A football “super section” featuring Eden Prairie, Minnetonka and Wayzata among its eight teams was created Monday as the Minnesota State High School League board of directors approved section assignments for the seven classes of football beginning in 2012.

Those three schools — assigned to Section 6 in the new 32-team, four-section Class 6A — have combined to win eight of the past 11 large-school state championships. But they aren’t necessarily on a playoff collision course.

The MSHSL board will revisit and possibly vote on the playoff format structure in August. The most likely scenario will have each team playing one game in their assigned section, followed by a crossover game against a team from another section. The eight remaining teams would then be seeded in the state tournament quarterfinals of Class 6A, which now houses the state’s largest schools after a vote in April.

“The task force is leaning toward that right now as a recommendation,” said Kevin Merkle, MSHSL board member and head of the football task force. Merkle added that no similar plans are being made for other classes but coaches in those classes can come forward with recommendations.

Said Wayzata coach Brad Anderson, who is “honored” to play in that competitive Class 6A section, on the possible section format: “I think every team having two section games is more even and better for the kids. You could also go to a more Friday-focused schedule.”

Two schools opted-up to a larger class: 22-time state qualifier and two-time champion Cretin-Derham Hall (to Class 6A) and Totino-Grace (5A), winners of six of the past eight Class 4A state titles. Cretin-Derham Hall will play in Section 4 with six fellow Suburban East Conference teams while the Eagles now reside in Class 5A, Section 4 with Andover and Mahtomedi.

Brainerd and Minneapolis South are the only non-suburban public schools in Class 6A. Minneapolis South was assigned to Section 6 while Brained will play in Section 5 against seven teams from the Northwest Suburban Conference.

“I think overall it’ll be a good thing,” Merkle said. “People will work through it. And it’s really only for one year because we redo assignments and classifications in 2013-14.”

On-side kick changes

The MSHSL board approved a football rule change stating at least four players must be on each side of the kicker when an onside kick is attempted. In addition, no member of the on-side kicking team may make contact with a member of the receiving team until the ball has gone 10 yards. With a unanimous vote, the MSHSL will now apply to the National Federation of High Schools to be allowed to experiment with the rule in 2011.