This is the 9-man game of the regular season. Two unbeaten teams enter, one will exit.
Lanesboro (7-0) is the reigning state runner up and was 10-0 last season until a loss in the Section 1 championship. The Burros are burrowing their opponents in 2022, winning all but one game by double digits and scoring 47.9 points per game. Lanesboro was ranked No. 2 in the Oct. 12 Associated Press poll.
It’s coming off a 57-30 win last week against No. 12 Mabel-Canton (5-2). Senior running back Orion Sass is the man to watch. He’s got several 100-yard, multi-touchdown nights under his belt. The Burros rolled Spring Grove 72-27 last year, but the Lions are a brand new bunch after a 3-6 season and a first-round playoff exit in 2021.
Spring Grove (7-0) was No. 6 in last week’s AP poll. The Lions own an impressive 56-14 win in Week 3 over Mabel-Canton.
In the team's win over Kingsland (3-4), based on statistics from Digital Scout, junior quarterback Elijah Solum finished 15 of 18 passing for 232 yards and four TDs, and added 53 yards and two more scores on the ground. Senior receiver Caleb Griffin was Solum’s favorite target, hauling in 12 catches for 216 yards and four TDs.
With both squads at the top of Section 1, this could very well be a section championship preview and a teaser for what is to come.