Grand Meadow and Caledonia are headed back to a familiar place, the state championship game in football.
Grand Meadow reached the state title game in Nine-man for the fourth straight year with a 35-20 comeback win over Waubun in St. Cloud on Saturday. The Superlarks have won the past two state titles.
"It feels better than last year," Grand Meadow junior Christophor Bain said. "I was on the team last year, but it was mostly the seniors (leading the way)."
This season Bain has been vital. He scored three touchdowns in Saturday's semifinal win over No. 2 Waubun (11-1). Bain caught a touchdown pass, ran for a touchdown and then sealed the win with an interception return for a score in the closing minutes.
"It's great because it's family," Grand Meadow coach Gary Sloan said.
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The Superlarks (13-0) will enter the state title game unbeaten and ranked No. 1 in the state, just like Caledonia. Caledonia (13-0) will be playing in the Class AA title game after romping past No. 4 Ottertail Central 43-6 in the semifinal game Saturday in Arden Hills.
Will anyone be able to stop either of these teams?
Caledonia will be aiming for its sixth state title in nine years when it faces Pipestone (13-0) in the championship game at 1 p.m. Friday at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
"I love TCF," Caledonia senior lineman Hunter Hoscheit said.
Caledonia is now 50-5 in the playoffs since the 2005 season. It last won a state title in 2012.
"It feels great, glad we could get there once again," sophomore quarterback Owen King said.
"The kids have put in the work," Caledonia coach Brent Schroeder said.
Grand Meadow will face Underwood (13-0) in the Nine-Man title game at 10 a.m. Friday at TCF Bank Stadium.
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• Goodhue saw its season come to an end in the Class A state semifinals Saturday at Dan Patch Stadium in Savage.
The Wildcats put together an impressive second-half rally, but they suffered a 27-19 loss to top-ranked and unbeaten Minneota.
The Vikings are the defending state champions and have one 26 consecutive games.
Calvin Peterson led Goodhue with a receiving touchdown and an interception return touchdown. Casey Deneen had 14 tackles to pace the defense, and quarterback Jacob Paasch finished with 199 yards passing and two scores.
The Wildcats ended their season 9-4.
