2025 Minnesota High School Football Thread

[Ranger692]

Football: Minnesota state polls​

First-place votes in parentheses, followed by record, total points, previous ranking.
CLASS 6A
1. Maple Grove (11), 6-0, 110, 1
2. Minnetonka, 6-0, 99, 2
3. Forest Lake, 6-0, 87, 3
4. (tie) Centennial, 5-1, 60, 7
4. (tie) Lakeville South, 5-1, 60, 5
6. Rosemount, 5-1, 58, 4
7. Andover, 5-1, 40, 9t
8. Eden Prairie, 4-2, 39, 4
9. Champlin Park, 5-1, 37, 9t
10. Shakopee, 4-2, 11, 6
Others receiving votes: Woodbury 2, Blaine 1

CLASS 5A
1. St. Thomas Academy (10) 5-0, 109, 1
2. Spring Lake Park (1), 5-0, 87, 2
3. Chanhassen, 5-1, 79, 4
4. Alexandria, 5-1, 71, 3
5. Mahtomedi, 6-0, 67, 6
6. Elk River, 5-1, 65, 5
7. Cretin-Derham Hall, 5-1, 51, 7
8. Monticello, 5-1, 36, 9
9. Rochester Mayo, 5-1, 15, NR
10. Waconia, 4-2, 9, 10
Others receiving votes: Chaska 4, Mankato East 4, Bemidji 3, Buffalo 3, Northfield 2

CLASS 4A

1. Byron (9), 6-0, 108, 1
2. Marshall (2), 6-0, 101, 2
3. Kasson-Mantorville, 5-1, 76, 3
4. Stewartville, 5-1, 58, 7
5. (tie) Grand Rapids, 5-1, 51, 8
5. (tie) Rocori, 5-1, 51, NR
7. Orono, 4-2, 44, 5
8. Fergus Falls, 5-1, 33, 4
9. Hill-Murray, 5-1, 25, 10
10. Hermantown, 5-1, 20, 9
Others receiving votes: Holy Angels 19, North Branch 9, St. Peter 5, South St. Paul 5

CLASS 3A
1. Annandale (8), 6-0, 105, 1
2. Pequot Lakes (1), 6-0, 90, 2
3. Pierz (1), 6-0, 84, 4
4. Waseca (1), 6-0, 80, 3,
5. Minneapolis North, 6-0, 67, 5,
6. Pine Island, 6-0, 50, 6
7. St. Croix Lutheran, 6-0, 42, 7
8. Albany, 5-1, 38, 8t
9. Holy Family, 5-1, 33, 8t
10. Albert Lea, 5-1, 7, 10
Others receiving votes: Luverne 3, Spectrum 3, St. Peter 2, Two Harbors 2, Breck 1, Winona Cotter 1

CLASS 2A
1. Jackson County Central (9), 6-0, 107, 1
2. Chatfield (2), 6-0, 87, 2
3. Holdingford, 6-0, 80, 3
4. Staples-Motley, 6-0, 71, 4
5. Goodhue, 6-0, 63, 5
6. Pillager, 6-0, 59, 6
7. Waterville-Elysian-Morristown, 6-0, 54, 7
8. Moose Lake-Willow River, 6-0, 53, 8
9. Redwood Valley, 5-1, 12, 9
10. Aitkin, 5-1, 10, NR
Others receiving votes: Eden Valley-Watkins 8, Osakis 6, Barnesville 1, Triton 1

CLASS 1A
1. Minneota (10), 6-0, 107, 1
2. Springfield, 6-0, 93, 2
3. (tie) Fillmore Central (1), 6-0, 80, 3t
3. (tie) Mahnomen/Waubun 6-0, 80, 3t
5. Cleveland, 6-0, 67, 5
6. Breckenridge, 6-0, 59, 6
7. Barnum, 5-1, 39, 8
8. Red Lake County, 5-1, 36, 9
9. Dawson-Boyd, 5-1, 14, NR
10. Mountain Iron-Buhl, 5-1, 10, 7
Others receiving votes: Parkers Prairie 7, Upsala/Swanville 4, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley 4, Park Christian 3, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 1

NINE-PLAYER
1. Hills-Beaver Creek (9), 6-0, 106, 1
2. Kittson County Central (1), 7-0, 89, 2
3. Mabel-Canton, 6-0, 79, 4
4. Wabasso (1), 6-0, 59, 6
5. Red Rock Central, 6-0, 63, 5,
6. Hillcrest Lutheran, 6-0, 58, 7t
7. Mille Lacs, 6-0, 45, 7t
8. Edgerton, 5-1, 31, 3
9. Cook County, 5-0, 15, NR
10. Stephen-Argyle, 6-1, 14, NR

Others receiving votes: Bertha-Hewitt 12, Kingsland 12, Cromwell-Wright 11, Spring Grove 5

Recognition of the voters: (Interesting to have St. Peter receiving votes in two classes, so take the polls with a grain of salt.)

The polls are compiled by Strib Varsity staff writer Jim Paulsen from voting by media members across Minnesota. Voters: Randy Shaver, Strib Varsity; Marcus Fuller, Strib Varsity; Jace Frederick, St. Paul Pioneer Press; Pat Ruff, Rochester Post Bulletin; Joe Brown, West Central Tribune; Jamey Malcomb, Duluth News Tribune; Reagan Hoverman, Duluth News Tribune; Brian Jerzak, formerly of Prep RedZone; Steve Thomson, WCCO Radio; Gary Giombetti, Mesabi Daily News; Andy Rennecke, St. Cloud Live; Jim Paulsen, Strib Varsity

Just goes to show that the poll voters only pay attention to upper 2 classes... Filmore Central above Breckenridge is laughable when you compare schedules and QRF#s

 

[fatgopher]

I believe it. And from what I've heard, this class (2030) at Wayzata is a concern because of what I said earlier - the overall size of the kids is unusually small.

Out of curiosity, did your team play at 5, in the game where the Wayzata kid broke his leg in two places, or the 8 pm game, in which you would have played us. I guess it was pretty brutal and they had to call an ambulance. My former coaching partners kid plays for that team.

I coached 4th through 6th, and you're right. We had some good teams. Part of that was some incredible athletes for that age group. We had a kid for two years that could not be stopped. Small, but so unbelievably fast you wouldn't believe it. I coached him in spring flag ball for two years as well. He was special. Unfortunately, he moved away (even worse, right after we picked him for our 6th grade team and we didn't know and they never informed anyone.) We also had some kids in that came from other districts that didn't start tackle until later, like Delano and Hopkins, that went back to their home districts.

There's also attrition. Several good athletes decided to concentrate on basketball and baseball now.

Late game.

Bummer to hear about the broken leg. We've had a broken collar bone and ulna/radius so far on our squad, two of our better players. 4th grade was tickle tackling but it's becoming full contact.

 

[Ope3]

Football: Minnesota state polls​

First-place votes in parentheses, followed by record, total points, previous ranking.


CLASS 5A
1. St. Thomas Academy (10) 5-0, 109, 1
2. Spring Lake Park (1), 5-0, 87, 2
3. Chanhassen, 5-1, 79, 4
4. Alexandria, 5-1, 71, 3
5. Mahtomedi, 6-0, 67, 6
6. Elk River, 5-1, 65, 5
7. Cretin-Derham Hall, 5-1, 51, 7
8. Monticello, 5-1, 36, 9
9. Rochester Mayo, 5-1, 15, NR
10. Waconia, 4-2, 9, 10
Others receiving votes: Chaska 4, Mankato East 4, Bemidji 3, Buffalo 3, Northfield 2

Good to see Northfield in the "Others" category. Been a while. At 4-2 their defeats were to the teams currently ranked #9 Mayo & #10 Waconia.

Inside baseball, is former longtime HC Bubba Sullivan (300+Ws & Prep Bowl Championship) has returned this season as OC. They have been lighting the scoreboard up, but also on defense too.

With just one Sec 1-5A game left, Mayo will be locked into the #1 Seed and Northfield #2.

 

[MNVCGUY]

Just goes to show that the poll voters only pay attention to upper 2 classes... Filmore Central above Breckenridge is laughable when you compare schedules and QRF#s

Makes sense. Their audience is primarily going to be made up of people in the bigger schools areas so I am sure for the lower classes they are relying on records and final scores as opposed to more detailed breakdowns. Going to be far less common for them to see those lower division schools in person.

 

[MaxyJR1]

Just goes to show that the poll voters only pay attention to upper 2 classes... Filmore Central above Breckenridge is laughable when you compare schedules and QRF#s

Spectrum receiving votes in 3A is crazy. Their schedule consists of 4 charter school opponents and a couple terrible 4A schools.

Stephen-Argyle is #10 in 9P and only loss it to #2 on the road by 2 points.
Edgerton was destroyed by the #1 team and ranked #8 currently.

1A has the #7 teams having a 54 point win over the #10 team. Something doesn't compute there.
2A Redwood Valley ranked over Eden Valley Watkins, yet lost to them H2H. EVW lost to #1 by 7.
3A Has St. Peter recieving votes and they are 4A
4A Looks decent
5A STA and SLP are both 6-0 and not 5-0.
6A Centennial lost to Andover and Andover lost to Champlin. Centennial beat Champlin.


These guys look at records only.

 

[Gophers7NatTitlesBadgers0]

Wait! St Peter is both in 3A and 4A? Apparently, they are a better 4A team than 3A team BTW.

 

[Ranger692]

Spectrum receiving votes in 3A is crazy. Their schedule consists of 4 charter school opponents and a couple terrible 4A schools.

Stephen-Argyle is #10 in 9P and only loss it to #2 on the road by 2 points.
Edgerton was destroyed by the #1 team and ranked #8 currently.

1A has the #7 teams having a 54 point win over the #10 team. Something doesn't compute there.
2A Redwood Valley ranked over Eden Valley Watkins, yet lost to them H2H. EVW lost to #1 by 7.
3A Has St. Peter recieving votes and they are 4A
4A Looks decent
5A STA and SLP are both 6-0 and not 5-0.
6A Centennial lost to Andover and Andover lost to Champlin. Centennial beat Champlin.


These guys look at records only.

My point exactly. A quick look at the sections in class A. All section records are just at or just below .500. All within about 4 wins one way or another, except section 6. Section 6 is 29-19. Section 6 has a large geographic footprint and some teams are playing few section 6 games, but have a 20-9 record against all non section 6 teams. It took me about 4 minutes of digging to find at that.


If you have a vote, you'd think you'd be have the motivation to look like you knew what you were doing.

 

[GophersInIowa]

Football: Minnesota state polls​

First-place votes in parentheses, followed by record, total points, previous ranking.
CLASS 6A
1. Maple Grove (11), 6-0, 110, 1
2. Minnetonka, 6-0, 99, 2
3. Forest Lake, 6-0, 87, 3
4. (tie) Centennial, 5-1, 60, 7
4. (tie) Lakeville South, 5-1, 60, 5
6. Rosemount, 5-1, 58, 4
7. Andover, 5-1, 40, 9t
8. Eden Prairie, 4-2, 39, 4
9. Champlin Park, 5-1, 37, 9t
10. Shakopee, 4-2, 11, 6
Others receiving votes: Woodbury 2, Blaine 1

CLASS 5A
1. St. Thomas Academy (10) 5-0, 109, 1
2. Spring Lake Park (1), 5-0, 87, 2
3. Chanhassen, 5-1, 79, 4
4. Alexandria, 5-1, 71, 3
5. Mahtomedi, 6-0, 67, 6
6. Elk River, 5-1, 65, 5
7. Cretin-Derham Hall, 5-1, 51, 7
8. Monticello, 5-1, 36, 9
9. Rochester Mayo, 5-1, 15, NR
10. Waconia, 4-2, 9, 10
Others receiving votes: Chaska 4, Mankato East 4, Bemidji 3, Buffalo 3, Northfield 2

CLASS 4A

1. Byron (9), 6-0, 108, 1
2. Marshall (2), 6-0, 101, 2
3. Kasson-Mantorville, 5-1, 76, 3
4. Stewartville, 5-1, 58, 7
5. (tie) Grand Rapids, 5-1, 51, 8
5. (tie) Rocori, 5-1, 51, NR
7. Orono, 4-2, 44, 5
8. Fergus Falls, 5-1, 33, 4
9. Hill-Murray, 5-1, 25, 10
10. Hermantown, 5-1, 20, 9
Others receiving votes: Holy Angels 19, North Branch 9, St. Peter 5, South St. Paul 5

CLASS 3A
1. Annandale (8), 6-0, 105, 1
2. Pequot Lakes (1), 6-0, 90, 2
3. Pierz (1), 6-0, 84, 4
4. Waseca (1), 6-0, 80, 3,
5. Minneapolis North, 6-0, 67, 5,
6. Pine Island, 6-0, 50, 6
7. St. Croix Lutheran, 6-0, 42, 7
8. Albany, 5-1, 38, 8t
9. Holy Family, 5-1, 33, 8t
10. Albert Lea, 5-1, 7, 10
Others receiving votes: Luverne 3, Spectrum 3, St. Peter 2, Two Harbors 2, Breck 1, Winona Cotter 1

CLASS 2A
1. Jackson County Central (9), 6-0, 107, 1
2. Chatfield (2), 6-0, 87, 2
3. Holdingford, 6-0, 80, 3
4. Staples-Motley, 6-0, 71, 4
5. Goodhue, 6-0, 63, 5
6. Pillager, 6-0, 59, 6
7. Waterville-Elysian-Morristown, 6-0, 54, 7
8. Moose Lake-Willow River, 6-0, 53, 8
9. Redwood Valley, 5-1, 12, 9
10. Aitkin, 5-1, 10, NR
Others receiving votes: Eden Valley-Watkins 8, Osakis 6, Barnesville 1, Triton 1

CLASS 1A
1. Minneota (10), 6-0, 107, 1
2. Springfield, 6-0, 93, 2
3. (tie) Fillmore Central (1), 6-0, 80, 3t
3. (tie) Mahnomen/Waubun 6-0, 80, 3t
5. Cleveland, 6-0, 67, 5
6. Breckenridge, 6-0, 59, 6
7. Barnum, 5-1, 39, 8
8. Red Lake County, 5-1, 36, 9
9. Dawson-Boyd, 5-1, 14, NR
10. Mountain Iron-Buhl, 5-1, 10, 7
Others receiving votes: Parkers Prairie 7, Upsala/Swanville 4, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley 4, Park Christian 3, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 1

NINE-PLAYER
1. Hills-Beaver Creek (9), 6-0, 106, 1
2. Kittson County Central (1), 7-0, 89, 2
3. Mabel-Canton, 6-0, 79, 4
4. Wabasso (1), 6-0, 59, 6
5. Red Rock Central, 6-0, 63, 5,
6. Hillcrest Lutheran, 6-0, 58, 7t
7. Mille Lacs, 6-0, 45, 7t
8. Edgerton, 5-1, 31, 3
9. Cook County, 5-0, 15, NR
10. Stephen-Argyle, 6-1, 14, NR

Others receiving votes: Bertha-Hewitt 12, Kingsland 12, Cromwell-Wright 11, Spring Grove 5

Recognition of the voters: (Interesting to have St. Peter receiving votes in two classes, so take the polls with a grain of salt.)

The polls are compiled by Strib Varsity staff writer Jim Paulsen from voting by media members across Minnesota. Voters: Randy Shaver, Strib Varsity; Marcus Fuller, Strib Varsity; Jace Frederick, St. Paul Pioneer Press; Pat Ruff, Rochester Post Bulletin; Joe Brown, West Central Tribune; Jamey Malcomb, Duluth News Tribune; Reagan Hoverman, Duluth News Tribune; Brian Jerzak, formerly of Prep RedZone; Steve Thomson, WCCO Radio; Gary Giombetti, Mesabi Daily News; Andy Rennecke, St. Cloud Live; Jim Paulsen, Strib Varsity

Interesting to see several of the 9 man teams have played 7 games already. It looks like they played their first game a week earlier than everyone else.

 

[MaxyJR1]

Maybe we can put out an official Gopherhole top 10 in each class.

 

[Schnauzer]

In the new facilities world, Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop has combined their three schools in three different communities to ONE K-12 School in Gibbon. New facilities and arenas are being built all over the new GFW campus currently. Halfway through the football season, the team moved from Winthrop to the new field in Gibbon, where the new high school, track, gym, and other sports fields are still under construction.

If you haven't spent time before a game planning which end of the field will have a wind advantage... you haven't played a game in prairie/farm country.

 

[MaxyJR1]

In the new facilities world, Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop has combined their three schools in three different communities to ONE K-12 School in Gibbon. New facilities and arenas are being built all over the new GFW campus currently. Halfway through the football season, the team moved from Winthrop to the new field in Gibbon, where the new high school, track, gym, and other sports fields are still under construction.

If you haven't spent time before a game planning which end of the field will have a wind advantage... you haven't played a game in prairie/farm country.

Great move by the communities for the future to build it centrally to the district, in Gibbon. These projects help build and sustain a community.

 

[GophersInIowa]

In the new facilities world, Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop has combined their three schools in three different communities to ONE K-12 School in Gibbon. New facilities and arenas are being built all over the new GFW campus currently. Halfway through the football season, the team moved from Winthrop to the new field in Gibbon, where the new high school, track, gym, and other sports fields are still under construction.

If you haven't spent time before a game planning which end of the field will have a wind advantage... you haven't played a game in prairie/farm country.

Very nice, especially for a Class 1A school/program.

 

[GopherGuy82]

GFW seems to be one of the only smaller schools/set of towns in that part of the state that aren't getting smaller. Good for them to make that investment. The field looks great.

 

[Kitzmann57]

Long Prairie/Grey Eagle has forfitted the rest of their season. Too many injuries.

 

[GophersInIowa]

Long Prairie/Grey Eagle has forfitted the rest of their season. Too many injuries.

20 years ago Long Prairie was playing in Class 3A. Now they're all the way down to 1A and don't have enough kids to play the whole season.

 

[Random Guy 12]

Spectrum receiving votes in 3A is crazy. Their schedule consists of 4 charter school opponents and a couple terrible 4A schools.

Stephen-Argyle is #10 in 9P and only loss it to #2 on the road by 2 points.
Edgerton was destroyed by the #1 team and ranked #8 currently.

1A has the #7 teams having a 54 point win over the #10 team. Something doesn't compute there.
2A Redwood Valley ranked over Eden Valley Watkins, yet lost to them H2H. EVW lost to #1 by 7.
3A Has St. Peter recieving votes and they are 4A
4A Looks decent
5A STA and SLP are both 6-0 and not 5-0.
6A Centennial lost to Andover and Andover lost to Champlin. Centennial beat Champlin.


These guys look at records only.

In 2A there are 5 and possibly 6 teams from section 1 that would go over and win section 2 handily. Waterville Elysian Morristown will go undefeated by winning all section games and only playing 1A teams outside of the section. Triton went over and walked thru that section 2 years in a row before being moved back to section 1. Beating WEM by 5 touchdowns in the section title game last year. I know sections are done by location but some competitive balance would be good sometimes too. I understand how difficult that would be tho.

 

[Some guy]

Maybe we can put out an official Gopherhole top 10 in each class.

Would be way easier to do a top 5 with an others receiving vote

 

[Ranger692]

Sad to hear that about Long Prairie.

Here is my Small school rankings with some reasoning

AA
1. JCC - Haven't played as stiff of competition as some but still have the best player in MN...
2. Holdingford - #1 in QRF by a large margin - many AAA teams on schedule
3. Staples-Motley - Crazy Schedule so are and were runners up last year with most skill guys back
4. Pillager - Same Schedule as SM - Play each other Friday, 3 straight losses to SM coming in
5. Chatfield - Winning but not by the margins of teams in front of them or the competition level
6. Osakis - Only loss is to Holdingford - pair of wins over AAA teams
7. Goodhue - Best win is over 3-3 AAA Lake City
8. Moose lake-Willow River - Haven't played anyone - Best win over Rush City
9. Waterville-Elysian-Morristown - Best win is over Maple River
10. Aitkin

Class A
1. Minneota - no need to explain that one...
2. Mahnomen - Beneficiary of Springfields last game and just being SOLID for 30 years
3. Springfield - Not sure what the story was but last week went into overtime with a 1 win Sleepy eye team
4. Breckenridge - Hardest schedule in class A and blowing everyone out but Parkers Prairie
5. Cleveland - 6-0 team but not blowing anyone away and no "real" signature wins
6. Filmore Central - Same as Cleveland as far as quality wins go
7. Barnum - Only loss is to AA Moose Lake Willow River
8. Parkers Prairie-Only loss is to Breckenridge on the road - Wins over U.S.A, OTC
9. Red Lake County - Only loss was to Mahnomen - But no other competition
10. U.S.A - Blowing everyone out, Only loss is on road to Parkers Prairie

9P - I do not know much about 9P but this is what I come up with after looking through each teams schedules and results through 6 games

1. Kittson County
2. Hills Beaver Creek
3. Steven Argyle - Only loss was a by 2 @ KCC
4. Mabel-Canton
5. Mille Lacs
6. Red Rock Central
7. Wabasso
8. Cromwell - Lost to Mille Lacs
9. Hillcrest - Only team with winning record played is Ortonville, and they are suspect
10. Bertha Hewitt - Loss to Cromwell last week

 

[Ranger692]

In 2A there are 5 and possibly 6 teams from section 1 that would go over and win section 2 handily. Waterville Elysian Morristown will go undefeated by winning all section games and only playing 1A teams outside of the section. Triton went over and walked thru that section 2 years in a row before being moved back to section 1. Beating WEM by 5 touchdowns in the section title game last year. I know sections are done by location but some competitive balance would be good sometimes too. I understand how difficult that would be tho.

Section 6 in class AA and A are both a gauntlet to get through as of the way things look right now.
Section 6AA
Staples-Motley last years runner up 6-0
Holdingford 6-0
Pillager 6-0
Osakis 5-1
All have played several teams in class AAA and have won handily in most games.

Competitive balance would be awesome but high school sports have jump up years and then down years. Some are classically good, but that doesn't mean squat really. Look at BOLD, new section and they are struggling bad. Albeit Im guessing to just being down in talent this year

 

[MaxyJR1]

In 2A there are 5 and possibly 6 teams from section 1 that would go over and win section 2 handily. Waterville Elysian Morristown will go undefeated by winning all section games and only playing 1A teams outside of the section. Triton went over and walked thru that section 2 years in a row before being moved back to section 1. Beating WEM by 5 touchdowns in the section title game last year. I know sections are done by location but some competitive balance would be good sometimes too. I understand how difficult that would be tho.

Section 1 is fairly tough at all classes due to numbers and proximity to Rochester. Has been this way for a number of years. Really good football. Heck Mayo beat Centennial in playoffs last year.

 

[Random Guy 12]

Section 6 in class AA and A are both a gauntlet to get through as of the way things look right now.
Section 6AA
Staples-Motley last years runner up 6-0
Holdingford 6-0
Pillager 6-0
Osakis 5-1
All have played several teams in class AAA and have won handily in most games.

Competitive balance would be awesome but high school sports have jump up years and then down years. Some are classically good, but that doesn't mean squat really. Look at BOLD, new section and they are struggling bad. Albeit Im guessing to just being down in talent this year

Why don't the teams in this section (6-AA) schedule each other? They have decent proximity being within an hour or so of each other. They'd suffer some losses but only one team comes out in the end anyway. At least this season anyway they are missing out on the opportunity for some great games.

 

[disco]

I know sections are done by location but some competitive balance would be good sometimes too. I understand how difficult that would be tho.

With schools with classes that small, I'd think it could fluctuate so much from year to year. I mean, there are teams like Minneota that are always super good, but I'd imagine consistency is an issue.

Not every small school has a Koi Perich come along.

 

[Ranger692]

The

Why don't the teams in this section (6-AA) schedule each other? They have decent proximity being within an hour or so of each other. They'd suffer some losses but only one team comes out in the end anyway. At least this season anyway they are missing out on the opportunity for some great games.

Last year they did. Its not a great opportunity though. Good class A teams don't generally match up well with the top AA teams. Now if it were hand picked the top couple teams play against each other I could see it, BUT this is how MNSHL does things

2024 Pillager schedule

Regular Season​

	Date	Opponent	Result				Section	QRF	Time	Location
Thu	Aug 29	at Osakis	W 18-16 F			S	6AA	38.6	7:00 PM	Osakis High School
Fri	Sep 06	vs Wadena-Deer Creek	W 48-0 F		C	S	6AA	13.6	7:00 PM	Pillager High School
Fri	Sep 13	at Breckenridge	W 27-19 F		C		6A	35.4	7:00 PM	Breckenridge High School
Fri	Sep 20	at Staples-Motley	L 43-25 F		C	S	6AA	65.9	7:00 PM	Staples-Motley Middle/High School
Fri	Sep 27	vs Walker-Hackensack-Akeley	W 47-6 F		C		6A	25.7	7:00 PM	Pillager High School
Fri	Oct 04	vs Pine River-Backus	W 52-0 F		C		6A	14.0	7:00 PM	Pillager High School
Fri	Oct 11	at Parkers Prairie	W 46-8 F		C		6A	44.3	7:00 PM	Parkers Prairie High School
Wed	Oct 16	vs New York Mills	W 43-0 F		C		6A	29.3	6:00 PM	Pillager High School

2024 S-M

Fri	Aug 30	at Frazee	W 47-7 F				8AA	36.8	7:00 PM	Frazee High School
Fri	Sep 06	vs Breckenridge	W 35-6 F		C		6A	35.4	7:00 PM	Staples-Motley Middle/High School
Fri	Sep 13	at Walker-Hackensack-Akeley	W 40-0 F		C		6A	25.7	7:00 PM	Walker-Hackensack-Akeley High School
Fri	Sep 20	vs Pillager	W 43-25 F		C	S	6AA	50.6	7:00 PM	Staples-Motley Middle/High School
Fri	Sep 27	vs Pine River-Backus	W 50-0 F		C		6A	14.0	7:00 PM	Staples-Motley Middle/High School
Fri	Oct 04	at Parkers Prairie	W 24-14 F		C		6A	44.3	7:00 PM	Parkers Prairie High School
Fri	Oct 11	vs New York Mills	W 44-8 F		C		6A	29.3	7:00 PM	Staples-Motley Middle/High School
Wed	Oct 16	at Wadena-Deer Creek	W 2-0 Forfeit		C	S	6AA	13.6	7:00 PM	Wadena-Deer Creek High School

Section 6AA 10-0 last season over 6A with average margin of victory 40.8 - 6.1. Class A teams don't want anything to do with playing AA teams... Its the only class that can ONLY play up. Now looks like Parkers Prairie had a good one with S-M and Breckenridge with Pillager but then both got blown out in the opposite game. What good does it do for the AA QRF to play class A teams. Its the sole reason S-M was the 4th seed in the North, Then they proceeded to make the championship game.

 

[Schnauzer]

GFW seems to be one of the only smaller schools/set of towns in that part of the state that aren't getting smaller. Good for them to make that investment. The field looks great.

GFW has been able to pull some kids in from out of the district but unfortunately has otherwise seen the same long term continual shrinkage that is so common in farm country. Until 1983 they were each big enough to have their own school districts. Three independent schools - about a third of a conference. Then Gibbon and Fairfax began to share some (but not all) sports, and Wintrhop did the same with Gaylord. Meanwhile, Gibbon and Winthrop began sharing some higher level academic high school classes and began bussing students back and forth midday.

There were a few years of awkwardness as Gibbon kids could be sitting together with Winthrop kids in class, but then face each other on the football field or basketball court the same day! The Fairfax-Gibbon Cavaliers competed together in Football, Baseball, boys and girls track and field, wrestling, and girls basketball. Meanwhile, it was the Gaylord-Winthrop Spartans in Football and baseball and the Winthrop-Gaylord Warriors in wrestling and Track and field. All four communities maintained boys basketball and volleyball alone, and Winthrop/Gaylord each did so with girls basketball too.

This awkward arrangement continued from 1983-1987, when GFW was formed and became one school, with the elementary in Gibbon, middle school in Fairfax, and high school in Winthrop.

In terms of that farmland enrollment shrinkage, it has been continual. Both Fairfax-Gibbon AND Gaylord-Winthrop football were class B in the 80's (in today's terms, a larger AA program or perhaps small AAA program). In its early years, GFW was an athletic powerhouse in class B football and Class A (only two class) basketball. But now, even with all three communities - GFW is down to class A in football. Gaylord turned the other direction and joined Arlington-Green Isle to become Sibley East.

 

[Random Guy 12]

The

Last year they did. Its not a great opportunity though. Good class A teams don't generally match up well with the top AA teams. Now if it were hand picked the top couple teams play against each other I could see it, BUT this is how MNSHL does things

2024 Pillager schedule

Regular Season​

	Date	Opponent	Result				Section	QRF	Time	Location
Thu	Aug 29	at Osakis	W 18-16 F			S	6AA	38.6	7:00 PM	Osakis High School
Fri	Sep 06	vs Wadena-Deer Creek	W 48-0 F		C	S	6AA	13.6	7:00 PM	Pillager High School
Fri	Sep 13	at Breckenridge	W 27-19 F		C		6A	35.4	7:00 PM	Breckenridge High School
Fri	Sep 20	at Staples-Motley	L 43-25 F		C	S	6AA	65.9	7:00 PM	Staples-Motley Middle/High School
Fri	Sep 27	vs Walker-Hackensack-Akeley	W 47-6 F		C		6A	25.7	7:00 PM	Pillager High School
Fri	Oct 04	vs Pine River-Backus	W 52-0 F		C		6A	14.0	7:00 PM	Pillager High School
Fri	Oct 11	at Parkers Prairie	W 46-8 F		C		6A	44.3	7:00 PM	Parkers Prairie High School
Wed	Oct 16	vs New York Mills	W 43-0 F		C		6A	29.3	6:00 PM	Pillager High School

2024 S-M

Fri	Aug 30	at Frazee	W 47-7 F				8AA	36.8	7:00 PM	Frazee High School
Fri	Sep 06	vs Breckenridge	W 35-6 F		C		6A	35.4	7:00 PM	Staples-Motley Middle/High School
Fri	Sep 13	at Walker-Hackensack-Akeley	W 40-0 F		C		6A	25.7	7:00 PM	Walker-Hackensack-Akeley High School
Fri	Sep 20	vs Pillager	W 43-25 F		C	S	6AA	50.6	7:00 PM	Staples-Motley Middle/High School
Fri	Sep 27	vs Pine River-Backus	W 50-0 F		C		6A	14.0	7:00 PM	Staples-Motley Middle/High School
Fri	Oct 04	at Parkers Prairie	W 24-14 F		C		6A	44.3	7:00 PM	Parkers Prairie High School
Fri	Oct 11	vs New York Mills	W 44-8 F		C		6A	29.3	7:00 PM	Staples-Motley Middle/High School
Wed	Oct 16	at Wadena-Deer Creek	W 2-0 Forfeit		C	S	6AA	13.6	7:00 PM	Wadena-Deer Creek High School

Section 6AA 10-0 last season over 6A with average margin of victory 40.8 - 6.1. Class A teams don't want anything to do with playing AA teams... Its the only class that can ONLY play up. Now looks like Parkers Prairie had a good one with S-M and Breckenridge with Pillager but then both got blown out in the opposite game. What good does it do for the AA QRF to play class A teams. Its the sole reason S-M was the 4th seed in the North, Then they proceeded to make the championship game.

I'm sorry. That wasn't what I meant, I may have worded it poorly. What I meant was why don't all of the AA teams in section 6 schedule against each other? It looks like most of them only play maybe 2 games during the regular season vs other section 6AA opponents.

 

[Ranger692]

I'm sorry. That wasn't what I meant, I may have worded it poorly. What I meant was why don't all of the AA teams in section 6 schedule against each other? It looks like most of them only play maybe 2 games during the regular season vs other section 6AA opponents.

Oh, I misunderstood you. LOL why does the MNSHL schedule the way they do? because they do what they want i guess... I did here some schedule committee member on the Rady Shaver podcast state they are trying to get each team to 4-4 each year, which is laughable be cause most schools are going to be drastically different from year to year. S-M was 0-9 in 2022 and in the AA championship game in 2024... Now tell me how you are setting up a schedule off last years results and you know who will be good or bad and have it be one size fits all. Doing it this way is how you have killed all most 100% of the rivalries in football.

 

[MaxyJR1]

Here is the link to all the districts in the State. You play everyone in your district and then have the remaining games as cross over.

7 teams in District is 6 district games and 2 cross over. Some have 9 teams and they play 7 in district and one cross over game because you can't have a bye week.

https://www.mshsl.org/sites/default/files/2025-07/districs-sub-districts-2025-2026_1.pdf

 

[Random Guy 12]

Here is the link to all the districts in the State. You play everyone in your district and then have the remaining games as cross over.

7 teams in District is 6 district games and 2 cross over. Some have 9 teams and they play 7 in district and one cross over game because you can't have a bye week.

https://www.mshsl.org/sites/default/files/2025-07/districs-sub-districts-2025-2026_1.pdf

Appears that teams in section 6AA are separated into different districts. That answers my question. I'm from the SE section 1 area where most teams basically play everyone in their section and then play 1/2 games outside the section.

 

[swede2]

In the new facilities world, Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop has combined their three schools in three different communities to ONE K-12 School in Gibbon. New facilities and arenas are being built all over the new GFW campus currently. Halfway through the football season, the team moved from Winthrop to the new field in Gibbon, where the new high school, track, gym, and other sports fields are still under construction.

If you haven't spent time before a game planning which end of the field will have a wind advantage... you haven't played a game in prairie/farm country.

This was a very contentious issue in the school district for a long time. There were adequate facilities in both Winthrop and in Fairfax (especially) but local politics closed the Fairfax facility quite some time ago. The tax base in the district is almost entirely agricultural, there being very little commercial/industry and the housing has very little value. The demographics suggest the possibility the school may not exist before the bonds are paid off. In a nod to current political absurdity, GFW had to drop the "Thurderbirds" mascot and adopt "Firebirds" as their new mascot.

 

[Random Guy 12]

This was a very contentious issue in the school district for a long time. There were adequate facilities in both Winthrop and in Fairfax (especially) but local politics closed the Fairfax facility quite some time ago. The tax base in the district is almost entirely agricultural, there being very little commercial/industry and the housing has very little value. The demographics suggest the possibility the school may not exist before the bonds are paid off. In a nod to current political absurdity, GFW had to drop the "Thurderbirds" mascot and adopt "Firebirds" as their new mascot.

If all else fails it looks like they could use that track for some Saturday night short track racing in the summer!