Section Playoffs: Northfield Gets Rematch with Red Wing on Saturday

After an uncharacteristic two-win regular season, Northfield opened the post season with a convincing victory.

THIS WEEK

at Red Wing in the Section 1AAAA semifinals.

LAST WEEK

The Missota Conference took care of business in a big way in the first round, as all three Missota teams beat Big 9 opponents to reach the semis. Northfield handled Albert Lea 28-6, Red Wing took care of Austin 24-6 and New Prague rolled over Winona 46-8.

THE FIRST TIME AROUND …

14-7 on Sept. 23.

RAIDERS WIN IF …

They were able to build any confidence in Tuesday's win. Northfield has struggled to sustain drives and to come up with big plays all season, but that changed against Albert Lea. Cody Fugate had a pair of long touchdown runs (26 and 67 yards) in that one, and Tim Maus returned a fumble 45 yards for a score. If they can repeat that performance, the Raiders will be headed to the section finals for the sixth straight year.

WINGERS WIN IF …

Red Wing has been a bit of an enigma this season. The Wingers got blown out by Holy Angels, but gave Shakopee all it could handle. They took a tough Chanhassen squad down to the wire, but only managed 19 points against a winless Austin team that gave up nearly 40 points per game on the season. That tendency to play to their level of their opponents, combined with their lack of playoff success in recent years—before Tuesday, they hadn't won a playoff game since 2006—might make things tough on the Wingers on Saturday night.

2010 PLAYOFFS

in the first round of the state tournament. The Tigers were eliminated by Faribault 14-6 in the first round of last year's section tournament.

SECTION 1AAAA SCHEDULE

Quarterfinals

Tuesday

Northfield 28, Albert Lea 6

Red Wing 24, Austin 6

New Prague 46, Winona 8

Semifinals

Saturday

Northfield at Red Wing, 7 p.m.

New Prague at Faribault, 7 p.m.

Finals

Friday, Nov. 4

Semifinal winners, at high seed