Everything you need to know on area teams in North Dakota, Minnesota high school football playoffs

Nov. 2—Cavalier (10-0) plays at LaMoure-Litchville-Marion (10-0) in a North Dakota 9-man state semifinal on Saturday at 2 p.m.

The game is a rematch of last season's state title game in which the Loboes beat the Tornadoes 42-14. Cavalier is looking to reach a fourth-straight state title game.

Cavalier has been winning the turnover battle this season with 33 turnovers and committing just six turnovers.

Tornadoes quarterback Sterling Enerson has thrown for 1,468 yards, 18 touchdowns and one interception.

Enerson had a pick-six defensively in the state quarterfinals that propelled Cavalier to a 32-14 win over May-Port-C-G.

Defensively, Cavalier is led by Jake Steele, who has been second-team all-state the past two years. He needs three more assisted tackles to break the school record.

Steele would break the record of Jason Hinkle (1986-89). Jason's son Levi Hinkle also starts at middle linebacker for Cavalier.

LaMoure-L-M's balance is a concern.

"We've always said for years we love playing teams that have a workhorse because it usually takes more than one player," Cavalier coach Mitch Greenwood said. "LaMoure doesn't have just one guy. They have dudes all over the place. The fact they're so well-balanced, we can't key on one guy. We need to play assignment-sharp football all over the field."

The Tornadoes' run game has been led by Landon Carter (697 yards), Steele (664 yards) and Enerson (659 yards).

The top pass threats are Carter (796 yards), Zack Anderson (290 yards) and Steele (189 yards).

Carter has seven interceptions for the defense.

North Prairie (10-0) plays at New Salem-Almont (10-0) in a North Dakota 9-man state semifinal on Saturday at 2 p.m.

The game features two of the state's best linemen in North Prairie's Nate Tastad (6-foot-5, 260 pounds) against New Salem-Almont all-state pick and state champion wrestler A.J. Heins (6-3, 295).

"That'll be a great battle," North Prairie coach Josh Keller said.

New Salem-Almont has lost in the state semifinals each of the last two years and last made the championship game in 2018 (lost to Thompson).

"They're a really good football team," Keller said. "They'll run it effectively with a good running quarterback. Their line is the best we've seen all year. In the same breath, our line will probably be the best line they've seen all year."

North Prairie quarterback Nicholas Mears has thrown for 484 yards and ran for 1,607 and 29 touchdowns. Blake Mattson has a team-high 1,701 rushing yards with 20 touchdowns. Mears has 27 runs of more than 20 yards this year, while Mattson has 23 runs of more than 20 yards.

Defensively, Mears has six interceptions and Carter Casavant has 82 tackles.

"Both teams are similar in a way in that we both want to establish the run game and play tough defense," Keller said.

North Prairie last advanced to the state title game in 2015.

Hillsboro-Central Valley (10-1) travels to Velva to play Velva-Drake-Anamoose-Garrison in the North Dakota Class 11B semifinals at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Three of the Burros' last five games have been shutouts. The other two, HCV only gave up one score.

"I think the guys are taking the game plan and really executing," HCV coach Scott Olsen said.

The Burros have picked off 25 passes this year.

"The defensive line pressure has really created chances for those interceptions," Olsen said.

HCV graduated heavy from a team that fell to Kindred in last year's state championship game.

"It was a work in progress," Olsen said. "We had some injuries that forced us to put guys in different spots. Our guys have adapted well and do what we ask."

Senior quarterback Riley Olsen has run for 502 yards and nine touchdowns, while throwing for 868 yards, 11 touchdowns and just one interception.

Landon Olson leads the rushers with 120 carries for 1,016 yards. Cole Hebl adds 726 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns.

Micah Longthorne is the leading receiver with 16 catches for 320 yards.

Defensively, Peter Dryburgh has 9.5 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss. Dylan Mitzel has five interceptions.

"(The key) is matching their physicality," Olsen said. "Watching them on film, they play hard and are well-coached. They won't make mistakes, especially on defense. It'll be a huge test."

Crookston (5-5) plays Barnesville in the Minnesota Section 8AA championship game at 7:20 p.m. Friday in the Fargodome.

Barnesville beat Crookston 28-0 in Week 2.

"We had a fairly hard schedule this year, and I wasn't opposed to it," Crookston second-year coach Nate Lubarski said. "We've gotten better each game, and we put it all together here toward the end of the year."

The Pirates ride workhorse running back Ethan Boll, a UND football commitment. Boll has 179 carries for 1,476 yards and 25 touchdowns.

"Our offensive line has been better each week, which has allowed us to run more effectively," Lubarski said. "Our defense has really played well for the majority of the year."

Lubarski said the Pirates are using Boll in creative ways.

"We spread him out a bit and give him more freedom," Lubarski said. "A few times we've snapped it directly to him, and he's comfortable with that."

The Pirates have also been aided by Tanner Giese, who moved to Crookston last winter. Giese has 52 carries for 219 yards. He also plays linebacker.

Lubarski said Crookston needs to stop the run against Barnesville.

"That's easier said than done," he said. "We need to sustain drives, which we were unable to do in our first meeting."

The last time Crookston played in a section title game was 2004, when the Pirates lost to eventual state champion East Grand Forks Senior High.

Red Lake County (8-2) will play Mahnomen-Waubun at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the Minnesota Section 8A championship at the Fargodome.

Red Lake County reached the title game by flipping a result on Ada-Borup between the regular season and the section semifinals.

RLC lost 36-8 in the regular season and beat Ada-Borup 24-0 in the semifinals.

"The first time we played them we had four turnovers," RLC coach Brian Remick said. "In the semis, we flipped the script. We didn't have turnovers, and we took (an interception for a touchdown) and had another turnover in the red zone. That's the difference."

RLC's Damon Ferguson had the pick-6.

Ferguson, the team's leading rusher and tackler, missed all of last season with an ACL injury.

RLC, a run-heavy team, is led by Ferguson, who has 1,163 yards on 141 carries (8.2 yards per attempt). Ferguson has added 15 touchdowns.

Brock Seeger has added 71 carries for 465 yards, while Owen Chervestad has 69 carries for 240 yards and Carson Erickson has 42 carries for 193 yards.

RLC lost to Mahnomen-Waubun 22-20 in the regular season.

"They're a contrast in styles to what we had last week," Remick said. "Mahnomen has a power-run attack and runs the option offense very well. Defensively, they're very strong. They have a winning program there. We'll have our hands full."

Mahnomen-Waubun (8-1) plays Red Lake County in the Minnesota Section 8A championship game Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the Fargodome.

The Thunderbirds lost much of their skill players from last year's section title team but the team has been powered this year by line play.

"Our offense has been pretty efficient other than fumbles," Mahnomen-Waubun coach John Clark Jr. said. "We've had a bad case of fumbling at inopportune times. We've probably had four or five fumbles returned for touchdowns on us. We had two last week against Polk County West."

The Mahnomen-Waubun line includes Kasey Wadena, Brok Spalla, Braylen Heisler, Dawson Darco and Lex McDougall.

First-year starting quarterback Dennis Ashley has run for 969 yards and 12 touchdowns, while throwing for 506 yards and nine touchdowns.

Curtis Mehr adds 429 rushing yards, while Jameson Donner has 330 and Easton Bevins has 321.

Defensively, Ashley has five picks and Spalla has 7.0 tackles for loss. Tyson McArthur is the leading tackler with 33 stops.

Mahnomen-Waubun beat Red Lake County by just 22-20 in the regular season.

"It was a tale of two halves," Clark said. "They took it to us in the first half, and we flipped the switch in the second half. They're good. It'll be a dog fight."

Earlier this year, Clark picked up his 200th win of his 22-year career. He's now 204-44 all-time.

Clark has 13 section titles and three state championships. He has the 10th most wins of all active coaches in Minnesota.

Goodridge-Grygla (8-2) will play Kittson County Central (10-0) in Thursday's Minnesota Section 8 9-man title game at 3 p.m. in the Fargodome.

Goodridge-Grygla, which last won a section title in 2012, advanced to the section championship by beating Warren-Alvarado-Oslo 20-0 after losing 20-0 to the Ponies in the regular season.

Goodridge-Grygla lost 30-22 to KCC during the regular season.

"We fell down 17-0 in the first half, got a turnover and scored, then got another turnover and scored again," G-G coach John Wilebski said. "We were on the 5-yard line with 5 seconds left with a chance to tie it. We left the game with some confidence. If we can come off the ball and play like that, we can compete."

KCC returns a strong core from a team that advanced to the state tournament semifinals before losing to eventual state champion LeRoy-Ostrander last season.

"Their line is so big and strong," Wilebski said. "(Kaden) Vig and (Chisum) Schmeideberg got us in the passing game. We know each other well. We get up for each other's games."

Goodridge-Grygla has been led by a balanced attack in the double-wing offense. Quarterback Blake Rychlock has thrown for 565 yards on 51-for-92 passing. Matt Busse has 115 carries for 741 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Lewis Jones has 104 carries for 466 yards and eight touchdowns, while Rychlock has 119 carries for 516 yards and 11 touchdowns and Kehan Nelson has 65 carries for 350 yards and four touchdowns.

Jones is the top pass target with 27 catches for 271 yards and two touchdowns. Kaylor Torgerson adds 13 catches for 181 yards.

Elliot Phillipp has 68 tackles, while Jones has 67.5. Rychlock has seven sacks and Reece Sundberg has 13 tackles for loss.

Kittson County Central (10-0) plays Goodridge-Grygla at 3 p.m. Thursday in the Minnesota Section 8 9-man championship game at the Fargodome.

The Bearcats are the defending section champions and advanced to the state semifinals a year ago.

KCC beat Goodridge-Grygla 30-22 during the regular season — the only one-score game the Bearcats played all year. Goodridge-Grygla had a chance in the red zone in the final moments to tie.

"It's going to be a quality matchup, for sure," KCC coach Cory Waling said. "They present a lot of problems physically. Experience-wise, they've had guys up and down the roster that have been around a while."

The Bearcats returned all five starters on the offensive line from last season, led by Isaac Folland, a UND football commitment.

Chisum Schmiedeberg returns as KCC's go-to back this year and has produced every week. He has 167 carries for 1,796 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Tight end Kaden Vig leads the passing attack with 419 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Braden Faken is 25-for-43 passing for 521 yards and nine touchdowns.

Waling said defenses have tried a little of everything to stop Schmiedeberg.

"We have seen a steady dose of 5-3 defenses, so there's eight guys within 3 or 4 yards of the ball," Waling said. "That has opened up with some pass plays behind them. On the offensive line, it's five-on-eight sometimes so it's a difficult task. In every situation, we're trying to put Chisum 1-on-1 with someone. He's been very successful at that."

Vig has been vital in keeping defenses honest.

"He has really developed over the year," Waling said. "That's become a darn good threat for us. He can leak out on some stuff and that's where he's had big plays. He's a big target, and he's fast and strong."

Fertile-Beltrami (9-0) plays Blackduck in the Minnesota Section 6 9-man championship Thursday at 12:30 p.m. at the Fargodome.

The Falcons graduated about nine players — seven on offense — from last year's state runner-up team.

Isaiah Wright, a 5-foot-10 sophomore, has taken over at running back and has run 107 times for 1,091 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Caiden Swenby, a 6-3 junior, at quarterback is completing a remarkable 81 percent of his passes. He's 47-for-58 passing for 781 yards.

Defensively, Tucker Bolstad and Wesley Ramberg each have five sacks and Ryan Van Den Einde has four. Swenby has nine interceptions.

The Falcons, who beat Blackduck 42-12 during the regular season, have outscored opponents 381 to 56. They've scored at least 30 points in every game this season and haven't given up more than 12 in any game.

"(The offensive line) has done a really good job," Fertile-Beltrami coach Brian Nelson said. "We have athletes in the backfield with all four of our guys and that line has been clicking against a lot of different fronts. It's been an exciting season."

The Fertile-Beltrami line includes Van Den Einde, Caleb Stoltman, Jack Leiser, Bolstad and Brody Raaen.