Speaking of top players, Marshall’s Yahya Black, a 6-foot-6, 250-pound defensive end who has committed to Iowa State, certainly qualifies as one of the state’s best.
The same could be said about these southwest Minnesota teams: Marshall went 8-2 last season, losing in the Class 4A, Section 2 semifinals to Dassel-Cokato. Fairmont also went 7-1 in the regular season. The Cardinals then went on a playoff run that took them all the way to the Class 3A state championship game, where they lost 24-7 to Rochester Lourdes.
Black helps lead a defense that last season recorded 19 sacks and held opponents to 90 points through eight games.
Fairmont lost dual threat quarterback Garrett Myren (1,286 passing yards and 415 rushing yards last season) and much of its offensive firepower to graduation. Receiver Blake Buntjier returns for his senior season after averaging 17.2 receiving yards last year, where he scored three touchdowns.