Caledonia challenged in regular-season finale, on to playoffs

By RICK SOLEM

For years, the Caledonia High School football team has been dominating the area and the state.

Wednesday night, the Warriors capped off another perfect regular season with a 13-0 win over Goodhue. It was Caledonia’s 31 consecutive regular season win and 41st win in a row in conference, which earned another conference title – the ninth in a row.

The Warriors (8-0), ranked second in Class 2A, now begin their quest for a sixth state title since the first back in 2007.

Caledonia hosts winless Hayfield (0-8) Tuesday. The first time around, the Warriors won 53-0 in Week 4. 

This season, the Warriors allow an average of 4.8 points per game. Offensively, Hayfield averages just 13.6 points.

The rest of the MSHSL playoffs include a lot of rematches from earlier blowouts this season, as Minnesota allows all teams to qualify for playoffs.

In Class 3A, La Crescent (2-6) is the sixth seed and heads to No. 3 Plainview-Elgin-Millville (5-3), where it already lost 45-18 seven days ago.

In a game that features a combined three wins, Winona (1-7) heads to Red Wing (2-6) in a rematch that was won by the Wingers, 21-7, in Week 2.

In Class 1A, Rushford-Peterson (7-1), ranked seventh in the state, which only blemish is a 7-6 loss to previously mentioned Caledonia, hosts winless Kingsland. These teams met in Week 1. R-P won 47-0.

Other Class 2A games include Cotter (1-7) at Lewiston-Altura (5-3). Another rematch that went to the Cardinals 55-13 in Week 3.

In nine-man, Section 1 includes two Top 10 teams, including seventh-ranked Spring Grove, which hosts LeRoy-Ostrander. The Lions (7-1) won 71-21 earlier this year.

Houston (3-5) will head to Lanesboro (4-4) in a rematch that the Burros won 36-0 a month ago.

Mabel-Canton (5-3) will hosts Lyle/Pacelli (2-6) in a rematch that went the Cougars way, 42-18.

The second round of the playoffs gets underway Saturday at the top seed, while the section championships take place Oct. 31. State rounds begin Nov. 7-8. Section 1 will play Section 4.