A rematch against the defending state champions. A repeat qualifier that’s only missed state once since 2006. A chance for revenge, or a double defeat.
There are lots of storylines to follow with this year’s state football tourney. Eight Northern Minnesota teams will play in the quarterfinals Thursday and Friday, Nov. 5-6.
The Grand Rapids Thunderhawks earned the top seed in the northern half of the Class 4A bracket.
They’ll play No. 4N Benilde-St. Margaret’s on Thursday, 24 hours after Grand Rapids volleyball faces the Red Knights in the first round of that state tournament.
Kittson County Central is the Northland’s other top seed. The Bearcats will take on No. 4N Cook County — making their first appearance since 2007 — in the 9-Player quarterfinals in one of two Northern Minnesota matchups this week.
The other is the defending state champions, No. 2N Fertile-Beltrami, playing No. 3N Cromwell-Wright Area, also in 9-Player. The Falcons knocked the Cardinals out of the tournament a year ago.
In 1A, No. 2N Mahnomen/Waubun is making their fifth straight state tourney appearance. The Thunderbirds lost to Springfield in the semifinals last season. They’ll play No. 3N Upsala/Swanville on Friday.
No. 3N Moose Lake/Willow River are no strangers to the state tourney. The Rebels advanced for the eighth straight season, and they’ve only missed out once since 2006. They had three second-place finishes early in their run but haven’t made the championship since 2012.
The Rebels play No. 2N Eden Valley-Watkins in the 2A quarterfinals on Thursday.
Finally, No. 4N Barnum takes on No. 1N Breckenridge in 1A on Friday. The Bombers are making their fourth-ever state tourney appearance and first since 2012.
Semifinals are Nov. 13-15, and championships are Nov. 21-22, all at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Quarterfinals and semifinals will be streamed by NSPN. Subscription required to watch. The championship games will be streamed at prep45.com.
Schedule
No. 1N Kittson County Central v. No. 4N Cook County, 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, at Grand Rapids High School
No. 1N Grand Rapids v. No. 4N Benilde-St. Margaret’s, 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, at Brainerd High School
No. 2N Fertile-Beltrami v. No. 3N Cromwell-Wright Area, 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, at Moorhead High School
No. 3N Moose Lake/Willow River v. No. 2N Eden Valley-Watkins, 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, at St. Cloud Apollo High School
No. 2N Mahnomen/Waubun v. No. 3N Upsala/Swanville 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, at Becker High School
No. 4N Barnum v. No. 1N Breckenridge 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, at Morris Area School
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