal from the 1.

David Erlandson took it from there, rolling to the left behind his offensive line for his second rushing score of the game.

Solid blocking. Solid tackling. And moving the chains. One can assume these teams will continue to trade touchdowns in the second half. Relying on the run game is an advantage when you have the lead, so whoever trails coming down the stretch will have to open up the playbook to move the ball if time is not on their side.

Breckenridge totaled 199 yards in the first half while MCC had 168, all on the ground. Carson Lewis had 70 rushing yards for the MCC Rebels and Erlandson had 89 rushing yards for the Cowboys.

2Q: Breckenridge 14, Murray County Central 14

With 1:17 left in the second quarter, Jordan Sturges ran in a 4-yard toss from the right for the touchdown. Left-footed PAT by Aubin Licht was good.

A heavy dose of running the ball continues to work for MCC, from different directions and different reads.

2Q: Breckenridge 14, Murray County Central 7

Breckenridge moved the chains with little resistance, and finished an 11-play, 51-yard drive on a 1-yard touchdown run from David Erlandson.

Quarterback Riley Kappes scrambled for a 9-yard gain toward the end zone and dove over the pylon for what seemed to be a touchdown, but he was called out of bounds at the 3.

End 1Q: Breckenridge 7, Murray County Central 7

The MCC Rebels are already over 100 rushing yards. They’ve attempted one pass so far.

How Minneota advanced to the 1A Prep Bowl

Going up against three-time defending state champion Minneota and its 44-game win streak, Mahnomen/Waubun gave the Vikings their best fight of the season in what turned out to be win No. 45, this time 28-14.

“You don’t see a lot of programs that have a 6-4, 220-pound quarterback who plays defensive end on top of it,” said Minneota head coach Chad Johnston, referencing the Thunderbirds’ Blake McMullen, who executed key plays on both sides of the ball for Mahnomen/Waubun. “They did a nice job of not really letting us get to the outside, and we had to earn everything on the inside.”

In the fourth quarter, the Thunderbirds found some momentum as senior Brody Lhokta barreled into the endzone for the 2018 state champs’ second score of the day with nine minutes to play. But Minneota showed off why its a three-time defending Prep Bowl champion, able to come up big when it counted most.

Senior Easton Johnson came away with the game-sealing interception to shutter the Thunderbirds’ chances at an improbable, but not impossible, comeback.

Johnson, whose 7-yard touchdown run opened the scoring in the first quarter, hopes he can dust off Saturday’s semifinal as fast as he and teammate/Vikings’ leading rusher Kellen Bradley run on the field. Tonight, he’s performing as Jacob Bradley, along with a few other roles, in the Minneota drama department’s performance of “Ebenezer Scrooge’s Big Minneota Christmas Show.”

“The advantage of playing the early game, I don’t have to rush back and get back, so I got some time to kill,” Johnson said. On returning to the Vikings fifth consecutive Prep Bowl (they were runner-up in 2021, too): “We’ve got such high standards as a community. Being able to go back there for the fifth time in a row feels pretty good.”

In a game that finished relatively similar in yardage — 242-240 in Minneota’s favor — a blocked punt by Kyson Ardnt just before halftime was another key moment in what Thunderbirds head coach John Clark Jr. called a “game of inches,” setting up a short field for junior quarterback Tristan Sussner to score one of his two rushing touchdowns.

“It felt like he was a little off with his arm today … but he brought his legs, and that was key a couple times,” Johnston said. “... We kind of feel like we’ve got enough things going on, enough weapons, it’s hard to take away everything.”

1Q: Breckenridge 7, Murray County Central 7

A Rebels evened the score on a 37-yard touchdown run from Carson Lewis, his 15th TD of the season. The PAT was good.

Murray County Central’s efficient, run-first offense pushed 80 yards on nine plays on a near five-minute drive.

1Q: Breckenridge 7, Murray County Central 0

Breckenridge scored first on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Riley Kappes to Charlie Kratcha. The PAT was good.

The Cowboys orchestrated a four play, 64-yard drive in less than a minute.

Pregame: Murray County Central vs. Breckenridge

Murray County Central (9-2) is seeking its first Prep Bowl appearance. Breckenridge (12-0) last reached a state championship in 1995.

Breckenridge, which averages 300 rushing yards per game, is coming off a 57-14 win over Barnum in the state quarterfinals. Half of those rushing yards were produced by David Erlandson, who has 21 TDs this season.

Murray County Central, which entered the state playoffs unranked in the state media polls, advanced to the state semifinals with a 29-26 win over No. 3-ranked Fillmore Central.

Breckenridge was ranked sixth in the final state media poll.

Final: Minneota 28, Mahnomen/Waubun 14

Final yardage is almost identical — Minneota 242, Mahnomen Waubun 240 — but the Vikings came up with a few key stops and points on short-field situations to come away with their 45th win in a row and their fourth consecutive trip to the Prep Bowl. They will play the winner of our next game, the Class 1A semifinal between Murray County Central and Breckenridge.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

4Q: Minneota 28, Mahnomen/Waubun 14

The Thunderbirds defense pinned the Vikings deep in their own territory on a three-and-out, setting up its offense for a short drive that ended with a 6-yard touchdown run by Brody Lhotka. Lhotka, a Minnesota State Moorhead commit, had to be helped off the field after a low tackle to his legs earlier in the drive, but came off the bench and bounced off a few Minneota defenders before finding the end zone. The two-point conversion is no good, and the Thunderbirds failed their attempt to recover an onside kick with under nine minutes to play.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

End of 3Q: Minneota 28, Mahnomen/Waubun 8

Minneota junior defensive back Ian Myhre broke up a 4th-and-4 slant pass in the end zone to keep Mahnomen/Waubun from finding any momentum here as the third quarter came to an end. Senior receiver Tanner Stech was a bright spot for the Thunderbirds on a drive that ended empty-handed. He’s up to four receptions for 52 yards and has been the target of all of his team’s passes today.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

3Q: Minneota 28, Mahnomen/Waubun 8

Minneota got the ball to open the second half, and they made quick work of an eight-play, 60-yard drive that ended in a second rushing touchdown by quarterback Tristen Sussner.

After a 37-yard rush on this drive, senior Kellen Bradley is now up to 132 yards on the ground for the Vikings.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

Halftime: Minnesota 21, Mahnomen/Waubun 8

It felt like the Thunderbirds were capable of keeping the reins on the three-time Class 1A defending champions until a blocked punt late in the first half set up a short drive ending in a rushing touchdown from Minneota quarterback Tristen Sussner. Minneota has outgained Mahnomen/Waubun 147-110 in the first half.

The Thunderbirds most dangerous weapon in the first two quarters might have been their punt return, picking up 99 yards on four returns. We’ll see if Mahnomen/Waubun can set itself up for a few short drives to close the gap in the second half, or if Minneota’s edge in the trenches will widen the lead further.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

2Q: Minneota 21, Mahnomen/Waubun 8

With just over two minutes left in the first half, Minneota senior Kyson Ardnt easily slipped through the Thunderbirds’ special teams unit to swallow up his second blocked punt of the season and set up the Vikings inside the Mahnomen/Waubun 22-yard line.

Minneota capitalized on the short field. From the 15-yard line, quarterback Tristen Sussner faked the handoff on the read option, and as the Thunderbirds defense followed running back Joey Lacek, Sussner took advantage of the diverted attention and picked up his fourth rushing touchdown of the year. Sussner kept it again to convert the two-point conversion.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

2Q: Minneota 13, Mahnomen/Waubun 8

Minneota’s leading rusher Kellen Bradley got his 23rd rushing touchdown of the fall from the 3-yard line after he leapt into the end zone relatively untouched thanks to, as usual, solid Vikings blocking. But Minneota is far from being a one-trick pony on the rush — quarterback Tristen Sussner found receiver Landon Esping for a 27-yard gain to move the chains for Minneota earlier in the drive.

The two-point conversion was no good, as Thunderbirds’ Blake McMullen came up big on the other side of the ball to stop Easton Johnson from springing out left.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

2Q: Mahnomen/Waubun 8, Minneota 7

Set up by an 18-yard run that senior tight end Brody Lhotka muscled through with his size, quarterback Blake McMullen dove in for a 1-yard score. McMullen rushed again for the two-point conversion and gave the Thunderbirds the lead early in the second quarter.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

End 1Q: Minneota 7, Mahnomen/Waubun 0

Based on the success these teams have running the ball, it’s no surprise this game is moving quickly, the first quarter only eating up 18 minutes of real time. Mahnomen/Waubun strung together a nice drive, with 34 yards from the legs of quarterback Blake McMullen, but was stopped on 4th-and-2 at the edge of the red zone, thanks to a tackle by Hunter Carstensen to start the second quarter.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

1Q: Minneota 7, Mahnomen/Waubun 0

The Vikings got on the board first after senior running back Easton Johnson ran into the end zone for a 7-yard score on a reverse action play for his 10th rushing touchdown for the season. Minneota’s offensive line made way for 25 yards from leading rusher senior Kellen Bradley on the 7-play, 42-yard drive that ate up most of the first half of the first quarter.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

Pregame: Mahnomen/Waubun vs. Minneota

The last time Minneota (11-0) lost a football game was Oct. 19, 2022. Since then, the Class 1A program from southwest Minnesota has won 44 straight games and three of its 10 state championships. It’s perhaps fitting that the team mascot is the Vikings, since they’ve found so much success in the home of the NFL team that shares their nickname.

Today, in Saturday morning’s first Class 1A state semifinal, it’s Mahnomen/Waubun’s turn to try and snap the longest active win streak in Minnesota football. The Thunderbirds (11-0), making the trip to downtown Minneapolis from north of Detroit Lakes, were 2018 champions in the first year of their co-op after winning eight Prep Bowls as just Mahnomen. They have reached the state tournament the past four seasons and lost in the semifinals to Springfield last fall.

Both teams have put up some staggering point totals this season: Minneota averaging over 53 points per game, and Mahnomen/Waubun nearly 39. But the Vikings have been the clear cream of the crop in small class football as of late, so the Thunderbirds have their task cut out for them today.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer