Three state tournament droughts are ending, a team proves itself in a new class and a 9-Player rematch.
There are lots of storylines to follow for Northern Minnesota competing in the state football tournament this year.
Aitkin will play in its first state tournament since 1982. In their second-ever appearance, the Gobblers earned the top seed on the northern side of the 2A bracket and are ranked second in the class by QRF. They'll play Hawley at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, in Brainerd.
The No. 2N Brainerd Warriors are playing in their first state tourney since 2017. They'll take on Spring Lake Park in the 5A quarterfinals 1 p.m. Saturday at Rocori High School.
No. 1N Kittson County Central and No. 4N Cook County will kick off at 6 p.m. Thursday in Moorhead. It's a rematch of last year's 9-Player quarterfinals. The Bearcats claimed a decisive 49-0 victory a year ago before being upset 27-21 by Hillcrest Lutheran Academy in the semifinals.
No. 2N Cromwell-Wright Area is also returning to state and will take on No. 3N Clearbrook-Gonvick in the other 9-Player northern match-up. The Bears last made it to state in 1995.
Mountain Iron-Buhl was a perennial team in the 9-Player state tournament, making six straight tournament appearances and capturing the title in 2022.
But the Rangers failed to qualify for state last year in their first season in 1A. This year, they easily won Section 7A and are the sixth-ranked team in the class. They play second-ranked and No. 2N Breckenridge at 6 p.m. Friday in Becker.
No. 2N Grand Rapids will take the field against No. 3N Fergus Falls in the 4A tournament at the same time in Brainerd, in the Thunderhawks' second straight tournament appearance. They narrowly lost 16-14 to Kasson-Mantorville in the semifinals last season.
