The defending state champion and two undefeated teams lost in the section semifinal round of Class 2A football playoffs in the state on Saturday.
In Section 5AA, third-seeded Holdingford, 8-2, was a 34-14 winner at second-seeded Eden Valley-Watkins, which won the state title in 2023. EV-W had won 24-6 when the teams met on the same field on Oct. 16.
This time the Huskers led 22-0 at halftime and went on to the win.
Luke Bieniek gained 123 yards on 23 carries and scored two touchdowns for Holdingford. Jaxon Bartkowicz was 9-for-13 passing for 145 yards.
That earns the Huskers a spot in the section championship game against another team it lost to during the regular season, top-seeded Kimball (9-0). The Cubs beat the Huskers 34-8 on Oct. 4 in Holdingford.
Kimball (9-0) beat Royalton 37-0 on Saturday to reach the title game. The Cubs beat the Huskers 34-8 on Oct. 4 in Holdingford.
In Section 4AA, fourth-seeded Cannon Falls (8-2) handed top-seeded Rush City (8-1) its first loss, 41-12. The Bombers returned two interceptions for touchdowns.
Cannon Falls will play third-seeded Norwood Young America (10-0) in the championship game Friday in Watertown. The Raiders beat second-seeded St. Agnes 33-7 in their semifinal.
One Class 2A section championship game is on Thursday, with the remaining seven on Friday.
Here are the playoff schedules for each of the Class 2A sections.
SECTION 1AA
Tuesday, Oct. 22
First round
Dover-Eyota 28, Winona Cotter 0
Lewiston-Altura 40, St. Charles 14
Saturday, Oct. 26
Semifinals
Chatfield 53, Dover-Eyota 14
Caledonia 20, Lewiston-Altura 12
Friday, Nov. 1
Championship
At Winona
Chatfield (9-0) vs. Caledonia (7-2), 7 p.m.
SECTION 2AA
Tuesday, Oct. 22
First round
Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton 25, New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva 22
Maple River 48, Blue Earth Area 24
Saturday, Oct. 26
Semifinals
Triton 66, Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton 7
Waterville-Elysian-Morristown 14, Maple River 12
Friday, Nov. 1
Championship
At Janesville
Triton (7-2) vs. Waterville-Elysian-Morristown (8-1), 7 p.m.
SECTION 3AA
Tuesday, Oct. 22
First round
LeSueur-Henderson 41, Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial 21
Redwood Valley 34, Windom 13
Saturday, Oct. 26
Semifinals
Jackson County Central 36, Le Sueur-Henderson 14
Pipestone 23, Redwood Valley 14
Friday, Nov. 1
Championship
At Worthington
Jackson County Central (9-0) vs. Pipestone (8-2), 7 p.m.
SECTION 4AA
Tuesday, Oct. 22
First round
Cannon Falls 50, Randolph 6
Norwood Young America 58, Maple Lake 8
Saturday, Oct. 26
Semifinals
Cannon Falls 41, Rush City 12
Norwood Young America 33, St. Agnes 7
Friday, Nov. 1
Championship
At Watertown-Mayer HS
Norwood Young America (10-0) vs. Cannon Falls (8-2), 7 p.m.
SECTION 5AA
Tuesday, Oct. 22
First round
Royalton 22, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg 14
Holdingford 42, Paynesville 2
Saturday, Oct. 26
Semifinals
Kimball 37, Royalton 0
Holdingford 34, Eden Valley-Watkins 14
Friday, Nov. 1
Championship
At Collegeville
Kimball (9-0) vs. Holdingford (8-2), 7 p.m.
SECTION 6AA
Saturday, Oct. 26
Semifinals
Staples-Motley 50, Menahga 12
Osakis 16, Pillager 15
Friday, Nov. 1
Championship
At Fargo
Staples-Motley (9-0) vs. Osakis (4-5), 3 p.m.
SECTION 7AA
Tuesday, Oct. 22
First round
Barnum 45, Hinckley-Finlayson 14
Mesabi East 20, Aitkin 6
Moose Lake/Willow River 48, Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin 28
International Falls 37, Crosby-Ironton 14
Saturday, Oct. 26
Semifinals
Mesabi East 22, Barnum 14
Moose Lake/Willow River 47, International Falls 6
Thursday, Oct. 31
Championship
At Esko
Moose Lake/Willow River (8-2) vs. Mesabi East (7-3), 6 p.m.
SECTION 8AA
Tuesday, Oct. 22
First round
Barnesville 60, Crookston 8
Frazee 22, Park Rapids Area 21
Pelican Rapids 41, Roseau 19
Hawley 37, Warroad 29
Saturday, Oct. 26
Semifinals
Barnesville 58, Frazee 6
Hawley 30, Pelican Rapids 20
Friday, Nov. 1
Championship
At Fargo
Barnesville (10-0) vs. Hawley (7-3), 5:30 p.m.
State tournament
There’s a new format for the state tournament this year. The state will be split in two, with sections 1-4 in the south and 5-8 in the north.
In the quarterfinals the parings will have the No. 1 seed playing the No. 4 seed and the No. 2 seed playing the No. 3 seed.
The teams will cross brackets for the semifinals with the lowest remaining seed from each half playing the highest remaining seed from the other side.
Quarterfinals
Thursday, Nov. 7
No. 2 South vs. No. 3 South at Hastings, 7 p.m.
No. 2 North vs. No. 3 North at St. Cloud Tech, 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 8
No. 1 South vs. No. 4 South at Orono High School, 7 p.m.
No. 1 North vs. No. 4 North at Brainerd, 7 p.m.
Semifinals
Friday, Nov. 15
At U.S. Bank Stadium
Low seed South vs. High seed North, 9 a.m.
High seed South vs. Low seed North, 11:30 a.m.
Championship
Friday, Nov. 22
At U.S. Bank Stadium
Semifinal winners, 1 p.m.