Here are some highlights from Friday in Jackson and beyond.
Homecoming win
After building a 21-0 lead just past the midway point of the first quarter, the Jackson County Central football team had to hold off Redwood Valley 29-14 in its homecoming game at Swearingen Field.
Clay Malchow returned an interception for a touchdown, Ben Dahlin caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Roman Voss and then Voss caught a nine-yard TD pass from Brenan Runge, Jack Sadusky kicked all three extra points and JCC had a 21-0 lead with 4:32 remaining in the first quarter.
From there penalties and turnovers posed a problem for the Huskies and the Cardinals made it a one-score game at 21-14 early in the fourth quarter.
Jackson County Central gave itself some breathing room when Homecoming King Seth Stai crashed into the end from two yards out with 3:59 to play. Holder Sam Brinkman ran in the two-point conversion for the final 29-14 margin.
The Huskies are 5-0 and travel to New Ulm next Friday to play Minnesota Valley Lutheran.
Friday football scores
Jackson County Central 29, Redwood Valley 14
Pipestone 34, Minnesota Valley Lutheran 16
Sibley East 16, LeSueur-Henderson 8
Windom 28, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 20
Maple River 34, Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial 0
Luverne 30, Blue Earth Area 7
Fairmont 42, New Ulm 14
Marshall 68, Worthington 6
Saturday
Martin County West at Wabasso, 3 p.m.
Williamson helps keep Reds’ hopes alive
Martin County West graduate Brandon Williamson was the winning pitcher as the Cincinnati Reds kept their National League playoff hopes alive with a 19-2 win over the Cardinals in St. Louis.
In six innings he allowed two runs on five hits, walked two and struck out two. He finishes the regular season with a 5-5 record.
Cincinnati is still in contention for the final National League Wild Card berth.
To make it to the postseason, the Reds must win the final two games of their series against the Cardinals, and either Arizona or Miami must lose their remaining games. The Diamondbacks have two games left vs. Houston, while the Marlins have two left in Pittsburgh in addition to a suspended game vs. the Mets if that needs to be finished to determine a playoff spot.
The Reds and Cubs both have 82-78 records.
There also is a scenario in which all four teams (Diamondbacks, Marlins, Cubs, Reda) could finish with 84-78 records. Because of the tiebreakers, the Marlins and Reds would advance in that scenario.
Musser wins in goal
Sherburn native Carsen Musser didn’t have the best numbers Friday night but did pick up the win in goal as the Madison Capitols defeated the Chicago Steel 7-6 in a United States Hockey League game at Bob Suter's Capitol Ice Arena in Middleton, Wis.
Musser made 20 saves on the 26 shots he faced (.769 percentage) as Madison improved to 3-0. Musser has a 2-0 record.
The Capitols are at Lincoln, Neb. Oct. 7-8.
College notes
Jackson County Central grad Sadie Voss had a double-double of 13 kills and 14 digs for the University of Sioux Falls in its 3-0 win at Bemidji State in NSIC volleyball. The Cougars are at Minnesota-Crookston Saturday.
JCC grad Andrew Boyum, a sophomore with the Iowa Central men’s cross country team, place 52nd out of 272 finishers with an 8K time of 28:11.5 in the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival in Fayetteville, Ark.
Look for more in future newsletters!