postbulletin.com Post Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.

| Saturday, September 3, 2022 | SPORTS | 1

PIGSKIN
PREVIEW
2022
Kingsland’s
Fly Guy
WSU-bound Kolling
hopes to lead Knights
to new heights in ’22

Joe Ahlquist / Post Bulletin

Kingsland senior football player Mason Kolling with his dad, Knights head coach Matt Kolling at the team’s field in Spring Valley. Mason Kolling, who recently committed to
Winona State, hopes to lead the Knights to a big season in 2022.

BY JASON FELDMAN
Post Bulletin
SPRING VALLEY — Matt Kolling was
working one day in late July when his
cell phone buzzed with a text message
from his son, Mason.
“He sent me a picture that day and I
wondered why he had this weird look
and smile on his face,” Matt Kolling
said. “I looked in the background and
was like ‘there’s nobody sitting next to
you?’ So I texted back and asked ‘are
you all by yourself ?’”
Mason, a 17-year-old senior-to-be at
Kingsland High School, was indeed
literally flying solo.
It was the culmination of close to
18 months of training and patiently
waiting for his medical clearance to
make his first flight as an airplane pilot
with no one else on board.
“It was during the (COVID-19)
pandemic that I got into (flying),” said
Mason Kolling, who announced on Aug.
1 that he has committed to play college
football at Winona State University.
“I started taking lessons just before I
turned 16. Last fall we bought our own
plane and I soloed (in late July) for the
first time.
“I’m shooting to have my private
pilot’s license in September. … It’s kind
of a hobby right now, but it’s always
there in the back of my mind if I ever
decided or wanted to pursue it more.”
Never one to sit still for long or waste
free time in the day, Mason Kolling
decided during the COVID lockdown,
when schools across Minnesota had
shifted to distance learning, that he
needed something else, another hobby
or activity, to dive into.
He needed something to do in
whatever spare time exists for a 6-foot-
4, 225-pound star football and basketball
player, who is also an honor-roll student
who has already completed a semester’s
worth of college courses.
“I think it’s exciting for him,” Matt
Kolling said. “They go through a lot of
steps and he’s learned so much from
those classes other than just flying a
plane — weather patterns, math … it’s
crazy all the info. you have to know.”
While Mason can pilot a plane on his
own during his free time, the physical,
versatile tight end/defensive lineman
plays more like a freight train on the
football field.
And the group of players he grew up
with in Spring Valley have visions of
helping the Knights’ football program
return to the level that many of their
dads brought it to in the mid-1990s.
Matt Kolling was a standout running
back (rushing for nearly 2,000 yards as
a senior) and linebacker on the 1995
team that blew out Triton 35-6 in the
state semifinals, snapping the Cobras’
26-game winning streak. The Knights
went on to beat Breckenridge the
next week to capture the Class B state
championship. They also won a Class
AA state title in 2002 and were the state
runners-up in 2003. Kingsland hasn’t
been to state since.
While the road to state this season
could be a difficult one for a new
generation of Kingsland athletes —
they play a 9-man schedule during the
regular season, then bump up to Class
A for the postseason, where they must
face the likes of Rushford-Peterson,
Fillmore Central and Faribault
Bethlehem Academy in section play
— it hasn’t stopped the Knights from
setting big expectations.
“This whole team, we’ve put so much
into it,” Mason said. “We’ve had 100
percent buy-in from everyone in getting
into the weight room. We have guys
lifting three days a week at 6 a.m. When
See KOLLING, Page 2

Scholarship in hand, K-M’s Tripp has ‘a lot to prove’

BY PAT RUFF
Post Bulletin

KASSON — Reese Tripp has spent a good

chunk of his summer doing yoga, stretching,
bending and “opening up his hips.”
Sounds like someone hoping to take their
ballet moves to the next level.
That’s not quite the case with the Kasson-
Mantorville senior. No, he is not a ballerina
but instead a 6-foot-7, 330-pound people-mover
who plays football with an edge and will take
his power-packed game to the University of
Minnesota a year from now.
But this is true: Tripp definitely is trying to
take his game to the next level, and the coveted
offensive and defensive lineman — one one
of the top five senior recruits in the state —
believes he’s done that.

See TRIPP, Page 2

Alex VandenHouten / Post Bulletin file photo

Kasson-Mantorville’s Reese Tripp reacts
after making a tackle for a loss against Fridley
during last season’s Class AAAA football state
quarterfinal at Lakeville South High School.
2 | SPORTS | Saturday, September 3, 2022 | Post Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.
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Austin Packers
2022 Schedule
Sept. 2 at Northfield 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 John Marshall 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 at New Prague 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 Owatonna 7 p.m.
Oct. 1 at Century 6 p.m.
Oct. 8 Mankato West noon
Oct. 14 at Mayo 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 Albert Lea 7 p.m.

Front Row: Trey Heuangsayaseng, Thomas Fritz Jr., Manny Guy, Kody Blom, Aiden O’Harra, Jack Lang, Cameron Swenson, Joe
Ewing, Toby Holtz, Wyatt Thoma.Second Row: Isaac Stromlund, Antione Jones, Sam Eyre, Kenneth Cabeen, Brayden Bishop, Luke
Owens, Buai Duop, Otong Nyikew, Ater Manyuon, Lambert Idjidina, Banuie Olok Omot.Third Row: Sean Josephs, Garrin Wilson,
Peyton Ransom, Mason Callahan, William Lawhead, Isaac Osgood, Dakota Retterath, Grainger Johnson, Mission Duop, Jackson
Clausman, Anthony Kathman.Back Row: Tucker James, Cale Tupy, Jeramiha Landry, Ezell Howard, Samuel Winkels, Gabriel
Rembao, Owen Davis, Hunter Tapia, Matthew Gipple Anderson, Ace Almanza, Brock Davis.

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Tripp he’d be a big guy.

From page 1
A more flexible Reese
Tripp is a better Reese
Tripp. That was his No.
1 goal this summer —
bend better.
“Yoga and bending is
not difficult for someone
unless they are not
flexible,” Tripp said.
“Those things used to
be difficult for me. But
they’re easy for me now.
I’ve been doing a lot
of hip flexibility stuff.
Playing offensive line is
a bit of a science, and I
love that. I’m trying to
figure out what is best
for me and how to better
my game, breaking
down every part of it.
My favorite part is just
seeing what I can get
better at. Once I get that
down, then I break down
something else. The
journey is the best part
of all of this.”
To call the road that
Tripp has been on a
“journey” would be
exactly right. He’s
dreamed of playing big-
time college football
since he was in fifth
grade, when he was
already giving hints that
But as far as him
showing signs that he
was the next “big thing,”
that was delayed.
Tripp was a decent
player in grade school
and through his
sophomore year of high
school, but never more
than that. The one thing
holding him back was
his size. He had weight
issues. In fact, in early
summer leading up to
his junior season, K-M
coach Joel Swanson
wasn’t even sure he’d be
a starter for the KoMets.
Tripp was tipping the
scale at 380 pounds then.
He was big, all right. But
big and slow.
“I can’t believe where
he is at now compared
to where he was at
then,” Swanson said. “I
told him last summer
that he’d have to lose 40
pounds if he was to be a
starter for us.”
Tripp went out and
lost 45 pounds, then
proceeded to have one
of the best seasons of
any junior lineman
in the state, helping
the KoMets to the
Class AAAA state
championship game.
By January, the
Gophers coaches had
seen enough of this
“new” Tripp to be
wowed. On Jan. 30, they
offered this mountain of
a teenager a scholarship.
Dream realized, a
giddy Tripp committed
to Minnesota head coach
P.J. Fleck within an hour
of the offer as he was
concluding his Junior
Day visit at Minnesota.
“When I said yes,
Fleck jumped out of
his chair and said,
‘This is insane, this is
awesome!’” Tripp said.
“Then he asked me if I
was sure about it, and
I told him it had been
my dream since I was
a little kid to play at
Minnesota, that I was
sure.”
Tripp has followed
that dream-come-true
day by committing
himself to football more
than ever. He says there
is a perception out there
by some that once a
Division I scholarship is
landed that the athlete
stops working. For him,
at least, it has been
exactly the opposite.
“There is an
assumption that once
you’ve been offered, that
you don’t have to try
anymore,” Tripp said.
“But this year is even
bigger for me than last
year. We are coming
off losing a state
championship game.
We have something to
prove, that it was not
just a fluke that we
made it there, but that
we had pure talent and
teamwork. Plus, I’m
going to the Gophers,
so I have a lot to prove
to people this season.
A lot of eyes will be on
me, and I like that.”
Tripp and his KoMets
teammates have their
work cut out. They
graduated a slew
of players from last
season, including their
star quarterback and
running back, a star
receiver, three offensive
linemen and a bunch of
guys on defense.
Still, Tripp likes
their chances. He’s
been working his tail
off since last season
ended, not just to make
himself better, but
to come away with a
bunch more wins this
season.
Winning, Tripp says,
is where it’s at.
“Wins are awesome;
wins are a good high,”
he said. “You come into
the next week feeling
great.”
Kolling
From page 1
you have a team of
about 30 kids and close
to all of them are in
the weight room every
day, that’s a big part of
where it starts.
“Then we have the
‘want-to,’ the desire to
succeed. Everyone on
the team is sick of not
having great success,
so we just made a
decision to start to turn
a corner.”
Whatever success
Kingsland has, expect
Kolling to be a big part
of it.
When senior QB Kale
Mensink suffered a
possible season-ending
foot and ankle injury,
the Knights had to
adjust their offensive
plans for this season.
That means moving
Kolling — who is
expected to play tight
end at Winona State
— to different spots in
their formations. He’ll
line up not only at tight
end, but also in the slot
and possibly even in the
backfield, to take some
pressure off freshman
running back-turned-QB
Kaaleem Reiland.
“A big strength of
our team this year is
we have athletes at
every position,” said
Mason Kolling, who had
narrowed his college
choices to Winona State,
Minnesota Duluth or the
University of St. Thomas.
“I believe if you can put a
good athlete here and an
athlete there on the field,
you’ll succeed as a team.”
Kolling’s coach — and
dad — said he believes
his son’s strengths as a
high school player and as
a well-rounded person are
the same attributes that
will help him succeed at
Winona State, beginning
a year from now.
“He has a great frame,
is an athletic kid and
more so a good person,”
Matt Kolling said. “He
will fit right in on that
side of things. He’s very
easy to communicate
with. He can
communicate well with
people of all ages, which
is really important. And
in (WSU’s) systems, he’ll
fit well. They really set
people up to succeed in
the spots they put them
in.
“I think he’ll have a lot
of fun down there. I’m
excited for him.”

Lyle/Pacelli Athletics
2022 Schedule
Sept. 2 at Mabel-Canton 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 Spring Grove 7 p.m.
Sept. 17 Cedar Mountain 3 p.m.
Sept. 23 at Southland 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 Houston 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 at Kingsland 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 Grand Meadow 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 at LeRoy-Ostrander 7 p.m.

Front Row: Evan Smith, Brady Tufte, Chase Bauer, Dylan Christianson, Logyn Brooks, Joey Schulte, Johnny Copley.Back Row: Head
Coach Brad Walter, Cayden Hansen, Try Anderson, Othello Stone, Dylan Regenscheid, Hunter Bauer, Jake Truckenmiller, David
Christianson, Coach Carl Truckenmiller.

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Blooming Prairie Awesome Blossoms

2022 Schedule
Sept. 2 Hayfield 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 at Lester Prairie 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 United So. Central 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 at Waterville-E-M 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 at St. Clair 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 Gibbon-F-W 7 p.m.
Oct. 13 at New Richland-H-E-G 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 Medford 7 p.m.

Front Row: Alex Lea, Derek Kubicek, Kolby Vigeland, Cade Christianson, Sam Pirkl, Sam Smith, Micah Donnelly, Cale Braaten,
Dylan Anderson, Owen Krueger. Second Row: Brady Kittelson, Cole Wanger, Carter Bishop, Gage Mullenbach, Jacob Pauly, Vincent
Hernandez, Jayden Van, Sean O’Brien, Cooper Cooke, Quintin Hynes, Jonathan Grant. Back Row: Andrew Froid, Wyatt Magnuson,
Aden Doocy, Bradley Boyd, Cannon Wacek, Lance Lembke Jr, Carsten Ingvalson, Brady Johnson, Devon Loth.

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Byron Bears
2022 Schedule
Sept. 2 Kasson-Mantorville 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 at Faribault 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 Winona 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 at Stewartville 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 at Mankato East 7 p.m.
Oct. 8 Red Wing Noon
Oct. 14 at Albert Lea 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 Rochester Mayo 7 p.m.

Front Row: Reid Bielen, Dom Cartney, Isaac Dearborn, Matthew Frigaard, Tyler Fox, Carter Geerts, Brody Johnson, Seth Lampat,
Brandon Thompson, Nick Netzke, Dylan Heimer, Ashton Meyer, Quinten Holmes, Joseph Parr. Second Row: Jackson Schnell, Trey
Gostomczik, Max Dearborn, Dominik Burkhard, Kale Robinson, Luke Scheuer, Ethan Lutzi, Garrett Nemechek, Cole Klein, Adam
Glynn, Tyler Connelly, Myles DeCook, Quentin Diedrich, Hudson Daley, Isaac Scharpman, Owen Yennie. Third Row: Landen Vicker,
Ryan Hewitt, Mason Gronseth, Dylan Luckhardt, Austyn Langworthy, John Paul Lorentz, Logan Lockwood, Riley Vicker, Braydon Oney,
Jacob Von Arx, Ryan Stites, Calvin Betz, Brayden Lorentzen, Payton Jax, Tristan Sandberg. Fourth Row: Teagan Koehler, Gabe Mills,
David Deutz, Brennen Larsen, Ian England, Cody Swanson, Anthony Severino, Zach Vanderpool, Lukas Swenson, Dylan Yokiel, Tucker
Salley, Franky Finley, Colin Hansen, Thadeus Zabel, Bradley Schmidtt O’Connor. Back Row: Jordan Boekhoff, Josh Bernards, Mike
Scheuer, Dan Storlie, manager Bode Brown, head coach Ben Halder, Jake Harmon, Craig Connelly, Matt Kaderly, Ben Pollock.

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Chatfield Gophers
2022 Schedule
Sept. 2 Lourdes 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 at Dover-Eyota 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 at St. Charles 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 Lewiston-Altura 7 p.m.
Sept. 29 at La Crescent-Hokah 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 Caledonia 7 p.m.
Oct. 13 Triton 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 at Goodhue 7 p.m.

Front Row: Ryan House, Michael David Greiner, Ben Carier, Chase Johnston, Landon Crowson, Bralyon Burnett, Thane Schild, Henry Worden,
Carter Schlink, Braydon Horsman and Westin Nolte. Secont Row: Brayden Fretland. Third Row: Lucas Mulhern, Eli Hopp, Jackson Schild, Cole
Ramaker, Ethan Eickhoff, Wyatt Jacobson, Keegan Patten, Miles Hulhern, Jack Volker, Carson Rowland and Carson Voetz. Fourth Row: Tom
Bance, Luke Carrier, Sulley Ferguson, Kailan Schott, Isaac Erding, Sam Backer, Jacob Erickson, Caden Boyum, Carter Daniels, Drew Schindler
and Jack Dornack. Fifth Row: Adam Hurley, Jacob Stevens, Lynn Borgen, Cole Johnson, Jake Brogan, Devin Reinhardt, Ayden Miner, Sam
Finley, Parker Delaney, Nathan Allen and Thad Evans. Sixth Row: Josh Berhow. Back Row: Jeff Johnson, Cole Novotny, Ethan Cole, Callen
Backer, Caleb Austin, Masyn Kreter, Sean Koenigs, Ryan Nosbisch, Drew O’Connor, Blake Thompson and Isaac Stevens.

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 4 | SPORTS | Saturday, September 3, 2022 | Post Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.
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SECTION 1AAAAA PREVIEW

Joe Ahlquist / Post Bulletin file photo

Mayo’s Carter Holcomb (11) carries the ball as New Prague’s Brendan Pieper (1) closes in during a high school football game Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, at Mayo High School in Rochester.

Does Mayo have what it takes to repeat?

BY PAT RUFF
Post Bulletin
It figures to be tough for Rochester
Mayo to duplicate what it accomplished
last year, finishing 9-2, beating
Owatonna twice and reaching the state
tournament for the first time since 1997.
There is some prolific talent that
graduated, including quarterback
Bennett Ellsworth, running back/
linebacker Noah Smith and wide
receiver/defensive back Cayden
Holcomb, all of whom are now playing
college football. Still, 10th-year Donny
Holcomb likes what’s coming back and
also appreciates the work his players
have put in. The most dynamic player
on the roster is his son, junior receiver/
defensive back Carter Holcomb, who
finished with 823 receiving yards (18
yards per catch) last season and has
elite speed and strength. Throwing
the ball to him will either be senior
Brigg Poppe or junior Rees Grimsrud.
Poppe, who is 6-3, 190 pounds, will
line up at tight end if he doesn’t play
quarterback.
The Spartans don’t have anyone
with the kind of raw speed that Smith
possessed, but 5-9, 225-pound senior
running back Rudy Lozoya gives the
team one of its most powerful running
backs ever. Offensive line should be
another strength for Mayo, including
the Kramer brothers (senior Ethan and
sophomore Casey) playing big roles up
front. Many of Mayo’s players will go
both ways which means its defensive
line should also be strong.
CENTURY
The Panthers are going to have
some elite receivers, with powerful Eli
Thompson (6-4, 200) and rangy Jake
Wills (6-3, 180) both talented returning
starters as juniors. Thompson also
is a defensive back and Wills a
defensive end. Century has a couple
of committed seniors with talent in
the LaVoi brothers, twins Ryan and
Luke. Ryan is a big offensive lineman,
while Luke is a linebacker/running
back. Josh Berg is another senior who
figures to have a prominent role. He
has solid speed and will line up at wide
receiver and defensive back. Working
against Century is that its number of
seniors is small. That means juniors
and sophomores will be called on
extensively, leaving the Panthers as
a team without much experience.
That includes at quarterback where
Century might have Harrison Esau as
its starter. The junior was mostly the
junior varsity QB last year. Century
finished 4-6 in 2021. It lost its first four
games, then went on to win four of its
final six games.
JOHN MARSHALL
It’s a new scene at John Marshall,
with a new head coach, some new
assistants and plenty of new schemes.
Kyle Riggott, a former Century and
Minnesota State University, Mankato
football standout, has stepped in as the
head man. He replaces Kevin Kirkeby.
Riggott has infused some new energy
and enthusiasm to a program that had
struggled the last number of years. JM
finished 1-8 last season when it was
young and racked by injuries. Riggott
is extremely impressed with JM’s
speed. Also a former assistant coach
at Century, he considers this likely
the fastest high school team he’s been
around. Leading the pack are two of the
fastest guys in the entire state, seniors
Keondre Bryant and Michael Nicometo.
Bryant, also among the team’s strongest
players, will be positioned at a variety
of places on offense, while Nicometo is
a 6-3 wide receiver. Quarterback is up
for grabs a little bit, but junior Darius
Jordan started last season. He recently
ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash. Offensive
and defensive line are places that JM
has little experience, though senior
Tate Zeller is a returning standout. He’s
6-3, 250 and moves well. Senior Nolan
Radke is the team’s best linebacker and
6-4 Zach Ladu is a talented defensive
back and wide receiver.
OWATONNA
The Huskies expect to make at least
a bit of a jump this season. Among the
things in their favor is the return of
starting quarterback Jacob Ginskey
(6-1, 170). He was just a sophomore last
year. “When you start a sophomore
at quarterback, they usually clean up
their decision making by their junior
year,” long-time Owatonna coach
Jeff Williams said. “Those who start
as sophomores usually end up being
among the best quarterbacks we’ve
ever had.” Ginskey has an explosive
and tall receiver to target. Tight end
Justin Gleason (6-4, 210) was the state
long jump champion this past spring
and is also Owatonna’s fastest player.
Owatonna will turn to 5-9, 190-pound
senior Connor Grems as its primary
running back. He’s quick and physical.
On the offensive line a pair of starters
return in Mikah Elstad and Ethan
Anderson. Both are seniors and in the
210-pound range.
NORTHFIELD
One of the things that pleased Brent
Yule most a year ago in his first season
as Northfield’s head coach was how
his players stuck together. The Raiders
did that despite enduring a pair of two-
game losing streaks. They ultimately
finished 4-6 overall. Yule returns some
solid players from that team, including
quarterback Soren Richardson;
running back/linebacker Kamden
Kaiser; wide receiver Austin Koep; 6-5,
250-pound offensive lineman Haden
Kelly and 6-4, 280-pound offensive
lineman Joey Schultz. Richardson,
a senior, threw for 1,300 yards last
year and Yule considers him a smart
player and a good leader, with a strong
arm. Kaiser might be the team’s most
dynamic player and will land at a
variety of offensive positions. Schultz
and Kelly give the Raiders a pair of big,
physical senior linemen.
AUSTIN
The past four seasons have been a
struggle for the Packers, with just six
total wins. Their lone win a year ago
came against Albert Lea, 45-6. Austin
was in some games, though, including
losing just 21-20 to Northfield and 28-20
to Century. The senior class is strong,
with 22 out for football. But the junior
class has just nine football players. Jack
Lang returns at quarterback where he
had some nice moments last year. The
point guard on the Austin basketball
team, Lang’s favorite target was
returning starter Manny Guy, who had
170 yards receiving against formidable
Mayo last year. Tommy Fritz is back
after missing all of last season with
an ACL tear. He’s got college potential,
having covered 40 yards in 4.5 seconds
and is a solid 5-10, 170. Luke Owens
and Kenny Cabeen are a couple of big
and strong linemen who return. Owens
was an honorable-mention all-section
performer last year.

SECTION 1AAAAA SCHEDULE

(All games at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
Sept. 2 — Austin at Northfield, Mankato West at John Marshall, Mayo at Owatonna, Century at New Prague. Sept. 9 — John Marshall at Austin,
Northfield at Mayo, Owatonna at Century. Friday, Sept. 16 — Austin at New Prague, Mayo at Century, Mankato West at Owatonna. Sept. 17 —
Northfield at John Marshall (1 p.m.), Sept. 23 — Owatonna at Austin, New Prague at Northfield. Sept. 24 — John Marshall at Mayo, (5 p.m.),
Century at Mankato West (noon), Sept. 30 — John Marshall at New Prague; Mankato West at Mayo, Northfield at Owatonna. Oct. 1 — Austin at
Century (6 p.m.), Oct. 7 — Owatonna at John Marshall; Century at Northfield, Mayo at New Prague, Oct. 8 — Mankato West at Austin (noon),
Oct. 13 — New Prague at Owatonna. Oct. 14 — Austin at Mayo, John Marshall at Century, Northfield at Mankato West. Oct. 19 — Albert Lea at
Austin, Stewartville at John Marshall, Century at Winona, Mayo at Byron; Owatonna at Kasson-Mantorville, Faribault at Northfield.
 postbulletin.com Post Bulletin, Rochester, Minn. | Saturday, September 3, 2022 | SPORTS | 5

Dover-Eyota Eagles
2022 Schedule
Sept. 1 at Zumbrota-Mazeppa 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 Chatfield 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 at Caledonia 6 p.m.
Sept. 23 St. Charles 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 at Lewiston-Altura 7 p.m.
Oct. 6 Pine Island 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 Goodhue 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 at Triton 7 p.m.

First Row: Joe Fitzgerald, Nolan Thompson, Brayden Swee, Gavin Gust, Dawson Haag, Jackson Duellman, Karsen Behnken, Carson
Mitchell, Tyler Mix and Jadon Bates. Second Row: Gage Dabelstein, Jacob Cornell, Damon Bye, Landon Lehnertz, Tyler Holzer,
Brock Hughes, Levi Williams, Aidan Gasper, Jackson Welsh, Bolton Thesing and Luke Cornell. Third Row: Piercen Allen, Andy
Gasper, Nathan Kraft, Zachary Damico, Tayden Ludescher, Cooper Hanson, Sam Frie, Jackson Frericks, Tristan McFarlen and Evan
Knoll. Fourth Row: Jaydon Schott, Alex Midge, Tyler Richardson, Talen Rabe, Isaiah Patzner, Noah Sizer, Yeshua Renteria, Brady
Dessner, Caleb Kirtz, Spencer McFarlen, Devon Bye and Nicholas Capelle. Back Row: Jon Hauswald, Ryan Fogarty, Mark Boone,
Brian Seranton and Aaron Gust.

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Southeastern Minnesota’s GOOD

LUCK
‘Dangerous Dozen’: 12 EAGLES!

players to watch
BY ALEX VANDENHOUTEN
Post Bulletin
As we learn every
fall, there are far more
than a dozen talented
football players in
southeastern Minnesota.
For now, though,
here are 12 of the best
players in the area to
watch this fall, the
Post Bulletin’s annual
“Dangerous Dozen.”
SAM BACKER, RB,
CHATFIELD
Arguably the most
dynamic offensive
threat in the area,
Backer totaled 3,117
all-purpose yards with
51 total touchdowns
after making the switch
from running back to
quarterback a season
ago. He still used his
legs plenty, finishing
with 2,384 yards rushing
and 34 touchdowns on
the ground. Backer
committed to perennial
Division II powerhouse
Minnesota State
University, Mankato
in July. He also has a
chip on his shoulder
the way last year ended,
him forced to sit out
the state championship
game after drawing two
unsportsmanlike fouls
in the state semifinals.
CARTER HOLCOMB,
WR, MAYO
Carter and Cayden
Holcomb were quite the
duo a season ago. The
brothers combined for
nearly 2,000 receiving
yards and 21 touchdowns
for an explosive Mayo
offense that was
instrumental in helping
the Spartans reach the
program’s first state
tournament since 1996.
The younger Carter was
responsible for 823 of
those yards and nine of
those TDs, while being a
dynamic punt returner.
With Cayden now at
Winona State University,
Carter will be expected
to shoulder the load,
something he should
have no problem with.
REESE TRIPP, OL, K-M
Tripp is the most
highly recruited name
on this list. At 6-foot-
7, 325 pounds, Tripp is
blessed with terrific
size, but Division I
teams came running
last year after a season
in which he put it all
together. He was a
two-way starter while
leading the KoMets in
“pancake” blocks in the
Class AAAA runner-up’s
powerful triple-option
scheme. He is committed 20 Center Ave NW • Eyota | 507-545-2856 | Higginscustomcabinetry.com
to play football for the
University of Minnesota
and is ranked as the ADAM PONCELET,
fourth-best recruit in the ago, putting up video WR, GOODHUE
state by Prep Redzone. game-like numbers with Gophers. He received
an eye-popping seven his first offer from St. Poncelet will be
DREW SCHINDLER, interceptions and 11 Olaf College over the jockeying with Holcomb
DB, CHATFIELD pass breakups. He also summer; expect more for the title of region’s
Schindler became one forced two fumbles, to come if he is able top receiver this season.
of the best defensive recovered a fumble and to even come close to The 6-foot-3, 185-pound
backs in southeastern had 39 total tackles replicating last year’s
Minnesota a season for the state-champion performances. See DOZEN, Page 6

Fillmore Central Falcons

2022 Schedule
Sept. 2 Lourdes 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 at Dover-Eyota 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 at St. Charles 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 Lewiston-Altura 7 p.m.
Sept. 29 at La Crescent-Hokah 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 Caledonia 7 p.m.
Oct. 13 Triton 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 at Goodhue 7 p.m.

Front row: Chase Grabau, John Janssen, Dillon O’Connor, Gunner Benson, William Parker, Jake Fishbaugher, Bryce Corson, Grant Daniels
and Quentin Daniels. Second Row: Layla Round, Annakate Wingert, Alayna Holets, Ava Christopherson, Angel Apenhorst, Siri Corson,
Kyra Arndt, Anna Gartner, Makaria McKinney, Coach Tara Corson. Third Row: Coach Kurt Bockoven, Clayton Schoepski, Anthony Kiehne,
Brock Sikkink, Kaden Wahl, Cody Serfling, Kane Larson, Peyton Heidenworth, Owen Schoepski, Connor Hovey, Davion Carey, Coach Aaron
Janssen. Fourth Row: Head coach Chris Mensink, Tyson Sprenger, Davis Penhollow, Jacob Mandelko, Lincoln Iverson, Atlee Hershberger,
Garett Gossman, Peter Haugerud, Bowen Coaty, Christian Ladd, Josh Haugerud, coach Andy Todd. Fifth Row: Coach Ty Sloan, Zach Krage,
Dakota Musselman, Tyler Suckow, Brody, Niemeyer, Tyler Mayer, Qwinton Kolter, Noah Rothering, Chase Christianson, Henry Liew, Kyle
Daniels, coach Andrew Pederson, Back Row: Coach David Broadwater, Tyler Gulbranson, Alex Gulbranson, Greg Kennedy, Laiten Engen,
Brayden Engen, Maddex Rindels, Joey Ristau, Jayce Kiehne, Luke Hellickson, Blaine Niemeyer, coach Brady Ristau.

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Goodhue Wildcats
2022 Schedule
Sept. 2 at Cannon Falls 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 Triton 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 at Lewiston-Altura 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 Zumbrota-Mazeppa 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 at Caledonia 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 St. Charles 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 at Dover-Eyota 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 Chatfield 7 p.m.

Front Row: Will Opsahl, Carsyn O’Reilly, Marcus Gardzinski, Justin Buck, J.J. O’Reilly, Carson Roschen, Adam Poncelet, Kade
Altendorf, Malakye Parker, Caden Berg and Eli Ryan. Second Row: Caden O’Reilly, Max Loos, Gavin Schafer, Grant Reed, Jed Ryan,
Kason Bigalk, Sam Tipton, Michael Majerus, Brayden Kreisler, Cole Jenson, Zabe Flom and Tanner Smith. Third Row: Craig Kurtti,
Austin Bartholome, Caleb Kurtti, Payton Holst, Nathan Beck, Sean Matthees, Henry Caswell, Caden Lodermeier, Jacob Ryan,
Logan Hadler and Colin O’Connor. Fourth Row: Hayden Holm, Jack Carlson, Luke Roschen, Michael Roschen, Garrett Boldt, Wyatt
Finnesgard, Alexis Escalona, Austin Holst, Henry Ludwig, Carter Lindholm and Jacob Melson. Back Row: Jackson Lodermeier, Matt
Halverson, Billy Diercks, Tony Poncelet, Jacob Flynn, Jacob McNamara, Robby Ebner, Duncan Poncelet and Alex Mathees.

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Dozen 4.7-second 40.

From page 5
senior pairs great
size with speed to go
along with soft hands.
He finished with 14
touchdowns to go along
with 762 yards receiving
on 52 receptions in
helping Goodhue
reach the Section 1AA
championship last year.
Poncelet picked up
offers from Winona State
and Minnesota Duluth
this summer, while
having junior-day visits
at North Dakota State,
North Dakota and St.
Thomas in the spring.
RUDY LOZOYA, FB/
DE, MAYO
Lozoya has been the
talk of the summer for
the Spartans. It seemed
the weight room became
the senior’s second home
and he now resembles
more of a freight train
than a high school
student. Mayo coach
Donny Holcomb called
Lozoya a shrunken
down Christian Okoye
— a powerful, former
NFL running back for
the Kansas City Chiefs
in the early 1990s. It’s
a good comparison as
Lozoya now squats over
500 pounds and runs a
MASON LANGOWSKI,
ATH, WINONA
Much like his older
brother Trent, Mason
can play all over the field
and do it well. Last year,
he played quarterback,
running back and wide
receiver, totaling over
650 all-purpose yards.
He also snagged four
interceptions, returning
one for a touchdown.
It’s no surprise that
a number of college
teams are interested.
He has camp invites
to Minnesota Duluth
and South Dakota
State. There have also
been junior-day trips
to Duluth, Valparaiso,
Moorhead, Minnesota
State (Mankato), Brown,
South Dakota State,
Bemidji State, Augustana
and Davidson.
JADEN BLANCK,
RB, WINONA
Another Winhawk,
Blanck has erupted onto
the scene these past
few months and is now
rated as the top running
back in the state of
Minnesota for the Class
of 2025 by Prep Redzone.
Blanck transferred from
Wabasha-Kellogg before
he started high school
and was used in the
backfield sparingly by the
Winhawks a season ago.
This year, he and senior
Dominic Davis (838 yards,
6.7 YPC) are expected to
give Winona a dynamic
one-two punch.
BRYCE CORSON, RB,
FILLMORE CENTRAL
One of many do-it-all
running backs in the
area, Corson finished
with more than 1,200
all-purpose yards (786
rushing, 425 receiving)
and 22 touchdowns,
including a school-record
17 rushing touchdowns.
The 5-foot-8 senior is
shifty and has great
acceleration, but his
ability to shed tacklers is
what separates him. He
will be a key cog for the
Falcons in a wide-open
Section 1A.
TYTAN SMALL, LB/
RB, ST. CHARLES Traci Westcott / Post Bulletin file photo
St. Charles’ Tytan Small (52) and Owen Maloney (13) make a tackle during a game
Small is arguably the
best tackler in the area. against Triton last season. Small is expected to be one of the top linebackers in
He has great instincts southeastern Minnesota this fall.
and once he gets his
long arms around you,
PEYTON BYRNE, OL/ the shot put at the Class on him on the football
it’s over with. Last year, DL, STEWARTVILLE AA state meet. He will field. He’s explosive, fast
he finished with 140 have his pick of Division
The Stewartville and can change direction
total tackles en route to II schools, whether it be
senior was stellar last on a dime. It all adds
being named All-District on the gridiron, the track
Southeast. He kept that fall, not allowing a sack up to the perfect return
or both.
momentum going into at left tackle for a Tigers man. He took two punts
the winter where he team that went 8-0 in the KAIDEN PETERS, KR/ for touchdowns (from 60
was great on the mat, regular season. Byrne PR/DB, P-E-M and 50 yards), averaging
finishing fifth at the has gained more than 30 Peters has made noise an impressive 16 yards
Class A state wrestling pounds of muscle and on the AAU circuit per punt return. He also
tournament at 182 is coming off a spring this past summer for averaged 18.5 yards per
pounds. where he placed fourth in basketball, but don’t sleep kickoff return.

Grand Meadow Superlarks

2022 Schedule
Sept. 2 Lanesboro 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 at Heron Lake-O-F 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 at Houston 7 p.m.
Sept. 24 Spring Grove 1 p.m.
Sept. 30 at LeRoy-Ostrander 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 Southland 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 at Lyle/Pacelli 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 Kingsland 7 p.m.

Front Row: James Jacobsen, Connor Munson, Cael Gilbert, Isaac Harmening II, Zac Shorter, Jace Kraft.Second Row: Nathan
Fretty, Jaylen Renfro, Tyler Reid, Corbin Ludemann, Aaron Mork, Colton Gardner, Brady Hyrkas.Third Row: Logan Bachman, Halen
Schumann, Dalton Pischke, Kaiden Bunne, Travis Weiss, Zachary Gehling, Dustin Stejskal.Fourth Row: Malachi Young-Carrington,
Sawyer Hanenberger, Keaton Gehling, Ayden Stier, Isaiah Williams, Aidan Leibfried, Joseph Gruhlke.

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Hayfield Vikings
2022 Schedule
Sept. 2 at Blooming Prairie 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 Faribault B.A. 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 at Fillmore Central 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 Kenyon-Wanamingo 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 at Wabasha-Kellogg 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 Winona Cotter 7 p.m.
Oct. 13 at Rushford-Peterson 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 Randolph 7 p.m.

Front Row: Cole Selk, Kayden Jacobson, Diezel Walder, Ethan Pack, Landon Wiley-Beckman, Sam Tucker, Isaac Matti.Second Row:
Corbin Krueger, Tyson Bronson, Damarri Boysen, Zander Jacobson, Gentry Johnson, Carter Murphy.Third Row: Chris Nieman,
Hunter Simonson, Gentrell Johnson, Ashton Backman, Nolan Kolander, Adam Woslager, Moneer Mohamed.Back Row: Wyatt
Arndt, Austin Dahle, Benjamin Nelson, Kael Steele, Layne Nelson, Chase Kiser, Tanner Jennings.

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How they’ll line up in ’22: This year’s district alignments

Wondering which district your
favorite high school football team
plays in?
Here’s the list of southeastern
Minnesota teams and the districts they
belong to:
BIG SOUTHEAST
WHITE DIVISION
Blooming Prairie, Gibbon-Fairfax-
Winthrop, Medford, New Richland-H-
E-G, St. Clair-Loyola.
DISTRICT 9-SOUTH
EAST DIVISION
Grand Meadow, Houston, Kingsland,
Lanesboro, LeRoy-Ostrander, Lyle/
Faribault Bethlehem Academy,
Fillmore Central, Hayfield, Kenyon-
Wanamingo, Kingsland, Randolph,
Rushford-Peterson, Wabasha-Kellogg.
SECTION 1 9-MAN
Grand Meadow, Houston, Lanesboro,
LeRoy-Ostrander, Lyle/Pacelli, Mabel-
Canton, Southland, Spring Grove.
— Post Bulletin staff

BLUE DIVISION
Albert Lea, Byron, Faribault, Kasson-
Mantorville, Mankato East, Red Wing,
Good Luck
Austin Pacelli, Mabel-Canton,
Southland, Spring Grove.
••••••
A look at which sections

Stewartville, Winona.
RED DIVISION
Austin, Mankato West, New Prague,
Northfield, Owatonna, Rochester
Century, Rochester John Marshall,
Rochester Mayo.
o Marshall, Rochester Mayo.
SOUTHEAST
Caledonia, Cannon Falls, Chatfield,
Dover-Eyota, Goodhue, La Crescent-
Hokah, Lake City, Lewiston-Altura,
Pine Island, Plainview-Elgin-
Millville, Rochester Lourdes, St.
Charles, Triton, Zumbrota-Mazeppa.
MID SOUTHEAST
BLUE DIVISION
Faribault B.A., Fillmore Central,
Hayfield, Kenyon-Wanamingo,
Randolph, Rushford-Peterson, Winona
Cotter.
KoMets!
southeastern Minnesota football teams
will play in, come playoff time in mid-
October:
SECTION 1AAAAA
Austin, Northfield, Owatonna,
Rochester Century, Rochester John
SECTION 1AAAA
Albert Lea, Byron, Kasson-Mantorville,
Red Wing, Stewartville, Winona.
SECTION 1AAA
Cannon Falls, La Crescent-Hokah,
Lake City, Pine Island, Plainview-Elgin-
Millville, Rochester Lourdes, Zumbrota-
Mazeppa. We do it all, from your first
home to your dream home.
SECTION 1AA
Caledonia, Chatfield, Dover-Eyota, BigelowHomes.net
Goodhue, Lewiston-Altura, St. Charles, 507-529-1161
Triton, Winona Cotter.
SECTION 1A

Kasson-Mantorville KoMets
2022 Schedule
Sept. 2 at Byron 7 p.m.
Sept. 8 Winona 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 at Mankato East 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 Albert Lea 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 at Faribault 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 Stewartville 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 at Red Wing 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 Owatonna 7 p.m.

Front Row: Howard Head, Michael Hoff, Evan Snow, Jarrett Blaine, Antone Elias, Reese Tripp, Ben Nelson, Aidan Smith, Eli Richardson, Broc
Barwald, Henry Paulson, Mason Scripture and James Gaw. Second Row: Kyle Nelson, Emmett Ricke, Bennett Brown, Hunter Bjerke, Spencer
Anderson, Peter Gillis, Adam Darveaux, Elijah Peterson, Will Marti, Aidan Beckstrom, Drew Weigel, Gaven Singfiel, Preston Schaefer, Easton
Suess, Lars Ingram, Dominic Mann and Tyler Paulson. Third Row: Grady Babcock, Kayden White, Jeremiah Peterson, Owen Nelson, Tyson
Rud, Jaeger Ranvek, Caisen Thome, Drew Fredrickson, Sam Graunke, Kaleb Xlein, Jameson Trapp, Brooks Irish, Jacob Duitsman, Ian Bolin,
Caedyn Apel, Alex Goodman and Erik Vagt.Back Row: Jeff Bernarsd, Drew Paukert, Jason Henslin, Eli Barrett, Joel Swanson, Aaron Richards,
Logan Cimmiyotti, Chris Otterness, Jake Schmidt, Matt Franke, Matt Nelson and Cody Cook.

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Kenyon-Wanamingo Knights
2022 Schedule
Sept. 1 NRHEG 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 at Winona Cotter 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 Rushford-Peterson 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 at Hayfield 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 Faribault B.A. 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 at Fillmore Central 7 p.m.
Oct. 13 at Randolph 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 Wabasha-Kellogg 7 p.m.

Front Row: Jayden Dudley, Miles Thompson, Noel Hernandez, Vin Martinez, Derek Syverson, Logan Trump, Owen Craig, Tanner
Hedeen, Isaac Hedeen, Jay Jacobsen and Jack Vierling. Second Row: Joe Mills, Kyle Brogger, Ross Aldorfer, Mason Torgeson, Alex
Lee, Colton Steberg, Butch Lindell, Trent Foss, Cal Luebke, Dillon Bartel and Landon Trump. Back Row: Andrew Ramirez, Will Van
Epps, Amari Stokes, Knute Ronnigen, Joel Helland, Brady Bauer, Zach Mason, Blake Biller, Soren Kyllo and Thomas Paulson.

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C
U

Traci Westcott / Post Bulletin file photo

Chatfield’s Drew Schindler (7) and Kailan Schott (23) takes down Barnesville’s Braeden Bredman (20) during a Class AA State Football Semifinal game Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, at
U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

Chatfield’s Schindler a serious student of the game

BY GUY N. LIMBECK
Post Bulletin
CHATFIELD — Drew Schindler had a
busy and active summer.
So, prior to the start of fall practice
with the Chatfield football team, he
went on a family fishing trip.
Last fall as a junior, Schindler
excelled at cornerback for Chatfield
and he helped the Gophers win a Class
AA state championship.
Besides football, Schindler also plays
basketball and baseball at Chatfield.
During his busy summer, Schindler
played American Legion baseball and
helped Chatfield earn a Division II
state tournament berth. In his spare
time he also lifted weights, worked on
speed and agility drills and played AAU
basketball.
“He doesn’t get a lot of rest,”
Chatfield football coach Jeff Johnson
said. “He’s really going all the time.”
In a week-long break before the start
of football practice, Schindler spent
some time fishing in central Minnesota.
“I like to fish and hunt,” he said.
On the football field, Schindler
enjoys playing defense. During
his junior season, he earned Post
Bulletin All-Area first-team honors
as a cornerback. He had seven
interceptions and 11 pass breakups. He
also forced two fumbles, recovered a
fumble and had 39 total tackles.
“We had a pretty good pass rush last
year so that helped me,” he said.
Schindler also helps his own cause
by being a student of the game. He
spends a lot of time preparing for
games off the field. Prior to a game,
he might watch an hour worth of
film to be ready for an opponent
and see what type of pass plays and
formations they use.
“I kind of like strategies, coverages
and stuff,” he said. “I like watching
game film and being ready for stuff
like that.”
“He’s a very smart player and he’s
smart because he puts in a lot of time
when it comes to studying the other
team’s offenses on film,” Johnson said.
The 5-foot-10, 165-pound Schindler
believes his biggest strengths as a
cornerback are making reads and being
able to make a play on the ball when it
is in the air. He also has the quickness
to keep up with receivers.
“I kind of know what’s coming
sometimes,” he said.
This summer Schindler got a thrill
when former Minnesota Vikings
cornerback and punt returner Marcus
Sherels, a Rochester John Marshall
graduate, attended some of Chatfield’s
team camp sessions and gave coaching
advice. Schindler found the tips
very helpful.
“It felt really cool and it was fun,”
Schindler said.
By taking Sherels’ advice, Schindler
hopes to improve on his footwork
and press-coverage skills during his
second year as a starter on defense.
“I just want to get more
interceptions than I did last year
and make teams shy away from me,”
he said. “I’ve been working on press
coverage in our team camp.”
Schindler is a backup wide receiver
on offense, but Johnson said he could
have an expanded role during his
senior season.
“He’s a tough-nosed, gritty kid,”
Johnson said. “He’s extremely
coachable and very hard working, one
of the more coachable kids I’ve had in
17 years.”
Team success is the top emphasis
for Schindler heading into the season.
After last year’s championship run,
the Gophers have high hopes and
expectations again this fall.
“Hopefully I’m looking forward
to just winning another state
championship,” Schindler said.
Schindler grew up around sports
his entire life. His father, Dan, is the
activities director at Chatfield and also
coached the American Legion baseball
team this summer.
Another strong season in football
could give Schindler something to
contemplate about his future. As a
guard in basketball, he averaged about
15 points per game as a junior. He said
basketball is his favorite sport. He also
excels as a student and is unsure if he
will try and play a sport in college, but
if so he would choose between football
and basketball.
 postbulletin.com
Mark your calendars, football fans
Chatfield’s Drew Schindler (7) and Kailan Schott (23) takes down Barnesville’s Braeden Bredman (20) during a Class AA State Football Semifinal game Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, at
U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
One game to look forward to for
every southeastern Minnesota team
BY JASON FELDMAN
Post Bulletin
Whether it’s a rivalry game, a season
opener, or a big rematch, every team
in southeastern Minnesota has at
least one game they circled when their
schedule was announced. Here’s a game
to watch for every team in the area this
season:
BIG SOUTHEAST — RED
• AUSTIN: at Northfield, Friday,
Sept. 2. The Packers have won just
once, each of the past two seasons. Both
of those victories came against rival
Albert Lea. Austin nearly had a second
win a year ago, falling to district rival
Northfield by just one point, 21-20, in
Austin. The Packers don’t have to wait
long to face the Raiders again. They
meet in the season opener, a big game
for both teams as they try to build
momentum.
• CENTURY: vs. Austin, Saturday,
Oct. 1. This starts the second half of
the regular season for the Panthers,
and it jumps out as a possible
momentum-turning game on the heels
of a tough three-game stretch against
Owatonna, Mayo and Mankato West.
Jon Vik’s teams are always built to get
better as the season goes along. The
schedule sets up for Century to really
gain some momentum heading into the
Kingsland Knights
Front Row: Kale Mensink, Beau Wiersma, Ayden Howard, Parker Johnson, Caden Reiter, Zach Reiland, Michael Johnson and Mason Kolling.
Second Row: Blake Oeltjen, Jackson Rowe, Emerson Wilford, Acelee Kohn, Blake Swenson, Kaaleem Reiland, Sam Howard and Cameron
Miner. Third Row: Jethro Hansen, Michael Watson, Landan Humemuller, William Arndorfer, Seth Howard and Tristen Aarsvold. Fourth Row:
Obadiah Watson, Noah House, Ira Schmidt, Ayden Schleusner, Courtland Drury-DeBoer and Silas Hansen. Back Row: James Bradley, Nick
Atwood, Matt Kolling, Erik Bicknese and Dan Lowe.
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Post Bulletin, Rochester, Minn. | Saturday, September 3, 2022
playoffs.
• JOHN MARSHALL: at Century,
Friday, Oct. 14. Not only is this a
second rivalry game in three weeks for
the Rockets, it’s also the first time new
JM head coach Kyle Riggott will return
to his old stomping grounds as a head
coach. Riggott is a 2011 Century grad
and had been on the Panthers coaching
staff since 2017, before being hired at
JM in February. He is still an assistant
coach in Century’s track and field
program.
• MANKATO WEST: vs. Mankato
East, Wednesday, Oct. 19. Only two
teams came within a touchdown of
beating West last season, when the
Scarlets went 13-0 and won the Class
AAAAA state championship. Mankato
East gave it one of those scares, falling
just 23-20 in the regular season finale.
East’s 20 points were more than West
gave up in the rest of the regular
season combined. The teams meet
again in the final week of the 2022
regular season.
• MAYO: at Owatonna, Friday,
Sept. 2. What a way to start the season.
These Big Nine powers have brought
new life to this rivalry in recent years.
Mayo lost a talented senior class to
graduation, but it has some weapons
returning, namely junior athlete Carter
Holcomb. Mayo beat the Huskies twice
a year ago — including a tight Section
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1AAAAA title game — after Owatonna
had done so the year before.
• NEW PRAGUE: vs. Mayo,
Friday, Oct. 7. New Prague went 7-3
last season, its first above-.500 finish
since 2012. The Trojans lost to just
two teams — falling twice to Class
AAAAA state champ Mankato West
and once to Section 1AAAAA champ
Rochester Mayo. The Trojans don’t face
West during the regular season, so it’ll
likely have the Oct. 7 meeting against
Mayo circled. It’ll also be the last home
regular season game for New Prague’s
seniors.
• NORTHFIELD: vs. Faribault,
Wednesday, Oct. 19. Northfield went
4-6 a year ago, with nine of its 10
games decided by two touchdowns or
more. One of those was a 36-7 loss to
Faribault in the regular season finale.
It’s been four years since Northfield has
defeated the Falcons — a stretch that
includes a double-OT loss in the 2020
season opener. This year’s matchup is
again in the final game of the regular
season, on Northfield’s home turf.
• OWATONNA: vs. New Prague,
Thursday, Oct. 13. Owatonna doesn’t
get shut out. It happens so rarely
that it’s very noticeable when it does.
The Huskies were shut out twice last
season. One of those came at the hands
of eventual state champion Mankato
West. The other came at New Prague
in the next-to-last week of the regular
season, 27-0. The Huskies have to
wait until Week 7 to get a chance to
avenge that loss. Don’t bet that they’ve
forgotten about it.
| SPORTS | 9
Traci Westcott / Post Bulletin file photo
BIG SOUTHEAST — BLUE
• ALBERT LEA: at Austin,
Wednesday, Oct. 19. Albert Lea has
had two consecutive winless seasons,
not coming within three touchdowns of
an opponent in that span. It’s hoping to
snap a 13-game winless streak long before
the regular season finale this year, but
whether or not that happens, the Tigers
always have their rivalry game against
Austin circled. Albert Lea last beat the
Packers in 2019.
• BYRON: vs. Kasson-Mantorville,
Friday, Sept. 2: The Bears had a tough
start to last season, dropping their first
five games before going on a tear in
October and winning four of their final
six, their season ending with a loss
at Kasson-Mantorville in the Section
1AAAA title game. Guess who’s up first
on the Bears’ schedule in ’22? It won’t
define the season for either team, but
winning the opener against a rival can do
a world of good for players’ confidence.
• FARIBAULT: vs. Mankato
East, Thursday, Oct. 13: The last
time Faribault beat East, this year’s
seniors were in fourth grade. Yes, it’s
been awhile. That was back in 2014,
when the Falcons topped East 30-20
early in the regular season en route
to an 8-3 year and a trip to the Class
AAAAA state tournament. There have
been close games since — Faribault
lost to the Cougars by a touchdown
last year — but East has won seven
consecutive meetings.
See CALENDAR, Page 10
2022 Schedule
Aug. 26 Renville Co. West 7 p.m.
Sept. 10 at Houston 3 p.m.
Sept. 16 Southland 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 at Mabel-Canton 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 at Lanesboro 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 Lyle/Pacelli 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 Spring Grove 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 at Grand Meadow 7 p.m.
10 | SPORTS | Saturday, September 3, 2022 | Post Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.
 postbulletin.com

Lake City Tigers

2022 Schedule
Sept. 2 at St. Charles 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 Pine Island 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 La Crescent-Hokah 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 at Cannon Falls 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 Plainview-Elgin-Millville 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 at Zumbrota-Mazeppa 7 p.m.
Oct. 13 Lewiston-Altura 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 at Lourdes 7 p.m.

Front Row: John Harms, Josh Siewert, Cameron Alvarez, Parker Rodman, Nate Evans, Lee Siewert, Philip Harteneck, Jonah Siewert,
Ethan Roberson, Mikyle Gossett, Riley Forbes and Isaac Laqua. Second Row: Aaron Lou, Asher Bee, Cam Thieren, Seth Harteneck,
Keegan Ryan, Gunnar Seydel, Karch Hegge, Rylee Fick, David Oeltjen, Jaden Shones, Jonas Miller, Connor Burgeson and Dallas
Hanson. Third Row: Luke Narum, Josh Wohlers, Braxton Berlin, Landon Olsen, Ryan Johnsgaard, Maisen Howe, Greg Banaszynski,
Garrett Goihl, Brayden Burgeson, Carter West, Ethen Brunkow, Dominik Hoffman and Patrick Kennedy. Back Row: Rob Nutt, Josh
Atkinson, Alex Lundell, Skyler Marking, Landon Wiemann, Tom Nutt, Ellis Banks, Colter Hegge, Caleb Lichtblau, Lyncoln Watters,
Aiden Scolley, Phil Olson, Trevor Narum and Rusty Grisim.

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Calendar more consistent success over the past

From page 9
• KASSON-MANTORVILLE: vs.
Stewartville, Friday, Oct. 7. The
2021 Section 1AAAA champions and
state runners-up went 9-4 last season,
with their three regular-season losses
coming by a combined total of 17
points. K-M thought it might have a
chance to avenge one of those losses,
a 28-21 setback at Stewartville in Week
7 of the regular season, but Byron
knocked off Stewartville in the section
semifinals. No added motivation is
necessary when these rivals meet.
• MANKATO EAST: at Mankato
West, Oct. 19. Not only is the natural
intra-city rivalry in play with these
teams, but East remembers well its
meeting with West a year ago. West
went unbeaten en route to a Class
AAAAA state title. Its toughest test
along the way was from East, which
played its arch-rival to a three-point
game — a 23-20 score — in the last game
of the regular season. It was the most
points West gave up all season.
• RED WING: vs. Mankato
East, Sept. 10: The Wingers face a
challenging lineup of opponents in
2022, and this may be as challenging as
any. But, this will be their first home
game under new head coach Brett
Stinson, the former Kingsland coach
who was an assistant coach with the
Wingers the past two seasons. This will
be the first chance for Red Wing fans to
get a look at any changes in philosophy
or attitude under Stinson.
• STEWARTVILLE: vs. Byron,
Sept. 23. There may not be a coach
in southeastern Minnesota who takes
pride in seeing his players improve in
the offseason more than Stewartville’s
Garrett Mueller. He has worked
tirelessly to help his players improve
their speed and conditioning in recent
years, knowing how valuable those
attributes are late in a season. And be
certain that as the Tigers went through
their offseason workouts this spring and
summer, the end to last season — a one-
point loss to rival Byron in OT in the
section semifinals, a loss that ended the
Tigers’ year after an 8-0 regular season
— was at the front of their minds.
• WINONA: vs. Century,
Wednesday, Oct. 19. Despite Winona’s
decade, none of the current Winhawks
have been on a team that has defeated
Century. Winona came close a year ago,
falling 22-20 at Century. This year, the
teams will meet in the regular season
finale, with Winona looking to snap
a short losing streak, and both teams
looking to gain momentum heading
into the playoffs.
SOUTHEAST
• CALEDONIA: vs. Lewiston-
Altura, Friday, Sept. 9. This one
makes sense for a number of reasons.
First, it’s the Warriors home opener,
coming off a season with a losing
record for the first time in most of the
players’ memories. Second, Caledonia
went 4-5 a year ago and two of those
losses came against L-A. One of those
was a somewhat stunning 31-14 loss in
the Section 1AA playoffs, coming on
the heels of a dominant three-game
Warriors’ winning streak in which they
recorded two shutouts and outscored
opponents 95-22.
• CANNON FALLS: at Plainview-
Elgin-Millville, Friday, Sept. 9. Last
fall, just 31 seconds separated Cannon
Falls from a third trip to state in four
seasons. The team that rallied in the
final minute of the Section 1AAA title
game to beat it — P-E-M — made it all
the way to the Prep Bowl. In fact, both
of Cannon Falls’ losses last season
came to teams that made state title
games (its other loss was to Class AA
state champ Chatfield).
• CHATFIELD: vs. Caledonia,
Friday, Oct. 7. Since 2007, only two
teams have gone to state out of Section
1AA — Chatfield (2013, 2021) and
Caledonia (all other seasons since
2007 when a state tournament has
been held). Regardless of records or
rankings, the Gophers and Warriors
look forward to the test they offer each
other every season. Chatfield won
handily at Caledonia last season (30-
0), the Gophers first win against the
Warriors since the 2013 Section 1AA
final.
• DOVER-EYOTA: vs. St. Charles,
Friday, Sept. 23. St. Charles has
controlled this Highway 14 rivalry
for most of the past decade. Dover-
Eyota last beat the Saints in 2015;
since then, the Eagles have dropped
five consecutive meetings with St.
Charles, including a narrow 40-32
decision in 2021. The Eagles will have
this midseason matchup circled; a win
against their rival would be a perfect
way to kick off a stretch of three home
games in four weeks.
• GOODHUE: vs. St. Charles,
Friday, Oct. 7. These teams clashed
in what proved to be one of the most
entertaining games of the regular
season in southeastern Minnesota last
fall. Saints QB Brady Koeppel ran in a
2-point conversion with 1:11 remaining
in the game to give the Saints a 34-33
victory. That late St. Charles PAT
conversion was all that stood between
Goodhue and a 5-0 start to the season.
• LaCRESCENT-HOKAH: vs.
Zumbrota-Mazeppa, Friday, Sept.
9. This season is the start of a new
era for Lancers football — new coach,
new uniforms, new outlook. Long-
time Kasson-Mantorville offensive
coordinator Terry Donovan has made
the move south to become a head
coach. Donovan helped guide K-M to
a Section 1AAAA championship and
a trip to the Prep Bowl last season.
While the Lancers don’t have Prep Bowl
expectations yet, their home opener
against Z-M just might be a first step in
an upward climb under Donovan.
• LAKE CITY: vs. P-E-M, Friday,
Sept. 30: Lake City put its football
program back on the map in 2021 —
spending much of the season, behind
a nearly unstoppable offense, ranked
in the top 10 in the state. The one
team that was able to tame the Tigers?
Plainview-Elgin-Millville. The Bulldogs
held Lake City to just 13 points in the
regular season, a game the Tigers won
13-7. The P-E-M ‘D’ one-upped itself in
the postseason, holding the Tigers in
check in a 23-7 Section 1AAA semifinal
win.
• LEWISTON-ALTURA: at Triton,
Friday, Oct. 7. The Cardinals and
Cobras put on another of the “instant
classics” played in southeastern
Minnesota last fall. Triton pulled out
a thrilling 43-42 victory in double-OT
at L-A in Week 6. Both teams dropped
their final two regular season games
before winning their first postseason
game. They’ll meet again — though it’ll
be hard to live up to last year’s clash —
in Week 6, this time at Triton.
• LOURDES: at Chatfield, Friday,
Sept. 2. It’s been more than 15 years
since Lourdes and Chatfield have met
on the football field. That changes with
the season opener this year, when the
two traditionally strong programs
go head-to-head. It’s a good test for
Lourdes on two levels: One, to face a
defending state champion on its home
field in the first game of a new season;
and two, to determine how its players
will react to a pressure matchup right
off the bat.
• PINE ISLAND: at Lourdes,
Friday, Sept. 16. Though the Panthers
went 2-7 last season, they had some
bright spots. They fell to Goodhue by
6, held high-powered Lake City to 27
points and took Triton to OT. Pine
Island’s final two games of the season
didn’t go so well — being shut out by
Lourdes twice in six days, including a
season-ending 28-0 loss in the playoffs.
The Panthers don’t have to wait long to
get another shot at the Eagles — they
go to Lourdes in Week 3.
• PLAINVIEW-ELGIN-MILLVILLE:
vs. Cannon Falls, Friday, Sept. 9.
Defending section champions always
have a bullseye of some size on their
backs. P-E-M will be no exception to
that rule; the Bulldogs — the Class
AAA state runners-up in 2021 —
avenged both of their regular season
losses in the Section 1AAA playoffs,
beating Lake City in the semis (23-7)
and Cannon Falls in the final (21-18).
PEM and the Bombers will again go
toe-to-toe in Week 2, at Elgin.
• ST. CHARLES: vs. Triton,
Friday, Sept. 30. Four points were
the difference between four wins and
six wins for the Saints a year ago. And
those four points belonged to Triton.
The Cobras beat the Saints 22-20 in the
regular season. They met again in the
Section 1AA quarterfinals, when Triton
watched a two-touchdown lead get
whittled to two points, then it survived
a pair of onside kicks as well as a St.
Charles drive that was halted at the
Cobras’ 1-yard line, to win 30-28.
• TRITON: at Chatfield, Thursday,
Oct. 13. Triton was the king of close
calls in 2021. The Cobras won two
overtime games and played in three
other games decided by a total of five
points. One of those was a narrow
21-20 loss to Chatfield — the eventual
Class AA state champion — in Week
2. The rematch wasn’t as close;
Chatfield beat Triton 54-0 in a Section
1AA semifinal. The Cobras haven’t
forgotten either of those losses and
they’ll be ready when they face the
Gophers in Week 7 this fall.
See CALENDAR, Page 13
 postbulletin.com Post Bulletin, Rochester, Minn. | Saturday, September 3, 2022 | SPORTS | 11

In-shape Douglas a big part of RCTC’s interior defense

BY GUY N. LIMBECK
Post Bulletin
Rochester Community
and Technical College
nose tackle Johnathan
Douglas is
a big guy.
But even
he knew
he was a
bit too big
during his
freshman
season a Douglas
year ago.
The 6-foot-2 Douglas
anchored the RCTC
defensive line last season
when he was close to
400 pounds. This past
offseason he made it
a goal to get in better
shape. He wanted to slim
down and drop about 50
pounds. He is currently at
360 and he hopes to lose
a little more weight prior
to the season opener.
“It’s more of a
conditioning thing,” he
said. “I want to be able
to play more snaps but be
more effective. So even
if I’m tired, I’ll be able
to perform.”
Douglas is a 2020
graduate of McDonough
High School in Georgia.
He then took a year
off from football as he
contemplated playing
college ball. During
that time he added 50
extra pounds.
“It was bad weight,”
he admitted.
Douglas really enjoys
his mother’s and
grandmother’s southern
home cooking, but he
knew he had to make
adjustments in his diet to
help shed some weight.
“I got on a set meal
plan and I just stuck with
it and was continuously
working out,” he said.
He hopes the loss of
weight helps him with
his lateral movement
along the line, get a better
burst off of the snap and
have a greater ability to
rush the passer. He has
also worked hard in the
weight room to increase
his strength.
“My goal is to dominate
my gap,” he said. “I want
the other team to put me
in the scouting report
and say ‘We don’t want
to run toward this guy
right here.’ That’s why I
feel like losing weight, I
become more dominant
and more efficient in
my gap.”
Douglas is a nose
tackle who often lines
up over the center. The
Yellowjackets vary
their base defense using
four, five or even three
linemen up front, with
four being the most
common.
Last season Douglas
was constantly double-
teamed and he expects
more of the same during
the 2022 season.
“I would say it’s a
sign of respect for me
because I feel like you
believe one guy can’t get
the job done,” he said.
“So with me taking up
two people, it should free
up somebody else on the
defensive line to make
that play.”
Having to fend off
multiple blockers,
Douglas has to do a lot
of the dirty work along
the line of scrimmage.
His stats may not show in
terms of big numbers of
tackles, but his coaches
and teammates realize
his value and often point
out his effectiveness.
“He’s a guy who makes
a real big impact on the
defensive side of the
ball,” first-year RCTC
coach Terrance Isaac Sr.
said. “He commands a
double-team every time
and plays extremely hard
every snap.”
Heading into the
season, Douglas likes the
look of the RCTC defense
and says the unit should
have better depth than a
year ago. Last season the
defense was up and down
as RCTC allowed between
29 and 34 points in four
of its eight games.
FAITH, COMMUNITY,
FOOTBALL
Georgia is a long way
to come to play junior
college football, but
Douglas didn’t get a lot
of contact with college
coaches during the 2020
COVID year, and he was
unsure if he would get
a chance to play. But
after a season off, he
was recruited to come to
RCTC by former coach
Derrick Hintz.
“It’s never been the
distance, it’s just me
being comfortable with
the coaching staff and
believing in them,”
he said.
Douglas, 20, is
adjusting well to the new
coaching staff and their
message that life is more
than football.
“We know football’s
not forever so they focus
on our life outside of
football so we won’t be
lost when football is
done,” Douglas said.
“And I really do take a
liking to that.”
Outside of football,
Douglas wants to improve
his culinary skills so he
can one day cook elite
soul food. He is also very
faith-based and does a lot
of volunteer work in the
community. He donates
his time to Project
Legacy, which serves
and supports youth and
young adults who may
be dealing with poverty,
addiction, homelessness
or abuse.
“I really like giving
back to the community,”
Douglas said. “I was
raised in the church so
it’s not about affecting
just me and the people
close to me, but the
people around me to
make the community
better.”
Since he has had to
adjust to being a long
way from home, Douglas
can relate to some of his
peers he is trying to help.
“He’s a great person
and an even better person
than he is a player,” Isaac
Sr. said.
Now that he has
gotten a taste for college
football, Douglas wants to
play at a four-year school.
He is hoping to earn a
scholarship, and land at a
college that can help him
with his ultimate goal.
“I am looking at a
place to go that can
develop me because my
dream is to go to the NFL
and have a successful
career,” he said.

2021 District standings

BIG SOUTHEAST
Dist. All
Red Division W-L W-L
Mankato West 7-0 13-0
Mayo 6-1 9-2
New Prague 5-2 7-3
Owatonna 4-3 6-4
Northfield 3-4 4-6
Century 2-5 4-6
John Marshall 1-6 1-8
Austin 0-7 1-8
Blue Division W-L W-L
Stewartville 7-0 8-1
Mankato East 6-1 6-3
Kasson-Mant. 5-2 9-4
Faribault 4-3 7-4
Winona 3-4 4-6
Byron 2-5 4-7
Red Wing 1-6 1-8
Albert Lea 0-7 0-9
SOUTHEAST
Dist. All
Red Division W-L W-L
Cannon Falls 6-0 8-2
Lake City 5-1 8-2
P-E-M 4-2 11-3
Lourdes 3-3 4-6
Pine Island 2-4 2-7
Zumbrota-Maz. 1-5 1-8
La Crescent-Hokah 0-6 0-9
White Division W-L W-L
Chatfield 6-0 13-1
Goodhue 4-2 7-4
Caledonia 3-3 4-5
St. Charles 3-3 4-5
Triton 3-3 6-4
Lewiston-Altura 3-3 4-6
Dover-Eyota 1-5 2-7
MID SOUTHEAST
Dist. All
Blue Division W-L W-L
Rush.-Pete. 7-0 12-1
Fillmore Cent. 6-1 9-2
Faribault BA 5-2 7-3
Randolph 4-3 6-4
Kenyon-Wan. 3-4 3-6
Cotter 1-6 2-7
Wabasha-Kellogg 0-7 0-9
White Division W-L W-L
Blooming Pr 5-0 10-1
St. Clair/Loyola 4-1 7-3
Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop 3-2 8-3
New Richland-H-E-G 2-3 4-5
W-E-M 1-4 3-6
Medford 0-5 0-9
DISTRICT 9-SOUTH
Dist. All
East Division W-L W-L
Lanesboro 6-0 10-1
LeRoy-Ost. 5-1 12-2
Spring Grove 3-3 3-5
Southland 3-3 4-6
Houston 2-4 3-6
Kingsland 2-4 2-7
Mabel-Cant. 2-4 3-5
Lyle/Pacelli 0-4 0-7

Lanesboro Burros
2022 Schedule
Sept. 2 at Grand Meadow 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 Southland 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 at LeRoy-Ostrander 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 Houston 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 Kingsland 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 at Nicollet 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 Mabel-Canton 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 at Spring Grove 7 p.m.

Front row: Mason Gilbertson, Levi Rogers, Cole Sass, Holdyn Willford, Jarek Schultz, David Harvey, Reid Olson, Boone Moen. Second Row:
Rowen Lieb, Luke Ruen, Ruben Swartzentruber, Will Harvey, Caden Johnson, Michael Rein, Mason Howard, Lucas Nikoloski, Kaden Settler,
Ethan Soppa. Back row: Parker Storhoff, Stephan Schultz, Peyton Olson, Hayden Lawstuen, Logan Torgerson, Cooper Ferrie, Brock Taylor,
Carter Hovland, Orion Sass.

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12 | SPORTS | Saturday, September 3, 2022
LeRoy-Ostrander Cardinals
First Row: Mason Janssen, Talan Lewison, Brayden Schaefer, Brody Larson, James Horsman, Tanner Gronvold and Jayden Smith.
Second Row: Logan Diemer, Spencer Goodale, Reid Hungerholt, Gabriel Nagel, Camden Hungerholt, Carter Sweeney, Ryder Stern,
Matthew Junge, Caron Roe and Tyler Farlinger. Third Row: Malyk Schaefer, Landon O’Byrne, Aaron Hungerholt, Ryan Evans, Trevor
Carrier, Kyle Stern, Nick Sweeney, Malachi Parker and Mason Diemer. Back Row: Peyton Roe, Tristan Lewison, Christopher Knode,
Dane Schumann, Layne Bird, Mason Jasper, Xander Farlinger and Kaden Hansen.
BEST OF LUCK IN 2022!
WE proudly SUPPORT Leroy-ostrander Cardinals!
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• Leroy Lumber
Vikings’ offense could discover a new gear
BY GUY N. LIMBECK
Post Bulletin
EAGAN — The 2022
NFL season could be
a coming out party for
the Minnesota Vikings’
offense.
Cousins
The Vikings have a
slew of elite playmakers,
a quarterback who can
get them the ball and
what appears to be an
emerging offensive line.
The Vikings also have
a head coach who could
help the offense reach its Thielen
full potential.
Defensive-minded coach Mike
Zimmer was fired after the Vikings
went 8-9 last season and Kevin
O’Connell, a former quarterback, was
hired as head coach. O’Connell was
part of the coaching staff of the Los
Angeles Rams, who not only won the
Super Bowl last season, but did so with
a more aggressive offensive approach
than the Vikings.
Vikings offensive players during
training camp described the team’s
new offense as “exciting,” “fun,” and
“special.” Those are phrases that might
not have been used often to describe
Zimmer’s offensive philosophy.
“When you have the offensive
weapons that we have, it’s exciting and
it gives us confidence,” Vikings wide
Vikings defense getting a much-needed shakeup
BY GUY N. LIMBECK
Post Bulletin
EAGAN — The
Minnesota Vikings
defense will have a new
look this season and a
new coach in charge.
Hunter
How well the defense
plays will have a huge
bearing on the success of
the Vikings in 2022.
Head coach Mike
Zimmer, known as a
defensive coach, was
fired following the
2021 season. Zimmer
Smith
controlled the defense,
which was historically
bad and in need of a reboot the past two
seasons.
In the final two minutes of the first
half or a game, the Vikings allowed 128
points in 2021 as leads often crumbled
and wins became losses. The Vikings
had allowed 107 points in the final two
minutes of a half in 2020. Those were
the two highest totals by any team since
the 2000 season.
First-time head coach Kevin
O’Connell, who replaced Zimmer,
brought in veteran coach Ed Donatell
as the defensive coordinator.
“We’ve had so much fun getting to
know players on our defense, coaches
on our defense,” Donatell said. “It’s
been a blast. I know personally I can
coach better if I know them.”
The Vikings are expected to have five
| Post Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.
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receiver Adam Thielen said.
With a new offensive system in place,
training camp has been a big learning
curve, even for the veterans.
“I feel like we have skill sets that
really help our offense,” O’Connell said.
“As of right now, I’m challenging all of
those guys. The more roles that you can
fill, make it easier for me to call any
plays in our playbook.”
Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins
worked with O’Connell when he was
the quarterback in Washington. But
Cousins says learning this system is
probably his biggest challenge since he
came from Washington to Minnesota.
“The bottom line is you have to do
it the way the coach wants it done,”
Cousins said. “You want everybody on
the same page as much as possible and
the quarterback and head coach come
under that umbrella.”
PLENTY OF PLAYMAKERS
Cousins, who passed for 4,221
yards with 33 touchdowns and seven
interceptions in 2021, has three elite
skill-position players to distribute the
ball to in running back Dalvin Cook
and wide receivers Justin Jefferson
and Thielen.
“(I) feel a great level of comfort with
all three,” Cousins said.
Cook, who rushed for 1,159 yards and
six TDs last season, could also see his
pass-receiving numbers go up. He had
34 catches a year ago, his lowest total
since his rookie year in 2017. He isn’t
or six new starters on the defense. But
a huge change for many of the players
will be the base defense. Donatell uses a
3-4 alignment (three down lineman and
four upright players, two edge rushers
and two inside linebackers). Zimmer
always ran a base 4-3 defense.
“It’s always evolving,” Donatell said
of the 3-4 defense. “ … This group
won’t look the same as any other group
we’ve coached because every group’s
different.”
EDGE RUSHERS HAVE LEARNING CURVE
He likes the 3-4 base because more
lineman are standing upright — rather
than being down in a stance on the
snap — and that gives them a better
chance to see the field and how the
offensive players may be lining up or
moving prior to the snap.
“There’s so many things happening
to the edge of your defense that those
guys have to have information,”
Donatell said. “And when their hand’s
in the dirt and they’re down low, they
don’t see those things.”
Donatell said the toughest adjustment
position-wise in going from the 4-3 to
the 3-4 is the outside edge players on
the line.
“There’s so much information
that goes into it,” he said of the edge
position. “So much toughness, so much
ruggedness, so much transition to rush,
when to, when not to.”
Donatell said that edge players, who
are also tasked with dropping back in
coverage, will remain upfield rushers
two-thirds of the time. He noted
 postbulletin.com
concerned that his number of rushing
attempts could go down.
“I’ll get my touches,” he said.
Exploiting matchups will be a
big part of the offense being able to
consistently move the ball.
“I think it’s exciting that we have the
players to play in all personnel groups,”
Thielen said. “I think that’s exciting
for the coaching staff and us as players
that we can go throw a lot of different
stuff at a defense and we don’t just have
to be stuck in three-receiver sets.”
Thielen, who missed four games last
season, caught 67 passes for 726 yards
and 10 TDs in 2021. With him missing
some time, K.J. Osborn stepped up in
his second year and had 50 catches for
655 yards and seven TDs.
“We have a lot of confidence, not
only in what Justin and I can do,
but also our whole receiver group,”
Thielen said.
2,000 FOR JEFFERSON?
Jefferson, already a star after two
seasons, caught 103 passes for 1,616
yards and 10 TDs a year ago. His goal is
to have a 2,000-yard season and become
the top wide receiver in the NFL.
“That’s exciting,” Thielen said.
“That’s what you want, a guy who
believes in himself, that’s confident.
We’re confident in him. We know what
he’s capable of and if he keeps putting
the work in, he definitely has an
opportunity to do that.”
Second-year player Ihmir Smith-
defensive backs really don’t have much
re-learning to do in the 3-4 system.
“If you can rush the passer, you can
play for me,” he said.
The Vikings have a pair of veterans
in Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius
Smith who fit that bill. Health of the
pair could be an issue. Hunter has
played just seven games the last two
seasons due to injuries and Smith
played in only one game a year ago.
Smith, who signed with the Vikings
as a free agent in the offseason, has
past experience in a 3-4 base defense.
He totalled 26 sacks during the 2019 and
‘20 seasons for Green Bay.
“I’ve had the opportunity to be in a
4-3, a 3-4,” Smith said. “This defense is
very similar to where I’m coming from,
but taught very differently.”
Hunter said he and Smith have been
giving each other tips and are also
passing information on to the team’s
younger edge players like Patrick Jones
II and DJ Wonnum.
“I’m helping him out, he’s helping
me out and I think us coming together,
we’ll be able to do a lot of damage on
the field,” Hunter said.
Donatell notes that a pass rush from
the interior and the ability to stop the
run are also going to be big factors.
The Vikings have a new interior
nose tackle in Harrison Phillips.
The other down linemen, Dalvin
Tomlinson and Armon Watts, both
return. Eric Kendricks will man one
of the two inside linebacker spots. He
led the Vikings with 143 tackles last
2022 Schedule
Sept. 2 at Southland 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 Mabel-Canton 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 Lanesboro 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 at Mountain Lake 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 Grand Meadow 7 p.m.
Oct. 8 at Spring Grove 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 at Houston 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 Lyle/Pacelli 7 p.m.
Marsette could be the wide receiver
to emerge this season. Tight end Irv
Smith Jr. also returns after missing
all of the 2021 season with an injury,
although he had surgery on his thumb
early in traning camp. The Vikings
also have good depth at running back
behind Cook with Alexander Mattison,
second-year back Kene Nwangwu and
rookie Ty Chandler.
The Vikings will try to improve their
scoring average from 25.0 points a
game last season, which was 14th out
of 32 teams. Getting better offensive
line play will be a big factor in the
offense’s ability to improve and put
points on the board.
Chrisitan Darrisaw, the Vikings
top pick in 2021, could make the line
stronger if he is able to make a leap at
the left tackle spot this season. And that
seems likely.
Rookie Ed Ingram appears on the
verge of winning the starting job
at right guard, which also figures
to improve the line. If Ingram is in
the starting lineup, the line should
feature a starting five from one pick
in the top two rounds in each of the
past five drafts.
Ingram was a second-round pick in
2022, Darrisaw was a first-round pick in
2021, Ezra Cleveland was a No. 2 pick in
2019, Garrett Bradbury was a No. 1 pick
in 2018 and Brian O’Neill was a No. 2
pick in 2017.
season and also had five sacks and two
interceptions. Anthony Barr was not
brought back, but Jordan Hicks was
signed as a high-end free agent. He had
116 tackles and four sacks with Arizona
a year ago. Like Kendricks, he is an
eight-year veteran.
“We’re still working, we’re still
jelling,” Hicks said. “Every day is a
new learning curve that we’re trying to
battle through.”
A BOOST IN THE SECONDARY
The Vikings also hope to see some
major improvement in the secondary.
The unit was exploited late in games
on a number of occasions a year ago.
Donatell hopes a more aggressive
approach may help.
The team’s top two draft picks were
used to select safety Lewis Cine and
cornerback Andrew Booth Jr.
Veterans Harrison Smith at safety
and Patrick Peterson at cornerback
anchor the secondary. Third-year
cornerback Cameron Dantzler and
second-year safety Camryn Bynum are
battling for playing time and bigger
roles.
The Vikings had 24 takeaways a year
ago, which was 13th in the league.
The defense also has to find a way to
make big plays in the closing minutes
of each half to prevent letting leads slip
away like a year ago.
“We’ve got the roster to do it, but we
have to go out and execute the game
plan and execute our assignments on
Sundays,” Peterson said.
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From page 10
• ZUMBROTA-MAZEPPA: at Pine
Island, Friday, Sept. 30. The natural
rivals, separated by less than 10 miles,
meet in Week 5 this season. Z-M has just
one win against the Panthers in five
seasons and has dropped two consecutive
meetings against P.I., including a 34-6
decision a year ago.
MID SOUTHEAST — BLUE
• FARIBAULT BETHLEHEM
ACADEMY: vs. Fillmore Central,
Saturday, Sept. 24. The Cardinals had
an excellent season in 2021, going 7-3.
They held their opponents to 21 or fewer
points in all three of their losses, but
in two of those, they couldn’t solve the
Fillmore Central defense. That included a
21-16 Fillmore Central win in the Section
1A semifinals. FBA gets another crack
at the Falcons in Week 4 this season, a 1
p.m. Saturday game.
• FILLMORE CENTRAL: at
Rushford-Peterson, Friday, Sept.
9. Rushford-Peterson stood between
Fillmore Central and a couple of big
accomplishments last season. R-P was
the only team to beat the Falcons (who
finished with a 9-2 overall record), and
R-P ended Fillmore Central’s season with
a tightly played 7-0 win in the Section
1A championship game. Their regular
season matchup in 2022 comes quickly,
as Fillmore Central visits R-P for the
Trojans’ home opener in Week 2.
• HAYFIELD: vs. Faribault
Bethlehem Academy, Friday, Sept.
9. The Vikings have a gauntlet to run
at the beginning of the season, playing
at Blooming Prairie, home against
Bethlehem Academy and at Fillmore
Central. Those three teams combined
for 26 wins last season. Hayfield’s home
opener against FBA is a good place to
start building some confidence.
• KENYON-WANAMINGO: at
Randolph, Thursday, Oct. 13. K-W
went 3-6 a year ago, winning one of its
last five games, but the Knights played an
inspired game in the first round of the
Section 1A playoffs, pushing Randolph
to the final buzzer in a 36-32 loss. Just 11
days prior, K-W had lost to the Rockets by
three touchdowns. The Knights will have
to wait until Week 7 to attempt to avenge
their season-ending loss of a year ago.
• RANDOLPH: at Rushford-
Peterson, Friday, Oct. 7. The Rockets
have averaged exactly 6 wins per season
over the past four years, including the
pandemic-shortened 2020 season. In 2021,
Randolph finished 6-4, but was oh-so-
close to winning eight games, losing
twice by one score. One of those was a
season-ending 21-14 loss to R-P in the
Section 1A semifinals, which came just
three weeks after a 39-point loss to the
Trojans in the regular season. These
section and district rivals will again meet
late in the regular season, as Randolph
makes the long trip to R-P in Week 6.
• RUSHFORD-PETERSON: at
Medford, Friday, Sept. 2. R-P was
unbeaten until the state semifinals a year
ago, finishing the 2021 season with a 12-1
record. The Trojans lost some talented
seniors from that team, but that season is
over and R-P is ready to see what the 2022
version of its team will look like. It will
begin to find out in the season opener
at Medford, a team they beat 24-6 last
season.
• WABASHA-KELLOGG: vs. Winona
Cotter, Friday, Sept. 16. W-K is looking
for its first victory since Week 7 of the
Post Bulletin, Rochester, Minn. | Saturday, September 3, 2022 | SPORTS | 13
2022 Schedule
Sept. 2 Plainview-Elgin-Millville 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 at Caledonia 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 Goodhue 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 at Chatfield 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 Dover-Eyota 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 at Triton 7 p.m.
Oct. 13 at Lake City 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 St. Charles 7 p.m.
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2019 season. That win came at home
against Winona Cotter, 40-6. This fall,
Cotter visits W-K once again, in Week 3.
The Falcons hope to have their winless
streak snapped by that point, but a
matchup at home with Cotter — which
beat W-K 33-12 last year — is one they’ll
be up for.
• WINONA COTTER: vs. Kenyon-
Wanamingo, Friday, Sept. 9. The
Ramblers were 2-7 a year ago, and all
seven of their losses were by double
digits. The closest of those seven? A 24-14
setback at Kenyon-Wanamingo in Week
2. After making a two-hour trip (one way)
to Alden-Conger for the season opener,
the Ramblers will be fired up to return
home and face K-W in the home opener
at Winona State University.
MID SOUTHEAST — WHITE
• BLOOMING PRAIRIE: vs.
Hayfield, Friday, Sept. 2. The Blossoms
had their streak of three consecutive
section championships and a 28-game
winning streak snapped with a loss
against Maple River in the Section 2AA • LeROY-OSTRANDER: at Grove came in 2009. Even in 2016, when
championship game last fall. Maple Southland, Friday, Sept. 2. The M-C went 7-3, two of its losses came
River isn’t on Blooming’s regular Cardinals are the defending state against Spring Grove. Last fall, the Lions
season schedule, so the Blossoms will champions, but last season is long over. eked out a two-point win, 28-26, in Week
have to take out an offseason’s worth 3. Mabel-Canton gets another shot to
Chase Johnson, Gavin Sweeney and
of frustration — and begin building
Tanner Olson have graduated. The snap its streak in Week 3 this fall.
this season’s identity — against the
season opener at Southland is a chance • SOUTHLAND: at Mabel-Canton,
opponents who are. That starts Sept. 2 at
for L-O to show what its 2022 identity is Wednesday, Oct. 19. After a 3-2 start
home against Hayfield.
going to be. last season, Southland struggled down
9-SOUTH — EAST • LYLE/AUSTIN PACELLI: vs. the stretch, losing its final three regular
Houston, Friday, Sept. 30. The season games. That stretch was capped
• GRAND MEADOW: vs. Lanesboro,
Friday, Sept. 2. It’s the season opener for Hurricanes and L/P played one of the by a narrow 21-20 loss at home to Mabel-
more competitive — and low-scoring Canton, when the Cougars scored with
two teams that had their seasons ended
by Section 1 9-Man champion LeRoy- — games of the 9-Man season in 2021, 1:33 left to win the game. Southland
Houston pulling out a 12-6 win in double- will look to return the favor against the
Ostrander last fall. Lanesboro lost to
L-O in the section final; Grand Meadow overtime. Isaac Heyer scored on an Rebels in the regular season finale in
18-yard run in regulation and again on a mid-October.
ended its season 8-2 after losing to L-O
in the section semis. That was also the 10-yard run in the second OT. It was one • SPRING GROVE: at Southland,
of two wins on the season for Houston, Friday, Sept. 30. Spring Grove is not
last game for long-time Superlarks head
coach Gary Sloan, who retired after and it was the closest L/P came to accustomed to finishing a season below
earning a victory in 2021. .500. It’s also not accustomed to being
nearly three decades. That makes Grand
Meadow’s season opener this year — • MABEL-CANTON: at Spring bounced in the first round of the section
Grove, Friday, Sept. 16. There has been playoffs. Both happened a year ago,
against Lanesboro — the beginning of a
new era, the debut of 2007 G.M. grad Josh no shame in losing a football game to thanks in part to Southland. The Rebels
Bain as the team’s head coach. Spring Grove over the past decade-plus, beat Spring Grove 46-14 in the regular
• HOUSTON: vs. Kingsland, as the Lions have been one of the state’s season, then survived a 19-12 game in the
Saturday, Sept. 10. Houston has a best programs. Mabel-Canton was oh-so- Section 1 quarterfinals. The Lions will
daunting three-game stretch to open the close last year. It’s been a while for the have to set those memories aside until
season, going to Spring Grove before Cougars; their last win against Spring Week 5, when they play at Southland.
hosting Kingsland and Grand Meadow.
The matchup against Kingsland is
Houston’s home opener and though it
will be a challenge, a strong showing by
the Hurricanes against the Knights could
do wonders for the team’s confidence
early in the season.
• KINGSLAND: vs. Southland,
Friday, Sept. 16. Kingsland has high
hopes for this season and a quirky
schedule to open it. The Knights open
with a Zero Week game against Renville
Co. West on Aug. 26, then are off until
Saturday, Sept. 10, when they play at
Houston. It’s all Friday nights for the
Knights from there on out (until the
regular-season finale on Wednesday,
Oct. 19), starting with this game against
Southland, a game Kingsland will be
looking forward to. It’ll be in front of its
home crowd against a Rebels team that
beat it 36-14 last fall.
• LANESBORO: at LeRoy-Ostrander,
Friday, Sept. 16. An early season
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 14 | SPORTS | Saturday, September 3, 2022 | Post Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.
 postbulletin.com

SECTION 1AAAA PREVIEW

P
d

Alex VandenHoute / Post Bulletin file photo

Kasson-Mantorville players celebrate a touchdown during a Class AAAA state quarterfinal game last fall. The KoMets will be one of the favorites again in a section loaded with
talented teams.

Defending champion KoMets will have their hands full

BY GUY N. LIMBECK
Post Bulletin
Kasson-Mantorville had a huge
season a year ago as the KoMets
went all the way to the Class AAAA
state championship game before
falling to Hutchinson.
Section 1AAAA should be very
strong at the top this season with K-M,
Stewartville and Winona all in the mix
as top contenders and with plenty of
returning talent.
KASSON-MANTORVILLE
The KoMets are coming off a stellar
9-4 season and had a strong postseason
run that saw them make it all the way
to the Class AAAA state championship
game. Coach Joel Swanson, in his 25th
season, should have another strong
squad with 25 letterwinners back.
“We lost quite a few playmakers and
leaders from last year’s senior class,”
Swanson said. “We need to continue
work and not think things will come
easily because of our success over the
past few seasons.” K-M has plenty of
top players back. Senior Reese Tripp
(G/DT), a University of Minnesota
commit, was All-District last season
while seniors Broc Barwald (RB) and
Evan Snow (OLB/WB) were All-District
honorable mention. Other full- or part-
time starters back are seniors Ben
Nelson (G/DT), Aiden Smith (WR),
Michael Hoff (WB) and Antoine Elias
(DE), juniors Kyle Nelson (DB), Emmett
Ricke (DB), Dominic Mann (LB) and
Easton Suess (TE/DE), and sophomore
Caisen Thome (DB).
STEWARTVILLE
The Tigers had a perfect 8-0 mark
in the regular season, but that joy
turned to sorrow with a 22-21 overtime
loss to Byron in the Section 1AAAA
semifinals. Coach Garrett Mueller
has a strong returning base with 25
letterwinners back. That includes three
seniors who were All-District in Peyton
Byrne (OT/DT), Owen Sikkink (RB/SS)
and Colton Parker (TE/LB). Two other
seniors, John Becker (C/DT) and Drew
Anderson (OG/DT), were honorable
mention All-District. Senior Isaac
Larson (WR/FS) was a starter at safety
last season while juniors Carter Miller
(RB/CB), a starter at cornerback, and
Henry Tschetter (WR/SS), a starter
at wide receiver, also return. “Depth,
team speed and athleticism are high,”
Mueller said when asked about the
Tigers’ strengths. “Our offensive,
defensive lines will be really tough.”
The Tigers will need to develop
players at quarterback and wide
receiver and will also look to rebound
from last year’s postseason letdown.
WINONA
The Winhawks were a modest 4-6 a
year ago when they reached the section
semifinals, but they may be one of
the teams to beat this season. Veteran
coach John Cassellius, entering his 18th
season, has nine starters returning on
defense and eight back on offense. “We
had many kids play in games during
the 2021 season,” Cassellius said. “We
had young players play in some very
large games due to injuries. The weight
room summer program had good
attendance and it was great to be able
to have a regular summer.” Three All-
District players return in seniors Bryan
Cassellius (OLB/TE/K), Wesley Wollan
(DL/OL) and Dominic Davis (DB/RB).
Seniors Mason Langowski (DB/WR)
and Peyton Hoff (LB/FB) were both
honorable mention All-District. Seniors
Ashten Vaughn and Mason Krage
started on both sides of the line a year
ago. Juniors Owen Graner (OLB) and
Kort Bellman (LB/WR) both made five
starts as sophomores.
BYRON
The Bears are coming off a 4-7 season
but will try to build on last year’s
playoff success. Byron defeated Red
Wing and top-seeded Stewartville in
overtime before falling to eventual state
runner-up Kasson-Mantorville in the
Section 1AAAA title game. Byron has
good returning experience with seven
main players back on both offense
and defense. Top players back are
seniors Nick Netzke (TE/DL), Carter
Geerts (OL/DL) and Reid Beilen (WR/
LB). Netzke, who has committed to
Minnesota State University, Moorhead,
is 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds but overall
the Bears do not feature a lot of size.
Netzke will shift offensive positions
from quarterback to tight end, but
he will get some snaps at QB. Senior
Isaac Dearborn (WR/DB) returns after
missing last season with knee injury.
“We have quite a few returning
starters and our kids and coaches
are really excited for the upcoming
season,” coach Ben Halder said. “The
section is loaded again with Kasson,
Stewartville and Winona. Red Wing
and Albert Lea are teams that continue
to get better every year, and our out-
of-section games with Mankato East,
Faribault and Mayo will be a challenge
as well.”
RED WING
Brent Stinson is the latest coach
with the task of trying to get the
Wingers on the winning track. He
takes over as the Wingers head coach
after two years as an assistant in the
program. Prior to that, he was the
head coach at Kingsland for four years.
Red Wing is coming off a 1-8 season
and has gone just 2-50 over the past
six years. Stinson said the Wingers
had a strong summer of training and
workouts. He hopes an experienced
senior class and strong leadership
hope to build a winning culture. Six
starters return in seniors Mitchell
Seeley (WR/FS), Tyler Rodgers (WR/
CB), Duane Taylor (OL), Chase Pral
(OL), Rhowan Smith (OL) and Kaleb
Hove (RB). Upcoming players include
senior Abe Reinetz (QB), juniors Kole
Stevenson (OL/DL) and Konner Kelly
(TE/LB), and sophomore Marcus
Young (RB/OLB). Numbers for the
program remain down so the Wingers
will lack depth at some positions.
ALBERT LEA
The Tigers also once again have a
new head coach in an attempt to turn
their program around. Paul Dunn takes
over a program in search of its first
playoff win since 2012. In that 10-year
span the Tigers are just 9-87 and they
are coming off an 0-9 season. The team
has a good base of players with 21
returning letterwinners.
“We are excited to get started and
hope to be competitive throughout our
schedule,” Dunn said.
Senior Max Edwin (WR/SS) was
All-District a year ago while senior
QB Dakota Jahnke was an honorable
mention selection. Other key players
back are seniors Logan Strom (TE/LB),
Luke Moller (FB/LB), Tanner Conn
(WR/CB), Derek McMillan (RB), Isaac
Shea (OT/DT) and Brycin Kirsch (RB/
LB), and juniors Cam Mudra (CB) and
Connor May (WR/CB).

SECTION 1AAAA SCHEDULE

(All games at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
Sept. 1 — Red Wing at Winona. Sept. 2 — Faribault at Albert Lea, Kasson-Mantorville at Byron, Stewartville at Mankato East. Sept. 8 —
Winona at Kasson-Mantorville. Sept. 9 — Albert Lea at Stewartville, Byron at Faribault. Sept. 10 — Mankato East at Red Wing (2 p.m.). Sept.
16 — Kasson-Mantorville at Mankato East, Red Wing at Albert Lea, Winona at Byron. Sept. 17 — Stewartville at Faribault. Sept. 23 — Albert
Lea at Kasson-Mantorville, Faribault at Red Wing, Mankato East at Winona, Stewartville at Byron. Sept. 30 — Byron at Mankato East, Kasson-
Mantorville at Faribault, Red Wing at Stewartville. Oct. 1 — Winona at Albert Lea (1 p.m.). Oct. 7 — Albert Lea at Mankato East, Faribaut
at Winona, Stewartville at Kasson-Mantorville. Oct. 8 — Red Wing at Byron (noon). Oct. 14 — Byron at Albert Lea, Kasson-Mantorville at
Red Wing, Winona at Stewartville. Oct. 19 — Albert Lea at Austin, Century at Winona, Mayo at Byron, New Prague at Red Wing, Owatonna at
Kasson-Mantorville, Stewartville at John Marshall.
 postbulletin.com Post Bulletin, Rochester, Minn. | Saturday, September 3, 2022 | SPORTS | 15

SECTION 1AAA PREVIEW

Traci Westcott / Post Bulletin file photo

Plainview-Elgin-Millville’s Kaiden Peters (23) carries the ball during a football game against Lourdes last season at Rochester Regional Stadium. Peters and the Bulldogs look to
defend their championship in the always tough Section 1AAA this fall.

‘There are no nights off in Section 1’

BY JASON FELDMAN
Post Bulletin
Plainview-Elgin-Millville flew under
the radar for much of the 2021 high
school football season.
That won’t happen in 2022.
It’s not that the Bulldogs weren’t
respected last fall. They just happen
to play in a section that includes
Cannon Falls (which has played in five
consecutive section title games) and Lake
City (which was ranked in the top 10 in
the state for much of last season). P-E-
M’s defense proved to be too much for
both of those teams in the postseason,
as the Bulldogs won the Section 1AAA
championship and advanced all the
way to the Prep Bowl before suffering a
narrow 28-21 loss to Dassel-Cokato.
Among the top players back for P-E-M
this fall are seniors Kaiden Peters (6-4,
175-pound WR/DB, 5 int., 75 tackles, 20
passes defended, 2 punt return TDs);
Kyler Lamb (5-9, 165 WR/QB/DB, 47
tackles, 4 int.); Hunter Tentis (5-8, 170
RB/LB, 201 rush, 858 yards, 9 TDs);
Owen Rademacher (6-3, 180 OL/DL,
8-game starter before injury cut his
season short); and Colton McNallan
(6-0, 170 OL/DL, two-way player, a team
“sparkplug,” Lamb said); and junior
Kadin Pries (6-0, 195 OL/LB, 131 tackles,
7 TFL, 3 sacks).
Senior WR/DB Nick Wozney started
two games last fall before surgery on
an injured wrist cut his season short.
Seniors Brady Herber (TE/LB), Sam
Ring (TE/LB) and Tucker Johnson (OL/
DL) are also expected to contribute.
CANNON FALLS
The Bombers were less than a
minute away from a fourth consecutive
section championship, while making
their sixth consecutive appearance in
a section final. P-E-M scored with 31
seconds to go in the 2021 Section 1AAA
final to edge the Bombers 21-18.
The Bombers expect to again contend
for a trip to state in a section loaded
with talent. They’ll be led by a core
group of seniors that includes C/DT
Isaac Fehling (5-10, 200); OT/DT Will
Regenscheid (6-1, 250); QB/LB Colton
Otto (6-1, 200, 6 pass TDs, 5 rush TDs);
RB/LB Kalahan Anderson (6-1, 175, 66
tackles, 5 rush TDs); RB/DB Jon Banks
(5-10, 170, 53 tackles, 4 rush TDs); RB/
LB Colton Black (5-10, 175, 59 tackles, 3
rush TDs).
Among the newcomers the coaches
expect to step in are, from a strong
junior class, Sam Shepersky (LB/RB),
Dylan Banks (RB/DB), Talan Duden
(TE/LB) and Aaron Melhouse (TE/DL).
“As we see year after year, Section 1 is
some of the highest level of high school
football in Minnesota,” coach Dan
Meyers said. “I expect the section to be
tough again this year, and we hope to be
right in the mix.”
LAKE CITY
The Tigers were the talk of
southeastern Minnesota and much of
the state throughout the regular season
as a high-powered offense drove them
to seven consecutive wins to open the
season and a top-5 ranking in the state.
A section semifinal loss to P-E-M ended
the Tigers’ season, but their 8-2 mark
left plenty of positivity to build upon
for this season.
Lake City will be young and
inexperienced, with just two starters
back, both seniors: OL/LB Philip
Harteneck (5-10, 205, HM All-District)
and OL/LB Cam Alvarez (6-0, 210).
Among the newcomers expected
to step into key roles are seniors Lee
Siewert (6-0, 200, TE/LB, sat out last
season with a shoulder injury) and
Ethan Robertson (6-0, 200, OL/DL); and
juniors Keegan Ryan (6-5, 190, WR/DB);
Karch Hegge (5-10, 165, RB/DB); and
Jaden Shones (6-0, 165, QB/DB).
“I think with a young team, a good
start is very important,” coach Trevor
Narum said. “If we can build some
confidence in our young guys early, that
will serve us well the rest of the season.”
LOURDES
The Eagles finished 4-6 a year ago,
playing in a tough district and section.
Senior free safety Aidan Jahns —
also one of the top kickers in the state
— is back to lead the way on defense
and special teams. Senior Eli Haight,
a linebacker and fullback, rarely left
the field on both sides of the ball, and
junior Will Roth is expected to lead
the line on both sides after starting
last season.
A talented group of varsity
newcomers will take on big roles, too.
Athletic junior Adam Sellner will take
over as the team’s signal-caller, while
his classmate Thatcher Boochman
will step in at tight end and defensive
end. Boochman is a prospect to watch
this season, with a load of untapped
potential to bring to the varsity.
Trevor Heindel is back in the offensive
backfield after suffering a knee injury
a year ago, and talented freshman
Caleb Akinbolu will see time at RB, too.
Senior Hudson Fix, a standout WR and
CB who is one of the fastest players on
the field, will be a leader on both sides
of the ball, as well.
PINE ISLAND
The Panthers and first-year head
coach Mitchel Schiltz will lean on
the strength — literally — of three
returning offensive linemen, after
graduating a big senior class last
season. Brothers Jaxson Klusmann and
Nate Klusmann will anchor that group,
along with fellow senior Brody Allen.
Senior Sam Knox will be a leader
on both sides of the ball, too, after
spending time at receiver, tailback and
cornerback last season. He’ll help ease
the load on new QB, junior Garrett
Sperber.
Aiden McDaniel and Blake Schiltz
are also back after seeing time on both
sides of the ball last fall. McDaniel was
a key linebacker and fullback in 2021,
and will be important to the team up
the middle again. Schiltz started at
tight end and outside linebacker as just
a freshman last year, and will be looked
at to take a step forward this season.
Among the team’s top newcomers
is Sperber, whom coach Schiltz said
has “worked hard to put himself in
position to be the starting quarterback
this season.”
Austin Sisell, Ethan Lieferman, Will
Johnson, Bentley Lujero, Ty Gibson,
Brayden Sao, Gavin Twaddle, Abe
Ferber, and Drew Sailer, among others,
are players who will contribute as pass-
catchers and ballcarriers this fall.
The first half of Pine Island’s
schedule is treacherous, with
home games against Caledonia and
defending section champion P-E-M
sandwiched around games at Lake City
and Lourdes.
“Every week on our schedule has a
quality opponent,” Schiltz said, “but
we can only focus on Week 1 with
Caledonia right now.”
ZUMBROTA-MAZEPPA
The Cougars grew as a team while
facing what was likely one of the
more difficult schedules in the state in
Class AAA. The bright side is showing
up now, as a big senior class is back
after gaining a load of quality varsity
experience last season.
That group is led by WR/S/P Conner
Preston, who was the team’s offensive
MVP last season and was named All-
District. Zane Angerman started every
game at QB and is back to guide the
offense this season. Likewise for TE/
LB Egan Ladewig, Z-M’s defensive MVP
and leading tackler in 2021. RB/LB
Brody Befort returns, too, after rushing
for 240 yards. Senior OT/DE Cody
Anderson and junior C/DT Jack Boraas
started every game last season.
Seniors Gage Tedrick (TE/LB/K,
special teams MVP) and WR/FS Sam
Knowlton are back in their positions,
as is junior G/DE Oliver Liffrig, who
also started every game in 2021 as just
a sophomore.
Among the newcomers who coach
Darin Raasch expects to step in are
6-3 WR/CB Kayden Rodrick, a highly
skilled basketball player who has
joined the football team this fall; and
WR/CB Landen Flaaen, who played
well in multiple starts on defense last
season. He’ll provide the Z-M offense
with an excellent route-runner with
good hands.
In all, the Cougars have eight starters
back on both sides of the ball.
LA CRESCENT-HOKAH
The first order of business for the
Lancers under first-year head coach
Terry Donovan has been a change
of mindset. La Crescent is seeking
its first varsity win since 2017 (the
Lancers didn’t field a varsity team
in 2019 or 2020), and Donovan comes
from a winning tradition, having been
the long-time offensive coordinator at
Kasson-Mantorville.
Donovan — as he did at K-M — loves
his offensive line and hopes to build
around it. The Lancers are led up front
by Cole Becker, a 6-1, 270-pound two-way
lineman who could become one of the
better linemen in the district.
He’ll be joined in the trenches
on both sides of the ball by center/
defensive lineman Dusty Gratten
(5-11, 220), who has a high football IQ
and is always in the right place at the
right time.
Big and physical Lucas Hafner
(6-0, 220) will be a playmaker at tight
end and defensive end, while RB/LB
Logan DeBoer (5-10, 195) will see an
increased workload.
Other dynamic returning skill
players for the Lancers include
6-4, 190-pound Carter Todd, Mason
Einerwald (6-0, 150) and Noah Bjerke
Wieser (6-0, 160).
Among the newcomers who are
likely to play a big role for L-H this
fall: Jaden George, Carter Shay, AJ
Donovan (a former K-M standout and
excellent kicker), Mason Yehle, Alex
Klawitter, Logan Yehle, Noah Gierok,
Dontai Brocks, Nick Wieser (new to
full-time football) and young speedster
Josh Ruben.
A longer version of this article appears at
PostBulletin.com/Sports

SECTION 1AAA SCHEDULE

(All games at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
Sept. 1 — Dover-Eyota at Zumbrota-Mazeppa. Sept. 2 — Plainview-Elgin-Millville at Lewiston-Altura, Lourdes at Chatifeld, La Crescent-Hokah
at Triton, Caledonia at Pine Island, Goodhue at Cannon Falls, Lake City at St. Charles. Sept. 9 — Cannon Falls at Plainview-Elgin-Millville, Pine
Island at Lake City, St. Charles at Lourdes, Zumbrota-Mazeppa at La Crescent-Hokah. Sept. 16 — La Crescent-Hokah at Lake City, Triton at Plainview-
Elgin-Millville, Pine Island at Lourdes. Sept. 17 — Cannon Falls at Zumbrota-Mazeppa (noon). Sept. 23 — Lourdes at La Crescent-Hokah, Lake
City at Cannon Falls, Zumbrota-Mazeppa at Goodhue, Plainview-Elgin-Millville at Pine Island. Sept. 29 — Chatfield at La Crescent-Hokah. Sept. 30
— Zumbrota-Mazeppa at Pine Island, Plainview-Elgin-Millville at Lake City, Cannon Falls at Lourdes. Oct. 6 — Pine Island at Dover-Eyota. Oct. 7 —
Lake City at Zumbrota-Mazeppa, Lourdes at Plainview-Elgin-Millville, La Crescent-Hokah at Cannon Falls. Oct. 13 — Lewiston-Altura at Lake City.
Oct. 14 — Lourdes at Zumbrota-Mazeppa, Pine Island at Cannon Falls, Plainview-Elgin-Millville at La Crescent-Hokah. Oct. 19 — La Crescent-Hokah
at Pine Island, Zumbrota-Mazeppa at Plainview-Elgin-Millville, Lake City at Lourdes, Cannon Falls at Caledonia.
16 | SPORTS | Saturday, September 3, 2022 | Post Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.
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PIGSKIN
PREVIEW
2022

Joe Ahlquist / Post Bulletin

Goodhue’s Adam Poncelet (23) carries the ball during a football game against Pine Island during the 2021 season. Poncelet emerged as an elite receiver for the Wildcats during
his junior season when he averaged more than 15 yards per catch on 50 receptions and scored 14 touchdowns. He could put up even bigger numbers during the 2022 season.

Goodhue’s Poncelet has knack for moving the chains

BY GUY N. LIMBECK
Post Bulletin
GOODHUE — Adam Poncelet has
grown up around football his entire life.
His father has been his coach for years
and Adam always took it in stride.
Poncelet begins his fourth year on
the Goodhue varsity team this fall and
his third as a starting wide receiver/
cornerback. His father, Tony Poncelet,
begins his 11th season as Goodhue’s
head coach, and he gets to guide his son
for one more season.
“I think it has its benefits,” Adam
Poncelet said of his father being the
head coach. “He’s always there to talk
to and always there to look over the
game. I think it’s easier, nice to have
your dad as a coach.”
Poncelet emerged as a vital part
of the Goodhue offense during the
2021 season. He snared 50 passes for
762 yards (15.2 yards per catch) and
14 touchdowns. He was named to the
Post Bulletin All-Area second team on
offense. He had a knack for keeping the
Goodhue offense on the field by picking
up vital first downs.
“He did a nice job of moving the
chains with the short game and then
with his length and speed he was able
to stretch the field for us and make
some big plays down field,” Tony
Poncelet said.
The 6-foot-3 Adam Poncelet is also a
starting cornerback for the Wildcats.
He says a big strength as a receiver is
his ability to run a number of routes
well. He excels on short routes, but can
stretch the field as well.
“I just think his reads have gotten
quicker, his routes have gotten crisper,”
Tony Poncelet said. “He’s gotten bigger,
faster, stronger as he’s gotten older.”
Adam Poncelet did a lot of speed
and agility training and took part in a
number of skills camps this summer in
an effort to improve his overall game.
He also added about 7 pounds to his
frame and now weighs 185.
“He’s put the time in in the weight
room and working on his game, so
hopefully he can have a breakout
season again,” Tony Poncelet said.
Goodhue also returns starting
quarterback Will Opsahl, a left-hander,
and running back Malakye Parker.
That should give the Wildcats a potent
passing and ground attack and make
the offense tough to defend. Poncelet,
Opsahl and Parker are all team
captains along with lineman Kade
Altendorf.
“I just look forward to all of our
seniors having a good year,” Adam
Poncelet said. “Being a captain, that
makes me have to be more of a leader,
too. I have to rally the team more this
year, I think.”
“We’ll kind of lean on him a little
bit more this year as a senior captain,”
Tony Poncelet said.
Poncelet, Opsahl and Parker could
all put up big numbers in the Goodhue
offense, especially if the line can jell
after losing most of last year’s starters.
Poncelet and Opsahl, who also play
basketball together for the Wildcats,
have worked plenty on passing drills
together over the years.
“He’s been my quarterback my
entire football career, so we have good
chemistry,” Poncelet said.
Poncelet’s only individual goal is
to be a strong team leader and just to
play as well as he can. He helped the
Wildcats place second in Section 1AA a
year ago and he would like to take that
at least one step further this fall.
“I think a team goal for us is winning
the section,” he said.
The 17-year-old also plays baseball at
Goodhue. But football is his first love.
He wants to play at the college level
and has already received offers from
Division II schools Minnesota Duluth
and Winona State University as a wide
receiver.
But when he does play college
football, he won’t have his head coach
so close at hand. He’s going to miss his
dad.

Fillmore Central’s Corson a ‘do whatever it takes’ leader

BY ABBY SHARPE
Post Bulletin
HARMONY — Bryce Corson didn’t
set out to be a record setter.
He didn’t try to break the Fillmore
Central single-season rushing
touchdown record last fall.
In fact, he doesn’t think he was
the best running back the team
had in 2021 — in his mind, that was
Alec Sikkink.
It’s the perfect visual of Corson:
A selfless, team-first player who’s
always ready and willing to play
where the team needs him.
But if there’s ever a player who
would have a reason to be self-
centered, it’s Corson, the Falcons
running back who set the school
record with 17 rushing touchdowns
last season, after rushing for six
in the Falcons’ 2021 opener against
Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton.
Corson also recorded five receiving
touchdowns and more than 400
receiving yards.
The coaching staff at Fillmore
Central knew what Corson was
capable of, but no one had that Day
1 performance on their radar —
including Corson’s dad, Carlisle, who
didn’t have high expectations for that
first game.
His mom didn’t see it coming, either.
“I think just seeing the stats for
that first game, I was like, ‘What the
heck?’” Corson’s mom, Traci, said.
“This is our kid?”
Corson doesn’t feel pressure to
outperform his record-setting numbers
from last year. In some ways, he wasn’t
happy with last season.
“I know Bryce is not content with
the season he had last year,” said head
coach Chris Mensink, who’s heading
into his 16th season with the Falcons.
Fillmore Central’s Bryce Corson (12) set the
“He’s just going to push himself
program’s record for rushing touchdowns in a
and push his teammates to make
season last fall, when he scored 17 times on the
everybody better around him and
ground. Corson’s top priority, though, is helping the
make himself better.”
Falcons reach the state tournament for the first time.
Traci Westcott / Post Bulletin file photo
See CORSON, Page 18
 18 | SPORTS | Saturday, September 3, 2022 | Post Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.
 postbulletin.com

Robley, Borgeson a winning combination for St. Thomas

BY PAT RUFF
Post Bulletin

It was their
southeastern Minnesota
roots and the storied
high school football
programs that they came
from that first bound Borgeson
Noah Borgeson and
Brent Robley together.
Borgeson is a 2018
graduate of Rochester
Lourdes. Robley
graduated the same
year from Caledonia.
Together, they now
occupy two of the three Robley
starting spots along
the University of St. Thomas football
team’s defensive line.
The now fifth-year college seniors
came into their St. Thomas experience
talking about just how good their
high school football teams were. They
especially did that with each other.
Caledonia won Class AA state
championships in both of Robley’s
years as a starter, in 2016 and ’17, part
of a five-year run of state titles for
the Warriors. Borgeson was a starter
on Lourdes’ 2016 state title team. The
Eagles also won it all in 2014 and 2018.
“Robley and I still talk about that,
who’d win if our teams had played each
other,” Borgeson said. “I’ve got to go Daniel Borgeson / Contributed
with the purple (Lourdes’ color scheme Noah Borgeson (90) is in his fifth year playing football for the University of St. Thomas. Borgeson is a Rochester Lourdes graduate and
is purple and gold).” a two-year starter with the Tommies.
Robley, of course, has to go with the
gold and black, Caledonia’s identifiers.
weeks into training camp. strikingly gives that way. Both of these physical and mental parts of the
“I didn’t really know Lourdes’ teams
very well,” Robley said with a smile. “I’m just trying to soak it all in and defensive lineman weigh 260 pounds. game. He’s very smart. He knows
“But I’m pretty confident that our best enjoy every last bit of football,” said But while nose guard Borgeson packs what’s going on at all times.”
team would have beaten theirs.” Borgeson, whose older brother Kyle that on a 6-foot-2 frame, typical for a Robley shares similar respect for
What they are absolutely sure played football at St. John’s University lineman, Robley is an aberration. Borgeson the football player. C
about is that they’d have loved to have and whose younger brother, Jordan, plays He goes just 5-foot-9, lining up at a “He is very fast and physical,”
shared a football field then as much as there now. “I love the sport and I love my defensive end spot that typically has its Robley said. “And he never lets up,
they do now. teammates even more. Over the last five college players 6-3 or better, that extra always giving his best effort. He’s
These two, who live in a St. Paul years, I’ve just enjoyed this so much.” height handy when trying to knock really put in the work.”
residence with four other St. Thomas Robley is no different. He’s intent on down passes. But he speaks even more highly of
football players, are cut from the same making this final season a special one. Robley’s coaches would certainly Borgeson the person.
cloth: smart, tough, driven and devoted “Right now, the team and I are just prefer that he were taller, the “Noah is a really strong character
to their teammates and the game. focusing on improving every day,” said benefits to length at defensive person,” Robley said. “Plus, he’s very
Robley has plans to become a doctor, Robley, whose Tommies finished 6-2 in end obvious. But they start him smart and very genuine. He’s just
while Borgeson is eying a future in the Division I non-scholarship Pioneer for a reason. He’s really good — a great to be around. He’s always there
law. But if they could put those heady Football League last year, 7-3 overall. relentless fighter, with great speed for you, ready to listen and help. He’s
careers off and keep playing football “We want to be the best we can be, and strength. a rock of a person.”
for another 10 years, they likely would. individually and as a team.” “Robley is one of the most unique They’ve got one last year to enjoy
That makes this final season of As similar as Robley and Borgeson and impressive players we have,” each other, this game and this team
football one they’ll cherish like none are in their approach to football and Borgeson said. “He is so explosive. on a daily basis.
other. Borgeson is already feeling the life, they sure don’t look alike. One And he’s the strongest player on our These two southeastern Minnesota
urge to not let go, just a couple of scan of a St. Thomas’ football program team. Plus, he is so good at both the kids, they’ll be doing it side by side.

Corson of expectations to have a

From page 17
Pushing himself means
setting a new record.
“I want to get to 18
touchdowns,” he said.
“That could be tough,
though. But I mean, if I
don’t break it, it’s always
OK.”
Breaking the record
again would be a good
way to end his final
football season at
Fillmore Central. But
David Broadwater, an
assistant who works
with the running backs,
doesn’t feel like Corson
needs to exceed a bunch
good year. Having a good
season would mean doing
anything that gets the
team back to the Section
1A championship game,
where they fell last fall to
rival Rushford-Peterson.
“He’s just going to
(do) whatever he’s going
to (do) to get the job
done in the long run,”
Broadwater said. “He’s
not going to put some sort
of milestone on, ‘I need
this many touchdowns.
I need this many yards,’
whatever. I think, for
him, it’s all about being
great together and doing
whatever the team needs
(him) to do. He sets the
tone for everybody that
way.”
Corson has been a
leader since he first
joined the Falcons
program. Teammates
trust and respect him.
Corson’s style of leading
by example showed this
offseason, when he found
himself constantly in the
weight room.
“He didn’t miss a
workout all year. He’s
always there,” Mensink
said. “He’s always
working hard. He leads
by example, and those
kids rally around him.”
Regardless of his play
on the field, the way
Corson carries himself
shows his embodiment
of being a good football
player.
Ask anyone who Bryce
Corson is and these
answers are routinely
repeated: Leader.
Determined. Competitive.
Committed. Motivated.
Encouraging. Football
savvy. Great teammate.
There are numerous
leaders on the Fillmore
Central team, starting
with its five captains:
Corson, Gunner Benson,
Jake Fishbaugher,
Dillon O’Connor and
Will Parker. Corson is
undoubtedly one of them,
showing a great work
ethic and motivation to
improve.
“Bryce is Bryce. He’s
going to work hard,”
offensive coordinator
Andy Todd said. “He’s
going to encourage
his teammates. He’s a
real pleasure to coach.
He definitely leads by
example. We expect him
to just keep on doing his
thing.”
Mensink and the
coaching staff are trying
to keep their players
focused on their first
game against Janesville-
Waldorf-Pemberton. But
looming in Week 2 is the
team that ended Fillmore
Central’s hopes of a
state championship run
last season, Rushford-
Peterson. It’s hard
for Corson and his
teammates to not think
of the game that ended
their 9-1 year.
“We definitely didn’t
play the best we could,
and I didn’t either. I
think we could have won
that game,” Corson said.
“But we want to make it
back to it and we want to
have another chance of
making it there (to the
Section 1A championship
game).”
Mensink knows that
Corson has the talent and
ability to take Fillmore
Central as far as it wants
to go. The sky’s the limit
for the running back.
“He’s so versatile,”
Mensink said, “and can
hurt you in so many
ways.”

Mabel-Canton Cougars
2022 Schedule
Sept. 2 Lyle/Pacelli 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 at LeRoy-Ostrander 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 at Spring Grove 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 Kingsland 7 p.m.
Oct. 1 Madelia 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 at Houston 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 at Lanesboro 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 Southland 7 p.m.

Front Row: Tia Chounard, Savannah Phillips, Anna Bjertness and Henrietta Kiskova. Second Row: Heather Kleiboer, Tyten Wilder, Zarek
Robinson, Mason Yoder, Kale Tollefsrud, Graysen Wilder and Jessica Morken. Third Row: Darian Hershberger, Nathan Nordsving, Isaac
Underbakke, Milton Hutchinson, Cael Wangsness, Kenny Hutchinson and Michael Kime. Fourth Row: Theodore Torgerson, Jackson
Olson, Colton Tollefsrud, Triston Hunsaker, Hayden Erickson, Cayden Tollefsrud, Tyler Larson and Wyatt Rasmussen. Back Row: Dawson
Kleiboer, Robert Michels, Adam Wilder, Paul Tollefsrud, Logan Richardson, Jordan Larson and Kaiser Soiney.

BEST OF LUCK IN 2022!

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 postbulletin.com Post Bulletin, Rochester, Minn. | Saturday, September 3, 2022 | SPORTS | 19

SECTION 1AA/2AA PREVIEW

Traci Westcott / Post Bulletin file photo

Chatfield’s Sam Backer (21) reacts after scoring a touchdown during a Class AA football state quarterfinal game against Minneapolis North on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021.

Chatfield has eyes on a repeat as section, state champ

BY PAT RUFF
Post Bulletin
The goal for Chatfield is pretty simple
— go win another state championship.
The Gophers sure look like they
have the goods to go back-to-back after
beating West Central/Ashby 14-13 in
last year’s state title game. Chatfield
has eight starters back on offense and
eight on defense.
That includes likely the top player
in southeastern Minnesota, senior
running back/quarterback Sam Backer.
A fast, rugged and elusive runner,
Backer finished with 2,384 yards
rushing last fall, with 34 touchdowns.
He had 3,117 all-purpose yards and 51
touchdowns.
But this team is much more than
Backer. Chatfield won the state title
game without him in the lineup last
year. Backer and junior Parker Delaney
might split time at quarterback, with
Backer shifting some to halfback.
Delaney got plenty of experience last
year, including quarterbacking the
team in the state title game.
Chatfield’s offensive and defensive
lines both look solid again despite
losing three starters to graduation.
Chatfield has plenty of explosive
athletes. Besides Backer, two others
who stick out are running backs Kailan
Schott and Jackson Schild. Also in the
explosive mix are 6-3 wide receiver Cole
Johnson, as well as Luke Carrier and
Drew Schindler.
CALEDONIA
The Warriors know everything there
is to know about having a target on
one’s back. Prior to last year, Caledonia
had won a nation-leading 71 straight
games, including five straight state
titles. But those streaks both ended last
year, Caledonia ultimately finishing 4-5.
Don’t count on the Warriors following
that up with another five-loss season.
“We’ve got a really hard-working
group,” said Caledonia 27th-year
head coach Carl Fruechte, who has
a lifetime record of 165-36. A pair of
talented athletes are competing for the
starting QB spot, junior Lewis Doyle
and sophomore Ethan Stendel. It’s
possible that they’ll share duties. Both
will also be defensive backs. Other key
players include speedy senior defensive
lineman Eric Mauss (6-0, 190), senior
linebacker/fullback Ayden Goetzinger
(5-10, 190) and senior linebacker Tucker
Ginther. The Caledonia offensive
line looks in solid shape with Grant
Ness (6-1, 225), Garrett Ness (6-1, 225),
Tyler Jennings (5-10, 185) and Jordan
Tornstrom (6-2, 190).
GOODHUE
Things got tougher in 2021 when the
Wildcats shifted to Class AA from A.
Still, Goodhue is expected to be highly
competitive, with one of the best
threesomes of players in southeastern
Minnesota — 6-6 senior quarterback
Will Opsahl; 5-11, 190-pound senior
running back/linebacker/safety
Malakye Parker; and 6-3, 185-pound
senior receiver/cornerback Adam
Poncelet. Opsahl, a pure passer, threw
for 1,461 yards, 20 touchdowns and 7
interceptions last year. Parker, who
mixes power and speed (4.5-second
40-yard dash), was good for 1,331 yards
rushing and 13 touchdowns. Poncelet
(4.6-second 40), who is getting some
Division I college attention and is
excellent in both the short and long
passing games, had 50 receptions for
762 yards and 14 touchdowns. Another
prime-time player for Goodhue will be
Kade Altendorf, a 6-2, 190-pound senior
who will anchor Goodhue’s lines. The
Wildcats’ biggest concern is replacing
three three-year starters along the line.
ST. CHARLES
There are plenty of unknowns for
the Saints, who finished 4-5 last season,
earned a big win over Goodhue and
enjoyed a three-game winning streak,
but graduated a batch of players. That
included prolific running back Noah
Disbrow and excellent all-around
athlete Jett Thoreson. Still, there are
some returners who give the Saints
hope. At the top of that list is Owen
Maloney, a 6-foot, 180-pound junior
quarterback/safety. At running back,
the Saints will go with a converted
center from last year, Tytan Small,
a 6-foot, 200-pound senior who is
powerful and has good feet. He’ll also
play linebacker. Henry Davidson is
another key linebacker for the Saints.
The strength of the St. Charles defense
should be the back of it, with some
solid speed in the backfield. St. Charles
has a strong group of sophomores
who may soon get called up to play
significant roles.
TRITON
Triton’s new coach is familiar to
many in southeastern Minnesota,
Brandon Neseth. A 2004 Byron
graduate, Neseth was the head coach at
United South Central the past six years.
Neseth likes much of the talent that
was waiting for him. At the top of that
list is Owen Garness. The physical and
fast 6-0, 185-pound senior is expected
to lead the Cobras as a tailback and
linebacker. Isaac Gonzalez and Carson
Koenigs will anchor the lines. Gonzalez
is a senior and third-year starter
who is 6-0, 245. Koenigs is 6-3, 220 and
will shift to right tackle after being a
center last year. Triton’s quarterback
is Carter Streiff (5-8, 140). The senior
will be a first-year starter and runs the
option well. Safety Boe Munnikhuysen
is expected to be one of Triton’s top
defenders. The Cobras finished 6-4 last
season.
DOVER-EYOTA
Jon Hauswald has taken over for
Brett Vesel, who stepped down after
last season. The 29-year-old Hauswald,
a native of Sioux Center, Iowa, seems
to have breathed some life into the
program. About 45 players are on the
roster and enthusiasm is high. “The
guys have made a commitment to
getting stronger and faster, through the
winter, spring and summer. And I am
excited about some of the experience
we have,” Hauswald said. Seniors
Gavin Gust, Brayden Swee and Jackson
Duellman are three who stick out.
Gust, a 5-9, 170-pound running back/
linebacker, is tough and athletic,
proving that by winning the 152-pound
state wrestling championship this
past March. Swee is a dynamic 6-1,
200-pound wide receiver and defensive
back, and Duellman a 5-10, 225-pound
rugged offensive and defensive
lineman. Levi Williams returns at
quarterback. The 6-foot, 160-pound
junior is regarded as a student of the
game.
LEWISTON-ALTURA
Lewiston-Altura 17th-year coach
Brent Olson makes no bones about
it — this will be a rebuilding year for
his Cardinals. L-A graduated 16 players
from last year’s team which finished
4-6 overall. Among them was one of
southeastern Minnesota’s top players,
Collin Bonow, a star running back and
linebacker. Younger brother Garrett
Bonow, a junior, will look to follow
in his footsteps. A 6-foot, 200-pound
fullback and linebacker, he’s got plenty
of power. Owen Sommer (6-2, 175-pound
junior) returns to play offensive tackle
and defensive tackle. Senior lineman
Chris Baer (6-1, 210) is back after
injuring his knee last year. He starts
both ways. Also back is senior Nick
Brand, a running back/linebacker who
has great quickness.
WINONA COTTER
All of Cotter’s top players are juniors
and it has just one senior on its roster.
Luke Gardner (receiver/defensive back)
is the Ramblers’ most dangerous player.
The 6-2, 150-pounder has excellent
speed and led the team in receiving last
year with 52 catches for 618 yards and
6 touchdowns. He also returned two
kickoffs and one punt for touchdowns.
Brenin Speltz (5-10 160) is the team’s
top running back (also a linebacker).
He had 77 carries for 293 yards and
also caught 23 passes for 236 yards and
4 touchdowns as a sophomore. Top
linemen are three-year starter Brett
Biesanz (6-2, 220) and Tyler Sturm
(6-1, 205). Desmond Matthews Jr. was a
newcomer last year, but at an athletic
6-3, has proven himself to be a nice
receiver. Getting him and others the
ball this year will be quarterback Jack
Spiten, a backup last year and another
junior. He’s 6-3 and a pocket passer with
great smarts.
SECTION 2AA
BLOOMING PRAIRIE
This could be a rebuilding year for
Blooming Prairie. Really. The Blossoms
have owned one of the most dominant
football programs in the state, going
40-2 over the past four years, with one
state title. This season the Blossoms
have to replace a whopping 14 players
who graduated in 2022. Blooming
Prairie is young, with just five seniors
and about the same number of juniors.
There is some excellent young talent
here, including quarterback Brady
Kittelson (sophomore), running back
Cole Wangen (sophomore), lineman
Owen Krueger (6-3, 290, sophomore)
and linebacker Alex Lea (sophomore).
Wangen ran for 475 yards and four
touchdowns last year and is 195 pounds.
Krueger started as a freshman, Lea
was a starter and the team’s leading
tackler, and Kittelson (6-0, 165) started
in the defensive backfield last year,
has excellent speed and figures to be a
scary dual-threat quarterback. There
are some veterans with talent here,
too. Seniors Micah Donnelly (5-10, 175,
linebacker), Cade Christianson (5-11,
170, wide receiver/safety) and Sam
Pirkl (6-1, 240, lineman) are key players
for the Blossoms.

2022 SCHEDULE
Sept. 1 — Dover-Eyota at Zumbrota-Mazeppa. Sept. 2 — Caledonia at Pine Island, Lourdes at Chatfield, Goodhue at Cannon Falls, Plainview-
Elgin-Millville at Lewiston-Altura, Lake City at St. Charles, Winona Cotter at Alden-Conger, La Crescent at Triton, Hayfield at Blooming Prairie.
Sept. 9 — Lewiston-Altura at Caledonia, Dover-Eyota at Chatfield, Triton at Goodhue, St. Charles at Lourdes, Kenyon-Wanamingo at Winona
Cotter, Blooming Prairie at Lester Prairie. Sept. 16 — Chatfield at St. Charles, Dover-Eyota at Caledonia (6 p.m.), Goodhue at Lewiston-Altura,
Winona Cotter at Wabasha-Kellogg, Triton at Plainview-Elgin-Millville, USC at Blooming Prairie. Sept. 23 — Lewiston-Altura at Chatfield, St.
Charles at Dover-Eyota, Zumbrota-Mazeppa at Goodhue, Randolph at Winona Cotter (8 p.m.), Blooming Prairie at W-E-M. Sept. 24 — Caledonia
at Triton. Sept. 29 — Chatfield at La Crescent. Sept. 30 — Goodhue at Caledonia, Dover-Eyota at Lewiston-Altura, Triton at St. Charles,
Rushford-Peterson at Winona Cotter (8 p.m.), Blooming Prairie at St. Clair. Oct. 5 — Pine Island at Dover-Eyota at Lewiston-Altura. Oct. 7 —
Caledonia at Chatfield, St. Charles at Goodhue, Lewiston-Altura at Triton, Winona Cotter at Hayfield, Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop at Blooming
Prairie. Oct. 13 — Triton at Chatfield, Lewiston-Altura at Lake City, Bethlehem Acacemy at Winona Cotter, Blooming Prairie at NRHEG. Oct.
14 — Caledonia at St. Charles, Goodhue at Dover-Eyota at Lewiston-Altura, Oct. 19 — Cannon Falls at Caledonia, Chatfield at Goodhue, Dover-
Eyota at Triton, St. Charles at Lewiston-Altura, Winona Cotter at Fillmore Central, Medford at Blooming Prairie.
 20 | SPORTS | Saturday, September 3, 2022 | Post Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.
 postbulletin.com

Pine Island Panthers

2022 Schedule
Sept. 2 Caledonia 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 at Lake City 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 at Lourdes 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 Plainview-Elgin-Millville 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 Zumbrota-Mazeppa 7 p.m.
Oct. 6 at Dover-Eyota 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 at Cannon Falls 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 La Crescent-Hokah 7 p.m.

First Row: Nate Klusmann, Lane Stapleton, Jaxson Klusmann, Austin Sisell, Sam Knox, Justin Beck, Brody Allen, Carter Sisell and
Michael Wilhorn. Second Row: Bentley Lujero, Abe Ferber, Eli Barker, Ty Gibson, William Johnson, Brayden Sao, Nathan Despins,
Garett Sperber, Ethan Leiferman, Kris Fogoul, Aiden McDaniel, Zach Diderrich, Carter Budensiek, Colling Fogarty and Mikah
Henderson. Third Row: Malachi Kean, Joseph Grobe, Ben Schraeder, Zach Schaefer, Gavin Twaddle, William Radtke, Ben Pike,
Jamie Simpson, Paul Olson, Drew Sailer, Blake Schiltz, Andrew Edwards, Alex Engel, Tyler Applen, Drew Kelley and Tyler Beck.
Fourth Row: Eli Bartholomew, Andrew Stolp, Kason Stayton, Mason Jasperson, Quinten Fangman, Ryan Week, Owen Harstad,
Braxton Moss, Lewis Jones, Lincoln Braaten, Ryder Schmidt, Gavin Owen, Dakota Sobottka, Ben Bloxham, Corrin Pike and Nick
Thein. Back Row: Eli Sperber, Jayk Klusmann, Jackson Hudson, Kellen Brewer, Alden Smith, Jason Klusmann, Matt Northrop, Mitch
Schiltz, Tyler Rogers, Doug Sailer, Andrew Bowman, Aspen Gorman, Talan Bond, Alex Knox, Landon Lowrie and Noah Prose.

BEST OF LUCK IN 2022!

WE proudly SUPPORT Pine Island Panthers!
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WEEK 1
Thursday, Sept. 8
Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Rams,
7:20 p.m., NBC
Sunday, Sept. 11
New Orleans Saints at Atlanta
Falcons, noon, Fox
Cleveland Browns at Carolina
Panthers, noon, CBS
San Francisco 49ers at Chicago
Bears, noon, Fox
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati
Bengals, noon, CBS
Philadelphia Eagles at Detroit
Lions, noon, Fox
Indianapolis Colts at Houston
Texans, noon, CBS
New England Patriots at Miami
Dolphins, noon, CBS
Baltimore Ravens at New York
Jets, noon, CBS
Jacksonville Jaguars at
Washington Commanders, noon,
Fox
Kansas City Chiefs at Arizona
Cardinals, 3:25 p.m., CBS
Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles
Chargers, 3:25 p.m., CBS
Green Bay Packers at Minnesota
Vikings, 3:25 p.m., Fox
New York Giants at Tennessee
Titans, 3:25 p.m., Fox
2022 NFL SCHEDULE
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas
Cowboys, 7:20 p.m., NBC
Monday, Sept. 12
Denver Broncos at Seattle
Seahawks, 7:15 p.m., ESPN/ABC
•••••
WEEK 2
Thursday, Sept. 15
Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas
City Chiefs, 7:15 p.m., Amazon
Sunday, Sept. 18
Miami Dolphins at Baltimore
Ravens, noon, CBS
New York Jets at Cleveland
Browns, noon, CBS
Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville
Jaguars, noon, CBS
Washington Commanders at
Detroit Lions, noon, Fox
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New
Orleans Saints, noon, CBS
Carolina Panthers at New York
Giants, noon, Fox
New England Patriots at
Pittsburgh Steelers, noon, CBS
Seattle Seahawks at San
Francisco 49ers, 3:05 p.m., Fox
Atlanta Falcons at Los Angeles
Rams, 3:05 p.m., Fox
Houston Texans at Denver
Broncos, 3:25 p.m., CBS
Cincinnati Bengals at Dallas
Cowboys, 3:25 p.m., CBS
Arizona Cardinals at Las Vegas
Raiders, 3:25 p.m., CBS
Chicago Bears at Green Bay
Packers, 7:20 p.m., NBC
Monday, Sept. 19
Tennessee Titans at Buffalo Bills,
Baltimore Ravens at New England
Patriots, noon, Fox
Cincinnati Bengals at New York
Jets, noon, CBS
Las Vegas Raiders at Tennessee
F
Titans, noon, Fox
a
Philadelphia Eagles at
Washington Commanders, noon,
Fox
Jacksonville Jaguars at Los
Angeles Chargers, 3:05 p.m., Fox
Loas Angeles Rams at Arizona
Cardinals, 3:25 p.m., Fox
7:15 p.m., ESPN
Atlanta Falcons at Seattle
Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Seahawks, 3:25 p.m., Fox
Eagles, 7:30 p.m., ABC
Green Bay Packers at Tampa Bay
••••• Buccaneers, 3:25 p.m., Fox
WEEK 3 San Francisco 49ers at Denver
Broncos, 7:20 p.m., NBC
Thursday, Sept. 22
Monday, Sept. 26
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland
Browns, 7:15 p.m., Amazon Dallas Cowboys at New York
Giants, 7:20 p.m., NBC
Sunday, Sept. 25
•••••
New Orleans Saints at Carolina
Panthers, noon, Fox WEEK 4
Houston Texans at Chicago Thursday, Sept. 29
Bears, noon, CBS Miami Dolphins at Cincinnati
Kansas City Chiefs at Indianapolis Bengals, 7:20 p.m., Amazon
Colts, noon, CBS
Sunday, Oct. 2
Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins,
Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans
noon, CBS
Saints, 8:30 a.m., NFL Network
Detroit Lions at Minnesota
Vikings, noon, Fox See NFL, Page 22

Plainview-Elgin-Millville Bulldogs
2022 Schedule
Sept. 2 at Lewiston-Altura 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 Cannon Falls 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 Triton 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 at Pine Island 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 at Lake City 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 Rochester Lourdes 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 at La Crescent-Hokah 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 Zumbrota-Mazeppa 7 p.m.

Front Row: Grady LaBare, Hunter Tentis, Nick Wozney, Brady Herber, Kaiden Peters, Owen Rademacher, Colton McNallan, Tucker
Jonson, Kyle Lamb, Jacob Fabel, Cayton Richardson, Ryan Gostonczik and Sam Ring. Second Row: Ethan King, Stuart Atkinson,
Carson Kronebusch, Ashton Kisch, Ryan Schroeder, Isaac Foss, Noah Eidenschink, Kadin Pries, Ryan Postier, Quentin Lundeen,
Liam Heppner and Drew Rahman. Third Row: Alex Bedsted, Thomas Springer, Breckyn Helberg, Carson Rahman, Aaron Martinez,
Alex Hinrichs, Logan Dittrich, Nolan Welke, Parker Matti, Dominic Loya, Brennan O’Reilly, Carter Haley, Brandon Melcher, Luis
Sandoval and Gavin Staudacher. Back Row: Jacob Pries, Marc Melcher, Mike Nielsen and Kevin Lamb.

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 postbulletin.com Post Bulletin, Rochester, Minn. | Saturday, September 3, 2022 | SPORTS | 21

SECTION 1A PREVIEW

Traci Westcott / Post Bulletin file photo

Fillmore Central’s Jayce Kiehne (2) and Luke Hellickson (3) celebrate after a touchdown during a football game against Hayfield Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, in Hayfield. The Falcons
appear to be in the driver’s seat to claim the program’s first section championship.

Fillmore Central looks to become top dog in 1A

BY ALEX VANDENHOUTEN
Post Bulletin
Fillmore Central was a couple of
plays away from its first section football
championship in program history last
year. Ultimately, the Falcons fell 7-0 to
Rushford-Peterson in the Section 1A
championship game.
It’s something these Falcons, who
return nine of 11 starters on both
sides of the ball, have thought about
since that final whistle blew. Six of
those starters were named all-district:
standout running back Bryce Corson,
LB/OL Garrett Gossman, OL/DE Will
Parker, WR/DB Jake Fishbaugher and
WR/S Jayce Kiehne.
Corson finished the season with more
than 1,200 all-purpose yards and 22
total touchdowns, including a school-
record 17 on the ground. Quarterback
Dillon O’Connor makes his return
along with four of the five starting
offensive linemen. O’Connor, who went
down with an injury midway through
the season, combined with Chase
Christianson to throw 22 touchdown
passes.
“I expect our team to be very
competitive in the district and section
and to be near the top,” coach Chris
Mensink said. “... We have great kids
that love to compete and have put in
work in the offseason and I expect them
to respond well.”
Mensink and company know that
nothing is guaranteed, especially in
what is always a competitive section.
Yet, if things go according to plan,
it could be a special season for a
program searching for its first section
championship and state tournament
appearance.
“Our district and section are always
tough,” Mensink said. “Randolph
and Faribault B.A. return some great
athletes and will be solid; R-P is always,
as well. Hayfield returns a great QB
and receiver and will be improved.
Wabasha-Kellogg is always competitive
and a unique team to prepare for. We
played K-W last year and they are well
coached and will be in the mix as well.
Cotter has some new coaches that will
add new wrinkles. It will be fun and we
are looking forward to it with all the
changes and developing new rivalries.
“(Our kids) had a great summer in
the weight room and at practice. They
are comfortable in our system and
we have been able to hit the ground
running this summer with so many
guys that got valuable experience last
year. We are looking forward to getting
the season started.”
RUSHFORD-PETERSON
Led by a standout senior class,
Rushford-Peterson made it all the way
to U.S. Bank Stadium last fall, where
it fell in the Class A state semifinals.
Those seniors included three-year
starting quarterback Malachi Bunke,
along with standouts Justin Ruberg,
Carson Thompson, Alex Ronnenberg
and Logan Skalet. In all, nine of the 12
seniors from last year’s team earned
all-district honors. Replacing them is no
easy task. Yet, coach Davin Thompson
likes what he has in this group. “We
have hard working kids that have seen
what it takes to win games,” Thompson
said. “We graduated a ton of experience
but have guys that understand and play
the game the right way.” One of those
guys is wide receiver and linebacker
Grady Hengel, who caught 37 passes for
481 yards and four touchdowns along
with 171 yards rushing. He also had five
interceptions en route to being named
all-district. Dalton Hoel is expected to
get more carries as well and will look
to build on a season that saw him snag
five interceptions with three being
brought back for touchdowns. All-
district performer Andrew Wilkemeyer
will look to team up with Jackson
Bergan to lead the offensive and
defensive lines.
FARIBAULT B.A.
Faribault Bethlehem Academy
enjoyed its best season since 2017-18
last year, finishing 7-3 and reaching the
second round of playoffs. This year, a
relatively young squad with just six
seniors hopes to do even better. “The
team looks to build on the success of
the 2021 season and make it to the state
tournament by improving each week,”
fourth-year coach Jim Beckman said.
“The goal is to complete the regular
season undefeated.” Charlie King will
be a big part of that. The 6-foot-6 senior
co-captain is a four-year starter at tight
end and a three-year starter on defense.
He is big, fast and will give second-
year and dual-threat quarterback
Elliot Viland a viable target in passing
situations. Derrick Sando will be
the full-time running back after
showcasing his speed on special teams
and in a backup role last season.
RANDOLPH
The Rockets are another team that
is coming off a solid season with a
6-4 record and a second-round exit a
season ago. They return 14 seniors
but will have to replace the Weckops.
Twin brothers Jacob — who threw for
more than 2,500 yards and 29 TDs last
year at QB — and Nathan (more than
1,000 yards receiving) both graduated.
Yet, coach Mike Schmidt likes what
he has in senior quarterback Evan
Bennerotte. Tyson Cooreman had more
than 400 yards receiving and five TDs
and Charles Gustafson looks poised
for a breakout season at running back.
Trey Thielbar and Ruben Kriesel are
expected to hold down the offensive line
and play key parts on defense as well.
KENYON-WANAMINGO
K-W went 3-6 in 2021 and nearly
pulled off a Section 1A first-round
upset but fell 36-32 to Randolph. The
Knights will be a bit young in some
spots and will have to replace the
likes of running back Josh Schmidt,
receiver Laden Nerison as well as
linebacker Evan Brosard. Yet, they
do return quarterback Will VanEpps,
linebacker Cal Luebke and running
back Dillon Bartel. Coach Jake Wieme
said the inexperienced Knights will
rely on their defense as they gain some
seasoning. “We have been a defense-
first team in the past and hope to
continue to be strong there,” Wieme
said. “We will be a young team with
lots of players getting some of their
first varsity experience this season.”
KINGSLAND
Third-year coach Matt Kolling will
have just three seniors on this year’s
team, but they’re three good ones.
His son and Winona State University
commit Mason Kolling is looking for a
big season, having caught 14 passes at
tight end and also had three sacks with
five tackles for loss on the defensive
line. Beau Wiersma had 33 solo tackles
and will be asked to do more on offense
this season. The Knights will be
without senior QB/DB Kale Mensink as
he recovers from an injury he suffered
at a football camp this summer. He had
four picks on defense, while completing
nearly 60% of his passes with nine TDs
a year ago.
WABASHA-KELLOGG
The Falcons didn’t play a game in
2020 and had a hard time getting things
going again last year. They struggled
with numbers and didn’t record a
win. Yet, W-K does bring back 16 of its
starters from last season, including
junior 6-foot-4, 200-pound tight end and
defensive lineman Jacob Solberg, and
junior 6-foot-4, 220-pound lineman Jack
Vold. Coach Tim Klingbeil will also
look to lean on freshmen speedsters
Jaxon Lackey and Cole Scheel.
HAYFIELD
It’s a new chapter for the Vikings as
they usher in the Derrick Thompson
era. They will do so with a number
of returning starters at important
positions. Ethan Pack will be in his
third year at QB and was named to the
Post Bulletin All-Area team as a punter.
Isaac Matti is also going to be a three-
year starter at receiver. Seniors Cole
Selk and Diezel Waldner are expected
to hold down the running game. Junior
Zander Jacobson was named to the
PB’s second-team at defensive line. He
should anchor the Vikings defense. In
all, Hayfield has a chance to sneak up
on some teams.

SECTION 1A SCHEDULE
Aug. 26 — Renville County West vs. Kingsland. Sept. 1 — New Richland/H-E-G at Kenyon-Wanamingo, Waterville-Elysian-Morristown at
Randolph, Wabasha-Kellogg at Cleveland. Sept. 2 — Janesville-Waldorf-Pembeton at Fillmore Central, Rushford-Peterson at Medford, Hayfield
at Blooming Prairie, Lester Prairie at Bethlehem Academy. Sept. 9 — Fillmore Central at Rushford-Peterson, Bethlehem Academy at Hayfield,
Randolph at Wabasha-Kellogg. Sept. 10 — Kingsland at Houston (3 p.m.). Sept. 16 — Hayfield at Fillmore Central, Rushford-Peterson at Kenyon-
Wanamingo, Cotter at Wabasha-Kellogg, Bethlehem Academy at Randolph, Southland at Kingsland. Sept. 23 — Wabasha-Kellogg at Rushford-
Peterson, Kenyon-Wanamingo at Hayfield, Randolph at Cotter (8 p.m.), Kingsland at Mabel-Canton. Sept. 24 — Fillmore Central at Bethlehem
Academy (1 p.m.), Hayfield at Wabasha-Kellogg. Sept. 30 — Fillmore Central at Randolph, Rushford-Peterson at Cotter (8 p.m.), Bethlehem
Academy at Kenyon-Wanamingo, Hayfield at Wabasha-Kellogg, Kingsland at Lanesboro. Oct. 7 — Kenyon-Wanamingo at Fillmore Central,
Randolph at Rushford-Peterson, Cotter at Hayfield, Wabasha-Kellogg at Bethlehem Academy, Lyle/Pacelli at Kingsland. Oct. 13 — Fillmore
Central at Wabasha-Kellogg, Hayfield at Rushford-Peterson, Kenyon-Wanamingo at Randolph, Bethlehem Academy at Cotter. Oct. 14 — Spring
Grove at Kingsland. Oct. 19 — Cotter at Fillmore Central, Rushford-Peterson at Bethlehem Academy, Wabasha-Kellogg at Kenyon-Wanamingo,
Randolph at Hayfield, Kingsland at Grand Meadow.
 22 | SPORTS | Saturday, September 3, 2022 | Post Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.
 postbulletin.com

Red Wing Wingers

2022 Schedule
Sept. 1 at Winona 7 p.m.
Sept. 10 Mankato East 2 p.m.
Sept. 16 at Albert Lea 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 Faribault 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 at Stewartville 7 p.m.
Oct. 8 at Byron Noon
Oct. 14 Kasson-Mantorville 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 New Prague 7 p.m.

Front Row: Owen Rose, Derek Larson, Christian Johnson, Ryley Salzl, Hokken Ellingson, Autavion Carleton, Wesley Christianson,
Trey Reiss-Garcia, Tyler Rodgers, Kaleb Hove, Kaleb Hudson and Jed Leise. Second Row: Tenley Nelson, Konnor Kelly, Kezontay
Ellis-Strong, Aiden Diaz, Emir Cruz, Jason Diaz, Luther Biron, Oliver Jensen, Calen Beard, Trystan Hauschildt, Kole Stevenson,
Hunter Greeley and Jacob Kline. Third Row: Pat Kelly, Madelynn Melsness, Greg Roe, Jake Meacham, Duane Taylor, Andrew
Jacobson, Jacob Chapin, Issac Wiles, Joe Brown III, Mitchell Seeley, Abe Reinitz, Adam Roe, Keegan Knutson, James Berg and Brent
Stinson. Back Row: Austin Sweeney, Rhowan Smith, Chase Prall, Calvin Nelson, Sullivan Klair, Maurice Rosebear, Marcus Young,
Brock Kajewski, Trayce Taylor, Cameron Walker and Sam Graves.

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NFL
From page 20

Cleveland Browns at Atlanta

Falcons, noon, CBS
Buffalo Bills at Baltimore Ravens,
noon, CBS
Washington Commanders at
Dallas Cowboys, noon, Fox
Seattle Seahawks at Detroit Lions,
noon, Fox
Los Angeles Chargers at Houston
Texans, noon, CBS
Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis
Colts, noon, Fox
Chicago Bears at New York
Giants, noon, Fox
Jacksonville Jaguars at
Philadelphia Eagles, noon, CBS
New York Jets at Pittsburgh
Steelers, noon, CBS
Arizona Cardinals at Carolina
Panthers, 3:05 p.m., Fox
New England Patriots at Green
Bay Packers, 3:25 p.m., CBS
Denver Broncos at Las Vegas
Raiders, 3:25 p.m., CBS
Kansas City Chiefs at Tampa Bay
Buccaneers, 7:20 p.m., NBC
Monday, Oct. 3
Los Angeles Rams and San
Francisco 49ers, 7:15 p.m., ESPN
•••••
WEEK 5
Thursday, Oct. 6
Indianapolis Colts at Denver
Broncos, 7:15 p.m., Amazon
Sunday, Oct. 9
New York Giants vs Green Bay
Packers (London), 8:30 a.m., NFL
Network
Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo
Bills, noon, CBS
Los Angeles Chargers at
Cleveland Browns, noon, CBS
Houston Texans at Jacksonville
Jaguars, noon, CBS
Chicago Bears at Minnesota
Vikings, noon, Fox
Detroit Lions at New England
Patriots, noon, Fox
Seattle Seahawks at New Orleans
Saints, noon, Fox
Miami Dolphins at New York Jets,
noon, CBS
Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay
Buccaneers, noon, Fox
Tennessee Titans at Washington
Commanders, noon, CBS
San Francisco 49ers at Carolina
Panthers, 3:05 p.m., CBS
Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona
Cardinals, 3:25 p.m., Fox
Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles
Rams, 3:25 p.m., Fox
Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore
Ravens, 7:20 p.m., NBC
Monday, Oct. 10
Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City
Chiefs , 7:15 p.m., ESPN
•••••
WEEK 6
Thursday, Oct. 13
Washington Commanders at
Chicago Bears, 7:15 p.m.,
Amazon
Sunday, Oct. 16
San Francisco 49ers at Atlanta
Falcons, noon, Fox
New England Patriots at
Cleveland Browns, noon, CBS
New York Jets at Green Bay
Packers, noon, Fox
Jacksonville Jaguars at
Indianapolis Colts, noon, CBS
Minnesota Vikings at Miami
Dolphins, noon, Fox
Cincinnati Bengals at New
Orleans Saints, noon, CBS
Baltimore Ravens at New York
Giants, noon, CBS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at
Pittsburgh Steelers, noon, Fox
Carolina Panthers at Los Angeles
Rams, 3:05 p.m., Fox
Arizona Cardinals at Seattle
Seahawks, 3:05 p.m., Fox
Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs,
3:25 p.m., CBS
Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia
Eagles, 7:20 p.m., NBC
Monday, Oct. 17
Denver Broncos at Los Angeles
Chargers, 7:15 p.m., ESPN
•••••
WEEK 7
Thursday, Oct. 20
New Orleans Saints at Arizona
Cardinals, 7:15 p.m., Amazon
Sunday, Oct. 23
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore
Ravens, noon, CBS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at
Carolina Panthers, noon, Fox
Atlanta Falcons at Cincinnati
Bengals, noon, Fox
Detroit Lions at Dallas Cowboys,
noon, CBS
New York Giants at Jacksonville
Jaguars, noon, Fox
Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee
Titans, noon, CBS
Green Bay Packers at Washington
Commanders, noon, Fox
New York Jets at Denver Broncos,
3:05 p.m., CBS
Houston Texans at Las Vegas
Raiders, 3:05 p.m., CBS
Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles
Chargers, 3:25 p.m., Fox
Kansas City Chiefs at San
Francisco 49ers, 3:25 p.m., Fox
Pittsburgh Steelers at Miami
Dolphins, 7:20 p.m., NBC
Monday, Oct. 24
Chicago Bears at New England
Patriots, 7:15 p.m., ESPN
•••••
WEEK 8
Thursday, Oct. 27
Baltimore Ravens at Tampa Bay
Buccaneers, 7:15 p.m., Amazon
Sunday, Oct. 30
Denver Broncos vs Jacksonville
Jaguars, 8:30 a.m., ESPN+
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta
Falcons, noon, Fox
Chicago Bears at Dallas
Cowboys, noon, Fox
Miami Dolphins at Detroit Lions,
noon, CBS
Arizona Cardinals at Minnesota
Vikings, noon, Fox
Las Vegas Raiders at New
Orleans Saints, noon, CBS
New England Patriots at New York
Jets, noon, CBS
Pittsburgh Steelers at Philadelphia
Eagles, noon, CBS
Tennessee Titans at Houston
Texans, 3:05 p.m., CBS
Washington Commanders at
Indianapolis Colts, 3:25 p.m., Fox
San Francisco 49ers at Los
Angeles Rams, 3:25 p.m., Fox
New York Giants at Seattle
Seahawks, 3:25 p.m., Fox
Green Bay Packers at Buffalo
Bills, 7:20 p.m., NBC
Monday, Oct. 31
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland
Browns, 7:15 p.m., ESPN
•••••
WEEK 9
Thursday, Nov. 3
Philadelphia Eagles at Houston
Texans, 7:15 p.m., Amazon
Sunday, Nov. 6
Los Angeles Chargers at Atlanta
Falcons, noon, Fox
Miami Dolphins at Chicago Bears,
noon, CBS
Carolina Panthers at Cincinnati
Bengals, noon, Fox
Green Bay Packers at Detroit
Lions, noon, Fox
Las Vegas Raiders at Jacksonville
Jaguars, noon, CBS
Indianapolis Colts at New England
Patriots, noon, CBS
Buffalo Bills at New York Jets,
noon, CBS
Minnesota Vikings at Washington
Commanders, noon, Fox
Seattle Seahawks at Arizona
Cardinals, 3:05 p.m., Fox
Los Angeles Rams at Tampa Bay
Buccaneers, 3:25 p.m., CBS
Tennessee Titans at Kansas City
Chiefs, 7:20 p.m., NBC
Monday, Nov. 7
Baltimore Ravens at New Orleans
Saints, 7:15 p.m., ESPN
•••••
WEEK 10
Thursday, Nov. 10
Atlanta Falcons at Carolina
Panthers, 7:15 p.m., Amazon
Sunday, Nov. 13
Seattle Seahawks vs Tampa Bay
Buccaneers (Munich), 8:30 a.m.,
NFL Network
Minnesota Vikings at Buffalo Bills,
noon, Fox
Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears,
noon, Fox
Jacksonville Jaguars at Kansas
City Chiefs, noon, CBS
Cleveland Browns at Miami
Dolphins, noon, CBS
Houston Texans at New York
Giants, noon, CBS
New Orleans Saints at Pittsburgh
Steelers, noon, Fox
Denver Broncos at Tennessee
Titans, noon, CBS
Indianapolis Colts at Las Vegas
Raiders, 3:05 p.m., CBS
Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay
L
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Packers, 3:25 p.m., Fox
Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles
Rams, 3:25 p.m., Fox
Los Angeles Chargers at San
Francisco 49ers, 7:20 p.m., NBC
Monday, Nov. 14
Washington Commanders at
Philadelphia Eagles, 7:15 p.m.
•••••
WEEK 11
Thursday, Nov. 17
Tennessee Titans at Green Bay
Packers, 7:15 p.m., Amazon
Sunday, Nov. 20
Chicago Bears at Atlanta Falcons,
noon, Fox
Carolina Panthers at Baltimore
Ravens, noon, Fox
Cleveland Browns at Buffalo Bills,
noon, CBS
Washington Commanders at
Houston Texans, noon, Fox
Philadelphia Eagles at
Indianapolis Colts, noon, CBS
New York Jets at New England
Patriots, noon, CBS
Los Angeles Rams at New
Orleans Saints, noon, Fox
Detroit Lions at New York Giants,
noon, Fox
Las Vegas Raiders at Denver
Broncos, 3:05 p.m., Fox
Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles
Chargers, 3:25 p.m., CBS
Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota
Vikings, 3:25 p.m., CBS
Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh
Steelers, 7:20 p.m., NBC
Monday, Nov. 21
San Francisco 49ers vs Arizona
Cardinals, 7:15 p.m., ESPN
•••••
WEEK 12
Thursday, Nov. 24
Buffalo Bills at Detroit Lions, 11:30
a.m., CBS
New York Giants at Dallas
Cowboys, 3:30 p.m., Fox
New England Patriots at
Minnesota Vikings, 7:20 p.m.,
NBC
See NFL, Page 30
 postbulletin.com Post Bulletin, Rochester, Minn. | Saturday, September 3, 2022 | SPORTS | 23

SECTION 1 9-MAN PREVIEW

Joe Ahlquist / Post Bulletin file photo

LeRoy-Ostrander’s Layne Bird (17) reacts after scoring a touchdown during the Section 1 Nine-Man football championship game against Lanesboro on Nov. 5, 2021

Section 1 features new coaches, loads of talent

BY GUY N. LIMBECK
Post Bulletin
There will be a number of new faces
on the sidelines among Section 1 Nine-
Man football teams this season.
Players come and go as a natural
course of finishing school. But during
the 2022 season, a lot of the fresh faces
will be among the coaches. In Section
1 Nine-Man, three of the eight coaches
are newcomers this season.
The section should be as competitive
as ever, though. Le Roy-Ostrander is the
defending state champion. Section 1 has
won seven of the past eight state titles.
LEROY-OSTRANDER
The Cardinals were 12-2 on their
way to a state title last season. But
coach Trevor Carrier will have a lot
of newcomers and the bulk of last
year’s players, including quarterback
Chase Johnson and running back/
lineman Tanner Olson, have graduated.
“We play in a tough district and we
know that every night will be a battle,”
Carrier said. “We did lose a very
good senior class, but we believe we
have good players stepping into new
roles.” Senior Layne Bird takes over at
QB after being a receiver a year ago.
The entire receiving corps returns
in Tristan Lewison (38 receptions,
916 yards, 13 TDs), and sophomores
Camden Hungerholt and Carter
Sweeney. Starting RB/MLB Peyton Roe
returns after suffering a broken leg in
the first game last year. Other returners
include junior C/DE Malyk Schaefer
and sophomore TE/LB Ryder Stern.
Senior Colin Landwork and junior
Mason Diemer are expected to fill roles
on both sides of the line .
LANESBORO
The Burros were a stellar 10-1 a
year ago, but the loss was a painful
30-6 setback to LeRoy-Ostrander in
the section title game. Lanesboro has
eight key players returning, but JT
Rein, a four-year starter at running
back and Seth Semmen, a three-year
starter at quarterback, have graduated.
“I think we will continually get better
as the season moves on,” coach James
Semmen said. “We may have some
bumps at the start, but it should be a
good season for our kids.” Top players
back include seniors Hayden Lawstuen
(FB/CB, All-District honorable
mention), Cooper Ferrie (OL), Stephan
Schultz (C), Brock Taylor (DT), Carter
Hovland (LB) and Orion Sass (RB),
and juniors Mason Howard (WR) and
Michael Rein (LB). The Burros will
have to replace the bulk of their top
skill-position players from a year ago.
The team should have a very solid
offensive line and has good overall size.
GRAND MEADOW
The Superlarks, coming off an 8-2
season, will have to adjust to a new
coach. Gary Sloan stepped down after
guiding Grand Meadow for 29 years. In
that span he had a stellar 230-84 record
and his teams won four consecutive
state championships from 2013-16.
Josh Bain, a former Grand Meadow
player and an assistant for the past six
years, takes over. He has six returning
letterwinners and five starters back.
Returning starters include Jace Kraft
(WR/DB), Cael Gilbert (QB/DB), John
Swanek (OL/DL), Isaac Harmening
(RB/LB) and Corbin Ludeman RB/
LB. Aaron Mork is a key newcomer on
the defensive and offensive line while
Connor Munson (QB/DB) returns after
sitting out 2021 with an injury. “We lost
some talent off of last year’s team but
I feel we have a great core of talent and
leadership in this year’s senior class,”
Bain said.
SPRING GROVE
The Lions were 3-5 last season, but
could be a section contender. They
return 16 letterwinners and seven
starters. Four All-District players
return in seniors Tysen Grinde (WR/
DB) and Hunter Holland (RB/LB), and
juniors Elijah Solum (QB/LB) and
Jaxon Strinmoen (WR/DB). Grinde was
the team MVP as had 30 catches for
437 yards and three TDs while making
56 tackles on defense. Holland rushed
for 323 yards and four TDs, had seven
catches and made 25 tackles. Solum
threw for 1,300 yards and 12 TDs and
was the Lions’ defensive MVP with 100
tackles. Strinmoen had 20 catches for
440 yards and four TDs and made 36
tackles. Ty Cleven returns to anchor
both sides of the line. Other key players
include Jacob Olerud (LB), Logan
Brumm (OL/DL), Caleb Griffin (WR),
Brandon Jahnke, Emmett Engeldinger
(OL), Ethan Crouch (TE/LB) and
Shawn Crouch (OL).
MABEL-CANTON
The Cougars, coming off a 4-4
season, have a new head coach in Paul
Tollefsrud. He takes over for Karl
Urbaniak, who stepped down after
coaching at M-C for 30-plus years.
“The coaches and players are very
excited for this season,” Tollefsrud
said. “We have had the pleasure of
learning from one of the best coaches
in the state at M-C for the last 37 years.
Coach Urbaniak has now moved on in
his retirement life, and we are ready
to continue the tradition of playing
the game the way it is supposed to be
played.” Seven letterwinners return
including a trio of All-District players
in junior Cayden Tollefsrud (QB/DB),
a three-time selection, senior Robert
Michels (RB/DL), and sophomore Tyler
Larson (RB/LB). Other letterwinners
are seniors Jordan Larson (QB/LB),
Kaiser Soiney (OL/LB) and Dawson
Kleiboer (OL/DB), and junior Hayden
Erickson (OL/DL). Key newcomers
include Colton Tollefsrud, Jackson
Olson, Isaac Underbakke, Milton
Hutchinson and Darian Hershberger.
SOUTHLAND
The Rebels also have a first-year
coach in JJ Galle. Southland is coming
off a 3-5 season and despite having
11 letterwinners back, it still has a
young squad. Returning captain Isaac
Felten (RB/LB) is the lone senior.
Juniors Cash Day (G/LB) and Travis
Kirtz (C/DT) are the other captains.
Other returning letterwinners include
juniors Sam Boe (WR/DB), Noah Bauer
(QB/DB), Riley Jax (WR/DB), Jack
Bruggeman (TE/DT), Cody Krull (G/
DT) and Andrew Timm (TE/DT), and
sophomores Tyson Stevens (RB/LB/
DB) and Landon Chilman (RB/DB).
“We had a lot of young guys contribute
last year, with our low numbers in the
upper classes,” Galle said. “Everyone
got a good dose of experience, but they
will need to step up even more this
season with a year under their belt.
“We are going to focus on what we
can control and continue to outwork
ourselves the following day. We are all
chomping at the bit and ready to get
going.”
HOUSTON
The Hurricanes are coming off a
2-6 season and return four starters
in sophomores Morgan Rohweder
(QB) and Maddox Rodriguez (RB),
senior Connor Porter (OL/DL), and
junior Ethan Knutson (OL/LB). Up
and coming players expected to make
big impacts are senior Jacob Francis
(OL/LB), juniors Ethan Frauenkron
(WR/DB) and Arik Melbo (RB/LB),
and sophomores Zach Olson (WR/DB)
and Austin Swenson (RB/LB). The
Hurricanes should have good depth
as they have 35 players in grades 9-12
on the squad. “We will have a young
team that looks to get better every week
and be playing our best football come
playoff time,” sixth-year coach Cody
Hungerholt said. “Although young, a lot
of guys got experience last year and I
think we have a lot of players that can
play on the varsity level.”
LYLE/PACELLI
The Athletics are looking to rebound
after going 0-8 a year ago and there
is hope with a strong base of players
back. Senior Trey Anderson (RB/
LB) was All-District a year ago and
he heads the list of 10 returning
players. Other top players back include
seniors Jake Truckenmiller (QB/LB),
Dylan Regensheid (TE/DE), David
Christianson (TE/DL), Hunter Bauer
(RB/DB), Caden Hanson (RB/LB)
and Ryan Lammey (OL/DL), juniors
Brady Tufte (RB/DB) and Joel Hartson
(OL/DL), and sophomore Dylan
Christianson (OL/DL). Coach Brad
Walter said L/P has good size to go
with its experience, but the Athletics
have to learn how to win games after
struggling in recent seasons. “We have
a great group of senior leadership that
has been playing together for the last
few seasons,” Walter said. “If we can
get off to a good start it could lead to a
really special season.”

Section 1 9-Man schedule

(All games at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
Sept. 2 — Houston at Spring Grove, Lanesboro at Grand Meadow, LeRoy-Ostrander at Southland, Lyle/Pacelli at Mabel-Canton. Sept. 9 —
Grand Meadow at Heron Lake-Okabena-Fulda, Mabel-Canton at LeRoy-Ostrander, Southland at Lanesboro, Spring Grove at Lyle/Pacelli. Sept.
10 — Kingsland at Houston. Sept. 16 — Grand Meadow at Houston, Lanesboro at LeRoy-Ostrander, Mabel-Canton at Spring Grove, Southland at
Kingsland. Sept. 17 — Cedar Mountain at Lyle/Pacelli (1 p.m.), Sept. 23 — Houston at Lanesboro, Kingsland at Mabel-Canton, LeRoy-Ostrander
at Mountain Lake, Lyle/Pacelli at Southland, Sept. 24 — Spring Grove at Grand Meadow (1 p.m.), Sept. 30 — Grand Meadow at LeRoy-
Ostrander, Houston at Lyle/Pacelli, Kingsland at Lanesboro, Spring Grove at Southland. Oct. 1 — Madelia at Mabel-Canton (1 p.m.), Oct. 7 —
Lanesboro at Nicollett, Lyle/Pacelli at Kingsland, Mabel-Canton at Houston, Southland at Grand Meadow, Oct. 8 — LeRoy-Ostrander at Spring
Grove (5 p.m.). Oct. 14 — Grand Meadow at Lyle/Pacelli, LeRoy-Ostrander at Houston, Mabel-Canton at Lanesboro, Sleepy Eye Saint Mary’s at
Southland, Spring Grove at Kingsland. Oct. 19 — Granada Huntley East Chain at Houston, Kingsland at Grand Meadow, Lanesboro at Spring
Grove, Lyle/Pacelli at LeRoy-Ostrander, Southland at Mabel-Canton.
24 | SPORTS | Saturday, September 3, 2022
A team-by-team look at the NFC
Reuters
NFC EAST
DALLAS COWBOYS
Key Acquisitions: WR James
Washington, DE Dante Fowler Jr., OL
Tyler Smith.
Key Losses: WR Amari Cooper, OT
La’el Collins, DE Randy Gregory, WR
Cedrick Wilson.
What to know: Somewhat
surprisingly, it was the Cowboys
defense that kept it in games most of
last season. Defensive coordinator Dan
Quinn was the NFL’s Assistant Coach
of the Year, as his unit ranked seventh
in the NFL in points allowed (just one
season after the Cowboys surrendered
the most points in team history). The
loss of Gregory can’t be understated,
though. • • • • • •
NEW YORK GIANTS
Key Acquisitions: EDGE Kayvon
Thibodeaux, OL Evan Neal, G Mark
Glowinski, TE Ricky Seals-Jones.
Key Losses: DBs Logan Ryan and
Jabrill Peppers, TE Evan Engram,
Lorenzo Carter.
What to know: The Giants knocked
it out of the park in the draft. With
two picks in the top seven and three in
the top 43, they landed at least three
players who should start immediately.
Instead of using top picks to take skill-
position players (like Barkley, Jones
and Kadarius Toney) who have yet to
pan out, the Giants went for sure things
at cornerstone positions. They drafted
pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux
and offensive lineman Evan Neal.
It probably is going to take another
draft or two before the Giants turn the
corner.
••••••
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Key Acquisitions: WR A.J. Brown,
EDGE Haasan Reddick, LB Kyzir White
and WR Zach Pascal.
Key Losses: DT Hasaan Ridgeway.
What to know: Team president
Howie Roseman was masterful on
the first night of the draft. He landed
DT Jordan Davis, an upgrade over
the only free agent to leave town
(Ridgeway). But he might have made a
more important move with the second
first-round pick, when he trade it for
a top-notch receiver, Tennessee’s A.J.
Brown. If the Eagles can come up with
decent secondary play (the one need
that wasn’t addressed in the offseason),
we could be talking about a lot more
success for Philadelphia.
••••••
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
Key Acquisitions: QB Carson Wentz,
G Andrew Norwell, G Trai Turner and
DE Efe Obanda.
Key Losses: G Brandon Scherff, S
Landon Collins, G Ereck Flowers and
TE Ricky Seals-Jones.
What to know: The Commanders
landed a much-needed deep threat in
Jahan Dotson in the first round and
Phidarian Mathis in the second. Dotson
can stretch the field and Mathis can
condense it for opposing offenses.
Both should be immediate starters.
In the NFC East, though, that’s not
nearly enough. The other teams in
the division either have taken steps
ROCHESTER CENTURY PANTHERS
Front Row: Marc Jacob Hansen, Maguire Keller, Ahmed Hussein, Christopher Garcia-Lara, Ahmante Davis, Jose Mares, Jonathan
Mohawk, Rylin Hulfman, Drew Shin, Matthew Berg and Aiden Yochim. Second Row: Layne Meyer, James Robertson, Brendan
Klassen, Nick Elias, Chris Rothe, Jon Vik, Tom Passe, Austin Buzzard, Ike Vesel, Paul Malone and Erickson Cesar. Third Row: Jack
Esau, Luke LaVoi, John Shannon, Kaine Severson, Noah Clark, Douglas Lee, Logan Day, Griffin Langer and Davin Tuhua. Fourth
Row: Michael Nail, Justin Sutton, Ezra Berkland, Drew Goetz, Harrison Esau, Dane Skime, Junior Nkwelle Mesumbe, Noah Kunz,
Gavin Berg and Didier Franco-Alonso. Fifth Row: Sean Matthew Guingon, Aubry Cristopher Weston, Carson Skime, Rob Falk, Dylan
White, Josh Berg, Adrian Omwamba, Brady Buchmann and Ron Chieves. Back Row: Ryan LaVoi, Gavin Vogel, Wyatt Lundstrom, Eli
Thompson, Sami Abdallah, Jake Wills, Connor Passe and Miles Prochnow.
BEST OF LUCK IN 2022!
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PRO FOOTBALL
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forward or stood pat this offseason. The
Commanders have taken a step back.
NFC NORTH
CHICAGO BEARS
Key Acquisitions: WR K’Neal Harry,
CB Kyler Gordon, S Jaquan Brisker, DE
Justin Jones, LB Nicholas Morrow, WR
Byron Pringle, WR Equanimeous St.
Brown, C Lucas Patrick.
Key Losses: LB Khalil Mack, DT
Akiem Hicks, WR Allen Robinson, LB
Danny Trevathan, DT Eddie Goldman,
RB Tarik Cohen.
What to know: The Bears said
goodbye to more talent than they
brought in during the offseason, at least
on paper. The point of this offseason
was to reshape an aging roster into a
more athletic squad that also allows for
more payroll flexibility in the coming
seasons. The Bears’ offseason focus did
not seem to be on protecting QB Justin
Fields. There will be some new faces on
the offensive line, but the lack of big-
name signings and top draft picks could
mean that Fields spends his second
season like he did his first — trying not
to get sacked.
••••••
DETROIT LIONS
Key Acquisitions: DE Aidan
Hutchinson, WR DJ Chark, WR
Jameson Williams, CB Mike Hughes,
TE Garrett Griffin, S Kerby Joseph.
Key Losses: LB Trey Flowers.
What to know: This is a pivotal
season for second-year Lion Jared Goff.
The 27-year-old QB has three years left
on his contract, but could be let go with
minimal cap repercussions after this
season. Goff has some weapons at his
disposal, too, led by Pro Bowl TE T.J.
Hockenson and WR Jameson Williams,
the team’s first-round pick.
••••••
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Key acquisitions: WR Sammy
Watkins, P Pat O’Donnell, DL Jarran
Reed, CB Keisean Nixon.
Key losses: WR Davante Adams, WR
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, OG Lucas
Patrick, LB Oren Burks, CB Chandon
Sullivan, P Corey Bojorquez, DE
Za’Darius Smith.
What to know: There might be
more of an emphasis on the running
game this season for the Packers, who
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have the second-worst receiving corps
personnel, according to Pro Football
Focus. There’s no replacement for a
guy like Adams, but Sammy Watkins
will do his best alongside Allen Lazard,
Randall Cobb and rookie Christian
Watson. Luckily Green Bay retained
essentially all of its defensive core
while adding Jarran Reed to the
defensive line. Green Bay also has one
of the best secondaries in the league.
••••••
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Key acquisitions: LB Jordan Hicks,
DT Harrison Phillips, DE Za’Darius
Smith, CB Chandon Sullivan, WR
Albert Wilson, OL Jesse Davis.
Key losses: LB Nick Vigil, TE Tyler
Conklin, S Xavier Woods, DT Michael
Pierce, OG Dakota Dozier.
What to know: Kevin O’Connell
took over as head coach in February,
while Ed Donatell was named defensive
coordinator and Mike Pettine was
brought in as assistant head coach
among a handful of other coaching
changes. The Vikings were able to
swipe defensive end Za’Darius Smith
and cornerback Chandon Sullivan from
rival Green Bay, but did lose safety
Xavier Woods. If QB Kirk Cousins plays
at the level he’s capable of from start
to finish, the Vikings are in a prime
position to contend with the Packers.
NFC SOUTH
ATLANTA FALCONS
Key acquisitions: QB Marcus
Mariota, RB Damien Williams, CB
Casey Hayward, DE Lorenzo Carter, LB
Rashaan Evans.
Key losses: QB Matt Ryan, LB
Foyesade Oluokun, WR Russell Gage,
TE Hayden Hurst, DE Dante Fowler, CB
Fabian Moreau.
What to know: The Falcons might
have found a keeper in the draft with
third-round quarterback Desmond
Ridder. But Ryan left big shoes to fill
and Atlanta doesn’t look better on
paper much of anywhere else, either.
Calvin Ridley is suspended, which isn’t
the best news, though that could open
the door for rookie Drake London to
make an immediate impact.
••••••
CAROLINA PANTHERS
Key acquisitions: QB Baker
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Mayfield, S Xavier Woods, RB D’Onta
Foreman, OL Austin Corbett, OL
Bradley Bozeman.
Key losses: QB Cam Newton, CB
Stephon Gilmore, DT DaQuan Jones,
LB Haason Reddick.
What to know: Mayfield is a definite
upgrade for the offense. A bigger
question for the Panthers might be how
much help they can provide Mayfield.
D.J. Moore has been a steady performer
on the outside, but he too often has had
to go it alone as Christian McCaffrey
has battled a variety of injuries. The
health and durability of McCaffrey
still looms large. The defense, with
impact players like Brian Burns, Shaq
Thompson and Derrick Brown, is
probably good enough to give the team
a fighting chance. Now it’s the offense’s
turn to improve.
••••••
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Key acquisitions: DB Tyrann
Mathieu, WR Jarvis Landry, S Marcus
Maye.
Key losses: S Marcus Williams, T
Terron Armstead, S Malcolm Jenkins.
What to know: The Saints
offense was a mess of injuries and
inconsistency in ‘21 in the wake of
Drew Brees’ retirement. The team
leaned into the running game, as well
it should have, given the absence of
Brees and eventually Jameis Winston
(following an ACL tear), not to mention
lead wideout Michael Thomas, who
sat out the entire season. Thomas and
Winston are back, and the Saints added
WR Jarvis Landry in free agency to
go along with Chris Olave in the first
round of the draft. The two biggest
offseason losses, Marcus Williams and
Terron Armstead, were addressed in
free agency (Marcus Maye) and the
draft (Trevor Penning), respectively.
••••••
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Key acquisitions: G Shaquille
Mason, WR Russell Gage, S Logan
Ryan, DL Akiem Hicks.
Key losses: G Ali Marpet, G Alex
Cappa, S Jordan Whitehead, WR Justin
Watson.
What to know: Mason and Gage
are quality additions for an offense
that didn’t need a lot of help once QB
Tom Brady decided to come back for
a 23rd NFL season. The Bucs added
talent along both lines early in the draft
with Logan Hall on defense and Luke
Goedeke on offense, which along with
the signings of Mason and veteran
defensive lineman Akiem Hicks, shows
a commitment to two position groups
that had a lot to do with 2020-21’s title
run. The rest of the roster remains
stacked.
NFC WEST
ARIZONA CARDINALS
Key acquisitions: WR Marquise
Brown, CB Jeff Gladney, LB Nick
Vigil, TE Stephen Anderson, RB Darrel
Williams
Key losses: LB Jordan Hicks, DL
Jordan Phillips, WR Christian Kirk, RB
Chase Edmonds, DE Chandler Jones,
OL Max Garcia, CB Malcolm Butler, CB
Robert Alford
See NFC, Page 26
2022 Schedule
Sept. 2 at New Prague 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 Owatonna 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 Rochester Mayo 7 p.m.
Sept. 24 at Mankato West Noon
Oct. 1 Austin 6 p.m.
Oct. 7 at Northfield 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 Rochester JM 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 at Winona 7 p.m.
 postbulletin.com
A team-by-team look at the AFC
Reuters
AFC EAST
BUFFALO BILLS
Key Acquisitions: WR Jamison
Crowder, RB Duke Johnson, DE
Shaq Lawson, DE Von Miller, TE
O.J. Howard, OG Rodger Saffold, DT
DaQuan Jones, DT Tim Settle, DT
Jordan Phillips, QB Case Keenum
Key Losses: DT Harrison Phillips,
QB Mitch Trubisky, CB Levi Wallace,
RB Matt Breida, DT Vernon Butler,
DE Efe Obada, DE Mario Addison, WR
Cole Beasley, DE Jerry Hughes, WR
Emmanuel Sanders
What to know: Buffalo had the best
defense in the league last season, and
it would appear it only got better. The
Bills reconfigured their front seven,
headlined by Von Miller’s arrival on a
six-year, $120 million contract. QB Josh
Allen also gained a pair of veteran
wide receivers in Jamison Crowder and
Tavon Austin.
••••••
MIAMI DOLPHINS
Key acquisitions: WR Tyreek Hill,
RB Chase Edmonds, WR Cedrick
Wilson, QB Teddy Bridgewater, CB
Keion Crossen, OG Connor Williams,
OT Terron Armstead, RB Sony Michel,
RB Raheem Mostert.
Key losses: WR DeVante Parker, RB
Phillip Lindsay, WR Albert Wilson, OT
Jesse Davis, QB Jacoby Brissett, WR
Mack Hollins, RB Duke Johnson.
What to know: The Dolphins are
coming off their second consecutive
winning season, but in somewhat
shocking fashion, head coach Brian
Flores was fired in January. Mike
McDaniel is at the helm after serving
as the San Francisco 49ers’ offensive
coordinator last season. Bringing in
one of the best deep threats in the game
in Tyreek Hill could be huge for Tua
Tagovailoa’s development.
••••••
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Key acquisitions: CB Terrance
Mitchell, WR/RB Ty Montgomery, LB
Mack Wilson, WR DeVante Parker, S
Jabril Peppers, CB Malcolm Butler.
Key losses: DE Chase Winovich, CB
J.C. Jackson, OL Ted Karras, LB Kyle
Van Noy, RB Brandon Bolden, OG Shaq
Mason, WR N’Keal Harry.
What to know: Although they
added DeVante Parker, the Patriots
still don’t have a true No. 1 receiver.
How that could affect QB Mac Jones’
development is yet to be seen, and
there’s no telling what the offense
is going to look like without Josh
McDaniels calling plays. The minor
moves the Patriots made this offseason
were nothing compared to last
offseason, but the team certainly didn’t
take a step in the wrong direction,
either.
••••••
NEW YORK JETS
Key Acquisitions: S Jordan
Whitehead, TE C.J. Uzomah, OG Laken
Tomlinson, TE Tyler Conklin, K Greg
Zuerlein, CB D.J. Reed, DE Jacob
Martin.
Key Losses: WR Jamison Crowder,
DE Shaq Lawson, OT Morgan Moses,
DE Folorunso Fatukasi.
6 What to know: The Bengals
Rochester John Marshall Rockets
Front Row: Nico Chhin, Caleb Popoca-Lara, Kadan Chuop, Lael Martinez, Cavel Stortz, Austin Galbreath, Alvin Laanonh, Richard Bondoc,
Jacob Hess, Mac Chanthakhoun, Bassel Mahmoud, Evan Hernandez, Salaheldin Buraie and Jasmine Carlin. Second Row: Thang Nguyen,
Scott Glandon, Kyle Riggott, Dominic Pahl, Eddie Bryson, Tyler Grapp, Aaron Moeckly, Avery Moore, Storm Soto, Tristan Bryant, Lucas Fisher,
Jake Bailen, Alex Beise, James Knutson, Corey Howard, Brandon Stanek, Matt Bitz and Travis Magle. Third Row: Tayten Hoelzle, Asher
Brown, Xzavion Johnson Weets, Jack Danielson, Jack Limuti, Kyle Hikes, Ibrahim Sheikhibrahim, Davari Carter, Jacob Noble, Wyette Stanton,
Ivinn Mom and Darius Jordan. Fourth Row: Ben Rieder, Jacob Brumm, Colin Ness, Ethyn Bertschinger, Tevin Laanonh, Angel Garcia, Ja’Marion
Orr, Eliah Ladu, Karlos Thurman, Rylan McCreary-Kujawa and LeeAndre Harvey. Fifth Row: Jeremiah Wright, Jaricho Mims, Kalon Senevisai,
Nolan Laack, Amir Omrani, Caden Ngoun, Ali Baba, Calvin Dang, Keegan Schulte and Ty’Shawn Beane. Back Row: Keondre Bryant, Michael
Nicometo, Jordan Bell, Tate Zeller, Haron Phillips, Zach Ladu, Jaxon Proper, Nolan Radtke and Jacob Hansen.
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Physical Therapy
PRO FOOTBALL
What to know: New York improved
its secondary, signing safety Jordan
Whitehead and cornerback D.J. Reed,
while also re-signing safety Lamarcus
Joyner. The Jets used the fourth-overall
pick to select cornerback Ahmad
Gardner. New York had to address
its pass rush, and did so by signing
Martin and drafting Jermaine Johnson
II in the first round. Former Ohio
State wideout Garrett Wilson was also
drafted in the first round, and second-
round pick Breece Hall was added at
running back.
AFC NORTH
BALTIMORE RAVENS
Key Acquisitions: S Marcus
Williams, OT Morgan Moses, S Kyle
Hamilton, TE Charlie Kolar, RB Tyler
Blade.
Key Losses: WR Marquise Brown,
WR Sammy Watkins, DT Brandon
Williams.
What to know: After just the second
losing season in the 14-year reign
of coach John Harbaugh, Baltimore
could again be the force it was in 2020,
when it went 11-5 and won a Wild-Card
game before losing to Buffalo in the
divisional round. The run game is a
priority, led by a big offensive line.
Defensively, the pass rush is a question
mark, but Williams and Hamilton are
nice additions to the secondary.
••••••
CINCINNATI BENGALS
Key Acquisitions: OT La’el Collins,
G Alex Cappa, C Ted Karras, TE
Hayden Hurst, CB Eli Apple.
Key Losses: TE C.J. Uzomah.
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
Steve Jacobson / Shutterstock.com
addressed their offensive line through
free agency, bringing in La’el Collins
(three years, $21 million), Alex Cappa
(four years, $35 million) and Ted
Karras (three years, $18 million). They
addressed a different position group
through the draft, selecting defensive
backs Dax Hill, Cam Taylor-Britt and
Tycen Anderson to go along with the
re-signing of Eli Apple.
••••••
CLEVELAND BROWNS
Key Acquisitions: QB Deshaun
Watson, WR Amari Cooper, DE
Jadeveon Clowney, WR Jakeem Grant,
QB Jacoby Brissett, DT Taven Bryan.
Key Losses: QB Baker Mayfield, WR
Jarvis Landry, TE Austin Hooper, FB
Andy Janovich, CB M.J. Stewart.
What to know: Beyond Watson —
who’ll be suspended for the first 11
games of the season — the Browns
made some shrewd moves, including
bringing in Jacoby Brissett ($4.65
million), a decent insurance policy
at quarterback. Amari Cooper didn’t
cost the team very much, while adding
Taven Bryan (1 year, $4 million) and
re-signing Jadeveon Clowney (1 year,
$10 million) were wise, frugal decisions
that will help the defensive front.
••••••
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Key Acquisitions: QB Mitch
Trubisky, QB Kenny Pickett, WR
George Pickens, WR Miles Boyken.
Key Losses: QB Ben Roethlisberger,
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR James
Washington, WR Ray-Ray McCloud.
What to know: The Steelers’ success
in 2022 could depend as much upon its
defensive improvement as it does the
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| SPORTS | 25
play of its QB. Pittsburgh finished last
in the NFL in rushing yards allowed in
2021 and made no notable changes to
its front seven. The good news: All-Pro
Cameron Heyward will again anchor
the defensive line, with Tyson Alualu
— who played in only two games last
season — back and ready to go.
AFC SOUTH
HOUSTON TEXANS
Key Acquisitions: CB Steven
Nelson, G A.J. Cann, DE Mario
Addison, LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin, LB
Kamu Grugier-Hill.
Key Losses: QB Deshaun Watson, S
Justin Reid, LB Jake Martin, QB Tyrod
Taylor.
What to know: Watson is the biggest
headline grabber, but the team also let
Justin Reid leave for Kansas City and
top backup passer Tyrod Taylor leave
for New York. The Texans will rally
around second-year quarterback Davis
Mills and a strong rookie class. Derek
Stingley Jr., Kenyon Green and Jalen
Pitre are names to watch in particular.
••••••
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Key Acquisitions: QB Matt Ryan,
DE Yannick Ngakoue, CB Stephon
Gilmore, CB Brandon Facyson.
Key Losses: QB Carson Wentz, OT
Eric Fisher, G Mark Glowinski, CB
Xavier Rhodes, CB Rock Ya-Sin.
What to know: Ryan, the longtime
Falcon and four-time Pro Bowler,
should stabilize the quarterback
position for a team that has seen a
lot of ups and downs at the position.
Gilmore was a big dollar addition
from Carolina who should help in the
secondary, and Ngakoue can provide
more of a pass rush than the team was
able to muster last fall. The line took
some hits in the offseason, and the wide
receiving pecking order still needs to be
sorted out.
••••••
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Key Acquisitions: WR Christian
Kirk, G Brandon Scherff, TE Evan
Engram, LB Foyesade Oluokun, CB
Darious Williams, DT Foley Fatukasi,
WR Zay Jones.
Key Losses: LB Myles Jack, G
Andrew Norwell, WR DJ Chark, G A.J.
Cann, LB Damien Wilson.
What to know: Many of the new
additions, while they represent
upgrades at their individual positions,
also come at great cost in money and
length of contract. Kirk in particular
opened a lot of eyes with his four-year,
$72 million deal, but he also provides
an explosive weapon on the outside that
QB Trevor Lawrence didn’t have last
year. In the draft, the Jaguars added
Georgia standout end Travon Walker
with the No. 1 overall pick.
••••••
TENNESSEE TITANS
Key Acquisitions: WR Robert
Woods, TE Austin Hooper, T Jamarco
Jones, S A.J. Moore, DE DeMarcus
Walker.
Key Losses: WR A.J. Brown, WR
Julio Jones, G Rodger Saffold, G David
Quessenberry, LB Rashaan Evans, LB
Jayon Brown.
See AFC, Page 29
2022 Schedule
Sept. 2 Mankato West 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 at Austin 7 p.m.
Sept. 17 Northfield 1 p.m.
Sept. 24 at Rochester Mayo 5 p.m.
Sept. 30 at New Prague 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 Owatonna 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 at Rochester Century 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 Stewartville 7 p.m.
26 | SPORTS | Saturday, September 3, 2022 | Post Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.
 postbulletin.com

NFC CB Troy Hill.

Key Losses: Whitworth, Miller,
Key losses: RB Raheem Mostert,
OL Laken Tomlinson, DE Arden Key,
Blythe, DT Quinton Jefferson, LB
Uchenna Nwosu, LB Joel Iyiegbuniwe.
From page 24 Darious Williams, Woods, P Johnny DT D.J. Jones, CB K’Waun Williams, S Key losses: QB Russell Wilson, LB
Hekker. Jaquiski Tartt, OG Tom Compton. Carlos Dunlap II, DE Kerry Hyder Jr.,
What to know: In addition to What to know: Losing Laken TE Gerald Everett, CB D.J. Reed, LB
the losses on the field, head coach Tomlinson and Tom Compton certainly Bobby Wagner.
What to know: After losing Kirk, Sean McVay had to replace offensive hurts the 49ers’ offensive line, which What to know: QB Geno Smith is no
the Cardinals were able to bring in a coordinator Kevin O’Connell, who is going to need to bring its A-game to Russell Wilson, but some great receivers
receiver who might be an even better fit became the Vikings’ head coach. Liam protect Trey Lance in his first season in Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf could
in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense, Marquise Coen — who spent seven seasons at the as a full-time starter. It seems like the help the offense produce. Tight end
Brown. Darrel Williams is also a nice get University of Kentucky as its offensive front office was a bit lackadaisical this Noah Fant came over from Denver as
for an offense that lost Chase Edmonds. coordinator and QBs coach — replaces summer, but at the same time, you have part of the Wilson trade, along with
Losing edge rusher Chandler Jones O’Connell. The Rams return 16 of to wonder what more this team actually Drew Lock, who could take the back seat
hurts on paper, but he is 32 years old and 22 starters and will need key ones — needs to get back to the Super Bowl. to Smith. Kenneth Walker III could play
wanted a rich payday. The Cardinals are Stafford, Cooper Kupp, Jalen Ramsey — Lance’s development is obviously going a large role in the backfield in his rookie
still going to be in the playoff mix in the to remain healthy. to be the top storyline throughout this season, linking up with Rashaad Penny.
loaded NFC West. •••••• season. Aside from the quarterback situation,
•••••• SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS •••••• the Seahawks are in position to be better
LOS ANGELES RAMS Key acquisitions: CB Charvarius SEATTLE SEAHAWKS nearly everywhere else on offense and
Key Acquisitions: LB Bobby Wagner, Ward, DT Hassan Ridgeway, LB Oren Key acquisitions: TE Noah Fant, QB even spent a first-round pick on an
WR Allen Robinson, RB Kyren Williams, Burks, TE Tyler Kroft, S George Odum. Drew Lock, CB Artie Burns, C Austin offensive lineman.

ROCHESTER LOURDES EAGLES

2022 Schedule
Sept. 2 at Chatfield 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 St. Charles 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 Pine Island 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 at La Crescent-Hokah 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 Cannon Falls 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 at Plainview-Elgin-Millville 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 at Zumbrota-Mazeppa 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 Lake City 7 p.m.

Front Row: Jacob Geier, Sutton Fix, Tareq Tareq, Robert Bandhuin, Edward Lovely, Robert Fitzgerald, Abe Lovely, Chase Carroll,
Gabriel Quinones, Michael Sieve and Abram Hanna. Second Row: Elizabeth Wetzel, Silas Pederson, Deacon Langsdale, Mardoche
Pierson, Chris Johnson, Chris Simonson, Trevor Heindel, Eli Haight, AJ Quimby and Jonathan Bergmann.Third Row: Eric Vareberg,
Hudson Fix, Kevin Adeng Kur, Adam Sellner, Nels Pierson, Eric Nelson, Deston Olson, Caleb Akinbolu, Will Roth and Danny
Wildfeyer. Fourth Row: Patrick Streefland, Jada Jubek, Thatcher Bochmann, Collin Weinschenk, Aidan Jahns, John O’Connell and
Zach Guyer. Back Row: Mike Kesler, Jeff Snider, Brandon Seguin, Brent Lichty, John-Howard Carroll, Demonte Nelson, Marcos
Kesler, Ben Witter and Nic Jensen.

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 postbulletin.com Post Bulletin, Rochester, Minn. | Saturday, September 3, 2022 | SPORTS | 27

Joe Ahlquist / Post Bulletin file photo

Standout defensive lineman Ethan Kramer (56) leads Rochester Mayo onto the field prior to a game against New Prague last season at Mayo High School Stadium. Kramer is one of the top
defensive ends in Section 1AAAAA and southeastern Minnesota.

Oh brother: Mayo’s Kramer taking over leadership role

BY ALEX VANDENHOUTEN
Post Bulletin
Ethan Kramer knows how
beneficial it can be when an
upperclassman takes the time
to mentor an underclassman.
Kramer was a Mayo High
School sophomore when then-
senior Hayden Myers took him
under his wing during what
was the height of the COVID-
19 pandemic in the fall of 2020.
Myers’ leadership was
crucial for Kramer.
Myers and his father taught
Kramer proper weightlifting
form as well as the amount
of work needed to be a
successful varsity football
player.
“He and his dad taught me
everything I know technique-
wise to get me to where I am
today,” Kramer said. “There
were a lot of late nights and
a lot of extra work that went
into that.”
It didn’t take long for Kramer
to see results and soon he
would joke with Myers that he
was one day going to be better
than him on the field and in
the weight room.
Both were lofty goals. Myers
was a three-year starter at
center for the Spartans and
held the school’s hang clean
record.
Yet, Kramer has lived up to
his own expectations.
He has become a two-way
standout, starting since his
sophomore year, but really
coming into his own a year ago
as a junior. He finished with 48
tackles, 11 of them for losses,
and seven sacks at defensive
end while also playing guard
for a Mayo team that reached
the state tournament for the
first time since 1996. In the
weight room, though, is where
Myers would be most proud of
his former understudy.
Mayo coach Donny Holcomb
says Kramer “is as strong as
an ox” and that was made
evident back in April when
Kramer gave Myers’ hang
clean record a shot. He had
a hunch that he was going to
get it.
“I told (Hayden) the night
before that it was going to
happen,” Kramer said with a
chuckle.
The next day Kramer set
the new record of 320 pounds.
More than three months later,
he broke his own record at 325.
Now suddenly Kramer finds
himself in the exact same
shoes as Myers two years ago:
Holder of the school’s hang
clean record, entering his
third year as a starter and now
with his own sophomore to
take under his wing. Only this
sophomore is someone he’s
known for a long while, his
own brother, Casey.
Ethan admits it’s pretty
cool to be able to play with his
brother — even cooler that
they get to play right next to
each other, with Casey at left
tackle and Ethan at left guard.
“It’s kind of a surreal
feeling,” Ethan said. “I just
remember back when we
were little kids and my game
would finish up and then I’d
have to run over and watch
him play. But it’s like, he’s
my little child. I take him to
practice. I make sure he’s doing
everything right for the most
part. But it’s definitely a really
cool experience for me. To
kind of see him grow into the
person he is and I mean, he’s
a big kid, too. Sometimes it’s
kind of unfair, but I still have
that big brother mentality on
him. So I kind of still beat him
up a little bit, but it’s definitely
a lot of fun.”
Casey isn’t the only one
Ethan views as like his child.
He takes his responsibility
as a senior captain seriously
with this group becoming
his other family. It makes
Holcomb’s life as a coach just a
little bit easier.
“He’s just an awesome kid,”
Holcomb said. “He’ll
do anything you ask him to
do. He’s a great leader,
awesome attitude.”
That attitude has been
invaluable for a Spartans team
that is flying under the radar
a bit after a state tournament
run from a year ago. It makes
sense after the graduation
of quarterback Bennett
Ellsworth, running back Noah
Smith and record-setting wide
receiver Cayden Holcomb, a
trio that helped fuel a high-
powered offense to average
more than 40 points per game.
Those three are all receiving
scholarship money to play
football at the next level.
Yet, Kramer and company
are fine with having a chip on
their shoulder and they intend
on keeping the momentum
from last year going.
“As a team we’ve talked
about the underdog mentality,”
Kramer said. “Just keep
fighting, that’s really the way
I kind of view it, but I think
everybody has a good mentality
and I think everybody has their
eyes on getting back to where
we were last year and going
even further.
“You can tell while we’re in
the weight room. It’s been fun
to watch as a senior, some of
these younger guys get after
it, too. But state has left a lot
of doors open for us and I
definitely can feel that energy
around, like everyone. And I
think a lot of the guys have
really bought into what it
means and what it takes to win
a state championship.”

Rochester Mayo Spartans

2022 Schedule
Sept. 2 at Owatonna 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 Northfield 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 at Rochester Century 7 p.m.
Sept. 24 Rochester JM 5 p.m.
Sept. 30 Mankato West 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 at New Prague 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 Austin 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 at Byron 7 p.m.

First Row: Carlos Rangel, Liam Butterfass, Carter Holcomb, LeBron See-Stadstad, Caleb Socwell, Spencer Kober, Kai Kobayashi and Calder
Sheehan. Second Row: Will Smith, Isaiah Beale, Calvin Baum, Riley Thompson, James Mankaka, Will Kipp, Rudy Lozoya and Jackson Tran.
Third Row: Tore Papenfuss, Ethan Kramer, Alec Sadowy, Ethan Post, Carson Eide, Adam Rodriguez, Ruben Del Baño and Jeremy Hlebichuk.
Fourth Row: Aidan Ris, Jacob Pronga, Zach Condon, Jorge Martinez, Brennan Jones, Keaton Wall, Logan Burger, Muhammad Fadlia and Rees
Grimsrud. Fifth Row: Kook Mabor, Ben McCann, Brig Poppe, Ethan Claire, Remington Gau, Casey Kramer, Lucas Peterson, Caleb Nienow and
Maddox Meyer. Back Row: Sommy Achebo, Braedon Mengis, Garrick Beale, Monte Priebe, Gunnar Grimsrud, Jamie Kahler, Bob Sheehan,
Cory Urban and Donny Holcomb.

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 28 | SPORTS | Saturday, September 3, 2022 | Post Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.
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A
F

Traci Westcott / Post Bulletin file photod

Stewartville senior Peyton Byrne is one of the top two-way linemen in southeastern Minnesota and also a throwing star during the track and field season in the spring. T
t
m

Stewartville’s Byrne has gone non-stop to star status r

BY PAT RUFF
Post Bulletin
STEWARTVILLE — Peyton Byrne
doesn’t look like this by accident, 6-foot-
3 and 275 pounds of explosive muscle.
Nope, it’s what you get when you
work out for 2 hours each morning,
follow that up with 9 hours of pouring
concrete and other rugged construction
work, then top it off with a couple more
hours of work in the gym before bed.
Having a big 6-foot-3 frame is a nice
place to start. But Byrne, a Stewartville
senior, has taken advantage of every
inch of it. He’s used it to become
one of the top football lineman in
southeastern Minnesota and in the
spring, one of the state’s premier shot
put and discus throwers.
Right now, though, his mind is on
that first sport, football. It’s been a
summer of getting ready as Byrne
and his newly constructed team try to
somehow match what it did last year,
but hopefully with a better ending. The
Tigers, who were loaded with standout
seniors in 2021, went a perfect 8-0 in
the regular season. But they were
then handed a stunning 22-21 overtime
loss by Byron in the first round of the
playoffs, letting go of a14-point lead in
the final 2 minutes of regulation.
It was a crushing blow, though one
that’s served as motivation.
“Right after that game, we were super
bummed out,” said Byrne, a two-way
starter for the Tigers. “But one week
later we all picked our heads back up
and looked at it as a great revenge story.
It pressed us to work harder. And a lot
of us have.”
Fourth-year Stewartville coach
Garrett Mueller directs an off-season
workout program called the “Iron
Tiger.” Byrne eats it up.
“(Mueller) is a great guy and he
makes everything fun,” Byrne said.
“He connects with us; it’s like he is one
of us. And his entire staff, they can all
relate to us.”
The “Iron Tiger” goes on all of June
and July, with players showing up for
2-hour workouts that begin with speed-
and-agility stuff, then weight lifting.
Byrne estimates that 75 percent of the
team showed up daily for that. He was
certainly in that group.
But it’s safe to say that he and
teammate Jamie Hart were the only
ones who followed those morning
workouts up with 9 hours of
construction work, then more working
out in the gym after that. Both guys
work for Byrne Construction, owned by
Peyton’s father.
It wasn’t easy to find motivation to
do that much. But if Mueller were to
point to one guy who he figured would
be up to the task, it would be Byrne,
his biggest, best and most motivating
player. Byrne doesn’t save the
motivating for himself, he spreads his
can-do attitude to everyone around him.
He does it with a smile on his face.
“I think it’s my work ethic and
attitude that makes me good,” said
Byrne, whose older brother Shane
Byrne — his lifelong athletic idol —
was also a standout football player and
track-and-field thrower at Stewartville.
“Because even in those hard days of
workouts, I feel like I have to put a fake
smile on and pump up my teammates.
Then, all of a sudden, everyone is
pumped up.”
Mueller loves Byrne’s attitude and
approach.
“Peyton is the heart and soul of our
offensive and defensive lines, that is for
sure,” Mueller said. “And he is one of
our top leaders, for sure. He’s a vocal
kid who does a great job of keeping
A
W
b
kids excited in games and practices. t
He’s constantly talking and giving t
feedback to kids. He’s a fun player to a
coach.” o
p
Byrne is also a delight to Mueller
because of his abilities on the football A
field. He played offensive tackle and
defensive end last year, but will shift to
the interior of the defensive line this B
season. He combines length, physicality W
and athleticism to make him an elite
offensive tackle. T
“Peyton is a great example of being D
not just a big slow guy,” Mueller said.
S
“He is big and athletic and runs really b
well for his size. All of that shows up in h
track and field, too. In his throwing, it g
transfers really well.” e
Which sport that Byrne pursues in G
college is a question. He has the ability o
to do football or track and field at the t
Division II level at least. He’s made no t
a
decision there yet. All that is really on
P
his mind right now is football. T
He’s headed into this season with a W
smile on his face, as usual. B
“I’ve grown up with these kids; we’re
like a family,” Byrne said. “That makes
it fun.”

Rushford-Peterson Trojans
2022 Schedule
Sept. 2 at Medford 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 Fillmore Central 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 at Kenyon-Wanamingo 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 Wabasha-Kellogg 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 at Winona Cotter 8 p.m.
Oct. 7 Randolph 7 p.m.
Oct. 13 Hayfield 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 at Faribault B.A. 7 p.m.

Front Row: Carter Skree, Edyson Schwindinger, Jaxson Meldahl, Matthew Hermanson, Carter Kopperud, Conner Vaughn, Landon
Dahl, Noah Anderson, Avery Kammerer, Matthew Peterson, Caden Mattson, Will LaFleur and Landon Volkman. Second Row:
Greg Gile, Matthew Hengel, Isaac Oian, Devin Anderson, Dominic Corcoran, Caden Johnson, Lucas Brand, Cade Hanson, Quintin
Betthauser, Jonah Bunke, Cadel Carter and Jack Lawston. Third Row: Zach Baker, Jordan Zibrowski, Camdyn Anderson-Ingram,
Titan Tekautz, Sampson Wilkemeyer, Beau Grindland, Dawson Bunke, Bowen Woodard, Evan Skalet, Evan Kammerer, Ethan
Bedard, Stanley Johnson, and Colten Jenkins. Back Row: Peter Walker, Grady Hengel, Dalton Hoel, Miles Anderson, Andrew
Wilkemeyer, Jackson Bergan, Owen Fenske, and Riley Tesch.

BEST OF LUCK IN 2022!

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 postbulletin.com Post Bulletin, Rochester, Minn. | Saturday, September 3, 2022 | SPORTS | 29

St. Charles Saints

2022 Schedule
Sept. 2 Lake City 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 at Rochester Lourdes 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 Chatfield 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 at Dover-Eyota 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 Triton 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 at Goodhue 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 Caledonia 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 at Lewiston-Altura 7 p.m.

Front Row: Braxton Wohlferd, Jackson Vangundy, Pedro Rojas, Ryan Kreidermacher, Bryndon Koeppel, Saevian Hong, Eddie
Deanda, Cade Delger, Braeden Williamson, Cordell Thomann and Ethan Chelmowski.Second Row: Preston Dahl, Keenan Christie,
Brock Bush, Mason Baertsch, Cale Winfield, Brandon Tepole, Lux Teed, Chris Oberg, Greyson Mauskemo, Colton Mathison and
Gavin Manley.Third Row: Josh Krohse, Christopher Hilton, Ethan Hanson, Logan Gaynor, Luke Decker, Brock Decker, Charles
Davidson, Eddie Burlingame, Trey Bauer, Jack Arndt and Alex Burlingame.Fourth Row: Ruben Macias, Tyson Matzke, Sawyer
Wendt, Jackson Todd, Carson Sanders, Matthew Storm, Gavin Glover, Chase Kieffer, Owen Maloney, Jackson Loga and Holden Bye.
Back Row: Coben Reps, Cody Reps, Michael Howard, Kevin Arce, Payton Olson, Chace Kobs, Anthony Dejaeger, Tyler Root, Henry
Davidson and Tytan Small.

BEST OF LUCK IN 2022!

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AFC Smith-Schuster, WR Marquez Valdez-

From page 25
What to know: The team tried to
odraft Brown’s clone when they took
Treylon Burks in the first round, but
those are big shoes to fill. The Titans
might have upgraded with other
receiving targets Robert Woods and
Austin Hooper, though that depends on
Woods’ health. The offensive line might
be a different story. That unit struggled
to keep QB Ryan Tannehill clean, lost
two regular contributors and brought
aboard Jamarco Jones, who was long
on potential in Seattle but not long on
production.
AFC WEST
DENVER BRONCOS
Key acquisitions: EDGE Nik
Bonitto, DL D.J. Jones, QB Russell
Wilson.
Key losses: QB Teddy Bridgewater,
TE Noah Fant, DL Shelby Harris, QB
Drew Lock.
What to know: Wilson, 33, took the
Seahawks to a pair of Super Bowls and
beat the Broncos in one of them. He’ll
have a better line and a sneaky good
group of receivers. Landing Oklahoma
edge Nik Bonnito and signing Randy
Gregory are big for a defense that
opens a season without Von Miller for
the first time since 2010. A secondary
that showed signs of growth might
approach special if second-year corner
Patrick Surtain II gets enough help.
The NFL couldn’t wait to schedule
Wilson’s return to Seattle, he and the
Broncos go there in Week 1.
••••••
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Key Acquisitions: WR JuJu
Scantling, DE George Karlaftis, CB
Trent McDuffie, RB Ronald Jones, LB
Leo Chenal.
Good luck this Season!
Key Losses: WR Tyreek Hill, RB
Darrel Williams, LB Anthony Hitchens,
S Tyrann Mathieu, CB Charvarius
St Charles - Saints!
Ward, CB Mike Hughes.
What to know: QB Patrick Mahomes
had the (statistically) worst season of
his career, which is still outstanding
All roads lead to...
by most QBs standards: 4,839 yards,
37 TDs, 13 interceptions. As far as
Mahomes’ weapons go: Hill is gone, but
one of the NFL’s best tight ends, Travis
Kelce, remains, while Smith-Schuster
and Valdez-Scantling have arrived. A
slight overhaul of the defense brought
Karlaftis, McDuffie and Chenal in the
draft and safety Justin Reid from the
Texans in free agency.
••••••
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
Key acquisitions: WR Davante
Adams, OLB Chandler Jones, DE Bilal
Nichols
Key losses: WR Zay Jones, CB Casey
Hayward, DT Quinton Jefferson, WR
Zay Jones, QB Marcus Mariota
What to know: Adams is the No. 1
wide receiver Derek Carr coveted, and
a reunion with his college teammate 507.932.8100
should bring a spark and nuance to State HWY 74 and I-90 • St. Charles, MN
the Raiders, already set with a big-play
threat at tight end in Darren Waller.
www.whitewaterjeep.com
The Raiders stocked up on defense.
Chandler Jones is a legitimate pass Sebastian Joseph, LB Khalil Mack, LB nickel CB Bryce Callahan (one-year
rusher, but at 32 there are doubts about Kyle Van Noy, RB Isaiah Spiller. deal) and backup QB Chase Daniel.
how great of a role he’ll play into the Key losses: TE Jared Cook, DT The pairing of Mack and Joey Bosa in
future. Giving Jones a sidekick the Linval Joseph, CB Chris Harris, OG front of a spearhunting group in the
caliber of Maxx Crosby might bring a Michael Schofield. secondary could have L.A. set up to
revival. What to know: Defense was a sweet make a major move in the AFC West.
•••••• spot for the Chargers in the open
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS market, scoring Jackson, Joseph and
Key acquisitions: TE Gerald Everett, trading for Mack. L.A. also had a series
CB JC Jackson, OG Zion Johnson, DT of under-the-radar moves, including

Southland Rebels
2022 Schedule
Sept. 2 LeRoy-Ostrander 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 at Lanesboro 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 at Kingsland 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 Lyle/Pacelli 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 Spring Grove 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 at Grand Meadow 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 at Mabel-Canton 7 p.m.

Front Row: Cash Day, Cody Krull, Erick Padilla, Isaac Felten, Ethan Stern, Andrew Timm, Jack Bruggeman.Second Row: Derek Fredericksen,
Sam Boe, Odear Granle, Jake Stroup, Travis Kirtz, Noah Bauer, Bradley Lagerstedt, Riley Jax.Third Row: Maverick Hanna, Noah Goergen,
Tyson Stevens, Landon Chilman, Nicholas Edland, Jake Chisholm, Timmy Hogfeldt, Kaleb Yunker, Connor Popenhagen, Karter Harshman.
Fourth Row: Carson Wagner, Cameron Bryan, Beau Chaffee, J.J. Smith, Royce Jax, Wyatt Krull, Easton Meyer, Lawson Jax.Back Row: Head
Coach J.J. Galle, Coach Cory Nagele, Coach Mike Wiste, Coach Kurt Sorgatz, Coach Dustin Wiste.

BEST OF LUCK IN 2022!

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30 | SPORTS | Saturday, September 3, 2022 | Post Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.
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Stewartville Tigers
2022 Schedule
Sept. 2 at Mankato East 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 Albert Lea 7 p.m.
Sept. 17 at Faribault 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 Byron 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 Red Wing 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 at Kasson-Mantorville 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 Winona 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 at John Marshall 7 p.m.
Front Row: Mackenzie King, Lexi Buntrock, Ella Stier, Allison Johnson, Gabriela Hameister, Ava Kruger, Arianna Woitas, Makyah
Thompson, Alyvia Zincke, Bella Schwichtenberg, Savanna Gunderson and Kylie Medinnus. Second Row: Leslie Kundert, Sofia
Schandorff, Everett Ness, Oscar Jorgensen, Carter Dick, Elijah Riggin, Dylan Scanlan, Luke Eastman, Justice Deno, Carson Meyer,
Isaac Kuisle, Colten Zigan, Dylan Hoot, Hunter Ramaker, Aiden Zigan, Anthony Nelson, Tegan Malone and Henry Tschetter. Third
Row: Brady Ploenzke, Kyle Schroeder, Ayden Helder, Ridge Hatz, Kyle Carolan, Carter Miller, Jayce Klug, Sawyer Wood, Isaac
Larson, Ty Brown, Charlie Wood, Graysen Schneider, Caleb Jannsen, Parker Wangen, Drew Jelinek, Kjell Lunaas, Jamie Hart and
Lincoln Dube. Fourth Row: William Heiman, Kameron En, Evan Riggin, Bryant Rindels, Ian Hoot, Drew Anderson, Tor Lunaas, Tarin
Conlin, Peyton Byrne, Isaac Larson, Brady Hault, Zack Schreiber, Owen Sikkink, Colton Parker and John Becker. Back Row: Coaches
Ian Naatz, Garth Tschetter, Joey Strike, Alan May, Alex Hain, Ken Mueller, Rodney Smith, Joe Conger, Dylan Smallwood, Ramsey
Miller, Brandon Hoth and Pat Ramp.

BEST OF LUCK IN 2022!

WE proudly SUPPORT Stewartville Tigers!
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NFL Baltimore Ravens at Jacksonville Jaguars,

noon, CBS
Los Angeles Chargers at Arizona Cardinals,
3:05 p.m., CBS
Miami Dolphins at San Francisco 49ers,
3:05 p.m., Fox
From page 22 Houston Texans at Miami Dolphins, noon, Las Vegas Raiders at Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs at Cincinnati Bengals,
CBS 3:05 p.m., CBS 3:25 p.m., CBS
Sunday, Nov. 27 Los Angeles Rams at Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas
Chicago Bears at New York Jets, noon, Fox
3:25 p.m., Fox Raiders, 3:25 p.m., CBS
Denver Broncos at Carolina Panthers,
Cincinnati Bengals at Tennessee Titans,
noon, Fox New Orleans Saints at San Francisco Indianapolis Colts at Dallas Cowboys, 7:20
noon, CBS p.m., NBC
49ers, 3:25 p.m., Fox
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Cleveland Atlanta Falcons at Washington Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles, Monday, Dec. 5
Browns, noon, Fox Commanders, noon, Fox 7:20 p.m., NBC New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay
Monday, Nov. 28 Buccaneers, 7:15 p.m., ESPN
Pittsburgh Steelers at Indianapolis Colts, •••••
7:15 p.m., ESPN

GOOD LUCK COBRAS!

WEEK 14
••••• Thurs., Dec. 8
WEEK 13 Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Rams,
Thursday, Dec. 1 7:15 p.m., Amazon
Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots, 7:15 Sunday, Dec. 11
p.m., Amazon New York Jets at Buffalo Bills, noon, CBS
Sunday, Dec. 4 Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals,
Pittsburgh Steelers at Atlanta Falcons, noon, CBS
noon, CBS Houston Texans at Dallas Cowboys, noon, Fox
Denver Broncos at Baltimore Ravens, Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions, noon,
noon, CBS Fox
Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants,
noon, Fox noon, Fox
Jacksonville Jaguars at Detroit Lions, noon, Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers,
ELLINGSON IS YOUR WATER MANAGEMENT PARTNER Fox noon, CBS
FROM CONCEPT TO CONSTRUCTION Cleveland Browns at Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans,
noon, CBS noon, CBS
Our full-service solutions help you make more informed New York Jets at Minnesota Vikings, noon, Miami Dolphins at Los Angeles Chargers,
decisions about water on your land. Learn how a water CBS 3:05 p.m., CBS
management plan can maximize productivity on your operation. Washington Commanders at New York Tampa Bay Buccaneers at San Francisco
Giants, noon, Fox 49ers, 3:25 p.m., Fox
Tennessee Titans at Philadelphia Eagles, Carolina Panthers at Seattle Seahawks,
Visit EllingsonCompanies.com noon, Fox 3:25 p.m., Fox
BUILDING WINNING TEAMS
Call 888.527.2294 SINCE 1970 Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams,
3:05 p.m., Fox See NFL, Page 31

Triton Cobras
2022 Schedule
Sept. 2 La Crescent-Hokah 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 at Goodhue 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 at Plainview-Elgin-Millville 7 p.m.
Sept. 24 Caledonia 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 at St. Charles 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 Lewiston-Altura 7 p.m.
Oct. 13 at Chatfield 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 Dover-Eyota 7 p.m.

Front Row: Isaac Gonzalez, Matthew Roussopoulos, Owen Garness, Jude Gosse, Gabby Kirya, Paige DeVetter, Maddie Jarrett,
Carter Streiff, Liam Schlichting, Boe Munnikhuysen, Brayden Rohwer. Second Row: Austin Schlichting, Max Oakland, Dustyn
Skogen, Tanner Green, Andrew Fate, Parker Amiot, Francis Price, Isaac Madison, Maxwell Olson-Ramer, Zach Barker. Third Row:
Craig Knutson, Kaden Garness, Isaiah Selthun, Joiser Ortiz, Gavin Mergen, Austan Adreon, Carson Koenigs, Kaeden Ellingson,
Bronson Freerksen, Hunter Stark, Jayce Leonardo, Shane Lasker, Cole Kodada. Fourth Row: Sophia Lapham, Abi Lecy, Alyvea Corley,
Anastazia Kozisek, Gianna Lamb, Holly Harvey, Topanga Spencer, Autumn Dean, Kerisma McMahan, Bella Shake, Morgan Luhman,
Alexis Clement, Savannah Peterson. Back Row: Coach Brady Essig, Coach Colt Ullom, Head Coach Brandon Neseth, Coach Kevin
Kreuz, Coach Sam Storlie.

BEST OF LUCK IN 2022!

WE proudly SUPPORT Triton cobras!
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 postbulletin.com Post Bulletin, Rochester, Minn. | Saturday, September 3, 2022 | SPORTS | 31

Wabasha-Kellogg FALCONS
2022 Schedule
Sept. 1 at Cleveland 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 Randolph 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 Winona Cotter 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 at Rushford-Peterson 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 Hayfield 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 at Faribault B.A. 7 p.m.
Oct. 13 Fillmore Central 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 at Kenyon-Wanamingo 7 p.m.

Front Row: Josie Wodele, Grahmm Klaus, Dominic Holzmann, Nadia Smith, Hunter Arens, Brayden Martin, Matthew Fox, Jaxon Lackey,
Andrew Swanson, Tayler Hawkins, Kameron Collier, Addy Hester and Natalie Meyer. Second Row: Ty Gaedtke, Landyn Walters, Keith
Edirk, Griffin Bentz, Charlie Traun, Lamar Greene, Garret Pavelka, Gavyn Castagnaro, Spencer Petersen, Will Killeen, Gavin Dahl, Hudson
Loechler and Kent Jeffery. Back Row: Tony Wagner, Everett Peterson, Cole Scheel, Jackson Danckwart, Cody Walker, Michael Wagner,
Jackson Binner, Jack Vold, Aidan Shones, Henry Meyer, Jacob Solberg, Jakeb Passe, Logan Passe and Tim Klingbeil.

BEST OF LUCK IN 2022!

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NFL Cincinnati Bengals at Tampa Bay

Buccaneers, 3:25 p.m., CBS
Cleveland Browns at Washington
Commanders, noon, Fox
From page 30 New England Patriots at Las Vegas San Francisco 49ers at Las Vegas Raiders,
Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos, Raiders, 7:20 p.m., NBC 3:05 p.m., Fox
7:20 p.m., NBC Monday, Dec. 19 New York Jets at Seattle Seahawks, 3:05
Monday, Dec. 12 Los Angeles Rams at Green Bay Packers, dean bertoncelj / Shutterstock.com p.m., Fox
7:15 p.m., ESPN/ABC Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers,
New England Patriots at Arizona Cardinals, Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Rams, 3:30
7:15 p.m., ESPN ••••• 3:25 p.m., CBS
p.m., CBS/Nickelodeon
••••• WEEK 16 Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Arizona Chargers, 7:20 p.m., NBC
WEEK 15 Thursday, Dec. 22 Cardinals, 7:20 p.m., NBC
Monday, Jan. 2
Thursday, Dec. 15 Jacksonville Jaguars at New York Jets, Monday, Dec. 26
7:15 p.m., Amazon Buffalo Bills at Cincinnati Bengals, 7:30
San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Chargers at Indianapolis p.m., ESPN/ABC
7:15 p.m., Amazon Saturday, Dec. 24 Colts, 7:15 p.m., ESPN
•••••
Saturday, Dec. 17 or Sunday, Dec. 18 Atlanta Falcons at Baltimore Ravens, noon, •••••
Fox WEEK 18
(Pool games) WEEK 17
Detroit Lions at Carolina Panthers, noon, Saturday, Jan. 7 or Sunday, Jan. 8
Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills, TBD Thursday, Dec. 29
Fox
(Game times and TV info. is TBD for all
Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns, TBD Buffalo Bills at Chicago Bears, noon, CBS Dallas Cowboys at Tennessee Titans, 7:20 Week 18 games)
p.m., Amazon
Indianapolis Colts at Minnesota Vikings, TBD New Orleans Saints at Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons
noon, CBS Sunday, Jan. 1
Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints, TBD New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills
Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs, Arizona Cardinals at Atlanta Falcons, noon,
New York Giants at Washington Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears
noon, Fox Fox
Commanders, TBD
New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens, Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday, Dec. 18 noon, CBS
noon, Fox Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers
Pittsburgh Steelers at Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions, noon, Fox
noon, CBS Cincinnati Bengals at New England Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts
Patriots, noon, CBS Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans,
Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears, Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars
Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans, noon, noon, CBS
noon, Fox New York Jets at Miami Dolphins
CBS Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs,
Kansas City Chiefs at Houston Texans, Washington Commanders at San Francisco noon, CBS Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints
noon, CBS 49ers, 3:05 p.m., CBS Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots, New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles
Dallas Cowboys at Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys, noon, CBS
noon, Fox Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers
3:25 p.m., Fox Indianapolis Colts at New York Giants,
Detroit Lions at New York Jets, noon, Fox Dallas Cowboys at Washington
Las Vegas Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers, noon, CBS
Commanders
Arizona Cardinals at Denver Broncos, 3:05 7:15 p.m., NFL Network New Orleans Saints at Philadelphia Eagles,
p.m., Fox Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos
Sunday, Dec. 25 noon, Fox
Kansas City Chiefs at Las Vegas Raiders
Tennessee Titans at Los Angeles Chargers, Green Bay Packers at Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay
13:25 p.m., CBS noon, Fox Buccaneers, noon, Fox Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers

Zumbrota-Mazeppa Cougars
2022 Schedule
Sept. 1 Dover-Eyota 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 at La Crescent-Hokah 7 p.m.
Sept. 17 Cannon Falls 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 at Goodhue 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 Lake City 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 Rochester Lourdes 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 at Plainview-Elgin-Millville 7 p.m.

Front Row: Brody Befort, Zane Angerman, Conner Preston, Ryan Lexvold, Egan Ladewig, Gage Tedrick, Cody Anderson. Second Row:
William Czech, Isaiah O’Reilly, Logan White, Kayden Rodrick, Sam Knowlton, Kyle Stensland, Michael Arendt, Oliver Liffrig. Third Row: Evan
Klindworth, Ben Gunhus, Landen Flaaen, Tucker Buck, Will Higley, Bodey Counsell, Gavin Hostager. Fourth Row: Logan Buck, Ben Helfer,
Avery Crosby, Matt Klindworth, Owen Hoefs, Keagan Haugen, Austin Jentsch, Christian Holm. Fifth Row: Noah Schumann, Leo Showers,
Wyatt Mulder, Jimmy Suess, Tucker Frederixon, Taite Raasch, Wyatt Warweg. Sixth Row: Alyssa Traurig, Izzy Roberts, Cece Kimber, Jordan
Schliep, Katelynn Albrecht. Back Row, coaches: Joel Johnson, Mark Moran, Darin Raasch, Derek Hatten, Ben Sand, Jordan Thompson.

BEST OF LUCK IN 2022!

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32 | SPORTS | Saturday, September 3, 2022 | Post Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.
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