**Update after the game, after that long trip back from Pierz...The Jaguars lost 43-0. It was tough to watch. The guys played hard, but execution issues were apparent the whole night.
Check http://saukherald.mycapture.com for a photo gallery from the game.
I have results for all Section 5A teams that played tonight. #1-ranked K-M-S lost at their Homecoming to unranked Ottertail Central 16-12. A pretty big upset. Minneota, ranked #3 in the latest Class A poll, won a close game over Adrian to rise to the top at 5-0 in the Section 5A standings.
The big game was in Springfield, where Renville County West was looking to go 4-1 with a win against the Tigers. Springfield entered the game 1-3 and were slight underdogs going into the game against the Jaguars. RCW lost 34-20. This puts them at 3-2, and based on the points system in Section 5A, they are tied for 4th place with B-B-E, even though we are 2-3. Springfield did a BIG favor to us by beating RCW. This was a must-LOSE for RCW in order for B-B-E to have a chance at finishing in the top-four of Section 5A, assuming we can finish 4-4.
Next week RCW HAS to lose to Wabasso, and even though Wabasso is not as strong as they have been in past years, I think the Rabbits will pull off the win. That game will be in Danube. You can bet that my sources in the Danube/Olivia area will be pressed to keep me updated on that game. I think RCW will win their final two games, against two pretty bad teams (Lamberton, Red Rock Central...and Southwestern United, a conglomerate of Heron Lake and Brewster in extreme southwestern Minnesota).
RCW has to finish 5-3 in order to fall behind the Jaguars in the final standings.
There is a good chance Dawson-Boyd could also finish 5-3 at the end of the year. This would be HUGE! They have to win home games against two very tough teams, Adrian and Maccray. Dawson-Boyd's 5-3 would give them 31 points, and if B-B-E goes 4-4 we would finish with 32 section points. The Jaguars just could take 3rd place in the final section standings if we go 4-4, and RCW and Dawson-Boyd both finish 5-3.
I think the top two final teams in Section 5A will be Minneota and K-M-S. Any betting man would say the same. As of now we don't care who #1 and #2 is, we just need to take care of business and finish 4-4 going into playoffs.
A quick view of the Section 5A standings:
Minneota (5-0)
K-M-S (4-1)
Dawson-Boyd (4-1)
(4th-TIE) RCW & B-B-E, RCW is 3-2 & we are 2-3
Lakeview (3-1) *They play a South Dakota team on Saturday afternoon
Ortonville (1-4)
R-T-R (1-4)
Canby (0-5)
Games involving Section 5A teams:
Dawson-Boyd destroyed Russel-Tyler-Ruthton 61-0 in Dawson, as the Blackjacks totaled 369 yards rushing! Maccray thumped Canby 40-7 in Canby. Minneota traveled in a long trip south to Adrian, near the Iowa-Minnesota border, and came home as 19-14 victors. This win makes Minneota appear as Section 5A favorites.
That leaves me with Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg. Wow, did they fall flat tonight against Ottertail Central, trailing 16-0 at halftime. I did not see that coming. The Fighting Saints, who made their deepest playoff run in school history when they played in the Class A state semi-finals in the HHH Metrodome in 2007, travel to Royalton to face a state-ranked Royals team that has a shot at adding to the K-M-S loss total.
At the beginning of the season, I assumed K-M-S would go 8-0 and most likely steamroll their way to the state playoffs. Assumptions like that are usually proved wrong.
Central Minnesota Conference results:
Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted 28, Rockford 20
Eden Valley-Watkins 39, Kimball Area 8
Maple Lake 27, Holdingford 14
Other area scores:
Sauk Centre fell to 0-5 on the season with a very tough 42-13 loss to state-ranked New London-Spicer. It was the Mainstreeters' Homecoming no less. (Ouch!)
BOLD killed Lac qui Parle Valley 50-0. Montevideo beat Paynesville 35-20, as the Bulldogs dipped below .500 at 2-3. Tough times indeed at Long Prairie-Grey Eagle, who lost their 24th straight game spanning the past 3 seasons tonight when they lost to Benson 42-12. Morris Area squeezed out a close road win at Minnewaska Area, winning 18-12 in OT. Hancock won a 9-man road game at Brandon-Evansville 38-6.
Albany survived a challenge from one of the West Central North Conference newcomers, defeating the Milaca Wolverines 40-38 on the road.
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