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State football brackets

By Nick Wiese, SportsEngine, 11/10/16, 2:30PM CST

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Click here to view the state tournament matchups.


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Coming off of a .500 season last year, Elk River has dominated the competition this season, including dispatching last year's champions, St. Michael-Albertville, 56-0. The Elks bring a perfect 10-0 record into their first state tournament since 2012 and will hope their pounding running game can secure the school's first state title. First, however, they have to get past an Alexandria team that has been able to rack up the points this season, scoring 35 or more points in their nine wins this season. 

Spring Lake Park also brings a 10-0 record into its third straight state tournament appearance, with the Panthers searching for their first state championship since 1991. 

The only two teams with perfect records that will face off in the first round are Mankato West and Mahtomedi. It will be a showdown of high-powered offenses, with both teams scoring more than 20 points in every game this season (aside from the Zephyrs first game of the season when they scored 19). 

4A 

Winona has not played a state tournament game since 1987, but that all changes Friday, when the Winhawks meet South St. Paul at East Ridge High School.

The Packers are no strangers to the state tournament, with this year being the fourth in a row that they have made an appearance. Despite the many opportunities, South St. Paul has never captured a state title, and a motivated Winona team is the first roadblock this year. 

On the opposite side of the bracket, undefeated Marshall is facing off against Fridley. Marshall did not give up more than 20 points in a game until the Section tournament, and will hope that a stifling defense will get them past a Fridley team with potent running and passing attacks. 

Click here to view the complete bracket.  

3A 

Defending champion Pierz lost the second game of the season, but that loss against Maple Lake remains the only blemish in the last to years of Pioneers' football. The road to a repeat begins against Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin on Saturday. 

A pair of teams that bowed out in the first round of last years' state tournament will face off and try to avoid a repeat performance this year. Last year, Belle Plaine returned to the tournament after more than 20 years of missing out, but the Tigers will not be content to just continue to make the tournament. St. Croix Lutheran is on the other end of the spectrum, making the state tournament every year since 2011, winning it in 2011 and 2013. 

Jackson County Central came within one game of the title last year, falling to Pierz in the championship. The Huskies are on the comeback trail this year, having not lost a game en route to the state tournament. 

Click here to view the complete bracket. 

2A 

In last years' state tournament, Caledonia gave up a total of six points. While the Warriors' defense has been just a hairsbreadth less stingy this year, they have still been rolling teams by multiple touchdowns in every game. Caledonia has a habit of winning multiple state titles in a row (2007-2008, 2010-2012) and will be pushing to continue the trend with a title defense this year. 

A clash of undefeated teams is also in the bracket, with Pillager squaring off with Barnseville on Friday. Both teams a capable of putting up huge score totals, so it may be that whichever defense preforms the best will win the right to move on to the semifinals. 

Click here for the complete bracket. 

Class 1A 

Minneapolis North has been to the last two state tournaments, but have never been able to win the title. Last year, the Polars made it to the championship game, but eventually fell to Minneota.

However, Minneapolis North bounced back, posting a perfect season and a third straight berth to the tournament. With Wabasso taking out Minneota in Sections, the Polars will hope that they can finally win a state championship. 

Mahnomen is returning to the state tournament for the seventh straight time, bringing the Indians total appearances up to 25. Mahnomen last won the state title in 2013 and will be looking to add a ninth championship to the total. 

Click here for the complete bracket.

9-Man

The prevailing question in this years' 9-Man state tournament is: can Grand Meadow make it four in a row? The Superlarks have not lost a game since the 2013 regular season and they will be fighting to keep that streak going with another state title. 

Last year, Ely was knocked out after losing to the eventual runner-up, Underwood. This year, the Timberwolves will have to win against an undefeated Cromwell team in the first round if they are going to go deep in the tournament. 

Only three teams come into the state tournament with one loss: Edgertone/Ellsworth, Stephen-Argyle, and Hillcrest Lutheran. Despite having a loss on their records, these teams will not go away easily, and the motivation to knock off an undefeated opponent will make the matchups hard-fought and entertaining. 

Click here to view the complete bracket. 

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