For high school football teams in Minnesota, the games come in a hurry during October.
Teams that win the quarterfinal round game in their section playoffs are looking at playing five games in 23 days.
For Jackson County Central, that stretch starts at Johnson Field in New Ulm Friday vs. Minnesota Valley Lutheran. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
The Class 2A fifth-ranked Huskies are 5-0 after last week’s 29-14 win over Redwood Valley. The Chargers are 3-2 after a 34-16 loss at Pipestone.
The teams had completely opposite starts to their games last week. The score of both games was 21-0 after the first quarter.
JCC had a 21-0 lead over Redwood Valley with 4:32 still to play in the first quarter before the Cardinals got to within one score at 21-14 before the Huskies gave themselves a little breathing room.
MVL trailed Pipestone 21-0 after the first period and the Arrows stretched their lead to 28-0 on the first play of the second quarter. The Chargers drew to within 28-16 at halftime with Pipestone scoring a third quarter touchdown for the only scoring of the second half.
Chargers’ quarterback Kaden Peterson was 11-for-25 passing for 174 yards and two touchdowns. He had a three-touchdown game earlier this season vs. LeSueur-Henderson.
What’s ahead
After the game at Minnesota Valley Lutheran, Jackson County Central will have one day shy of a week to prepare for its next two games.
The Huskies host Luverne on Thursday, Oct. 12 and travel to Pipestone to close the regular season on Wednesday, Oct. 18.
Then comes the always popular (Substack needs a sarcasm font) first week of the section playoffs with two games in five days as the quarterfinals are Tuesday, Oct. 24 and the semifinals are Saturday, Oct. 28.
JCC’s perfect record has the Huskies atop the Section 3AA QRF standings. MVL is one of three teams that is 3-2. Pipestone and Redwood Valley are the others.
Series highlights
This is the first meeting ever between Jackson County Central and Minnesota Valley Lutheran.
Johnson Field
The Huskies have played one game at Johnson Field, beating New Ulm 26-12 in 2010.
Section 3AAA championship games vs. Fairmont in 2016, 2017 and 2018 were played at New Ulm High School.
South Central Silver District
Jackson County Central plays in the South Central Silver District during the regular season.
Standings
Jackson County Central 1-0
Luverne 1-0
Pipestone 1-1
Redwood Valley 1-1
Minnesota Valley Lutheran 0-2
District games only
Friday, Oct. 6
Jackson County Central at Minnesota Valley Lutheran
Pipestone at Luverne
Redwood Valley at Sibley East
Section 3AA
Jackson County Central will play in Section 3AA in postseason play. Here are the latest QRF standings for the section. Listed are team, won-loss record and QRF number.
Jackson County Central 5-0 46.0
Redwood Valley 3-2 31.8
Pipestone 3-2 31.4
Minnesota Valley Lutheran 3-2 29.8
Sibley East 2-3 19.9
Windom 1-4 11.1
Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial 0-5 7.5
LeSueur-Henderson 0-5 5.9
If the playoffs started today
LeSueur-Henderson (8) at Jackson County Central (1)
Sibley East (5) at Minnesota Valley Lutheran (4)
Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial (7) at Redwood Valley (2)
Windom (6) at Pipestone (3)
Friday, Oct. 6
Jackson County Central at Minnesota Valley Lutheran
Redwood Valley at Sibley East
Pipestone at Luverne
Maple River at LeSueur-Henderson
Blue Earth Area at Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial
Wabasso at Windom
Undefeated Class 2A teams
There are nine undefeated football teams in Class 2A heading into this week. That number will be reduced by at least one as Caledonia hosts Chatfield.
1AA: Caledonia, Chatfield
2AA: None
3AA: Jackson County Central
4AA: Norwood Young America, St. Agnes
5AA: Eden Valley-Watkins, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg
6AA: None
7AA: Barnum
8AA: Barnesville
Top 10
Here’s who the top 10 teams in the Class 2A football poll are playing this week.
Three teams are playing against a team from another class.
No. 5 St. Agnes is playing Class 4A Austin, while No. 8 Norwood Young America is playing Class 1A Cleveland and No. 10 Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg plays Class 1A Upsala/Swanville.
Barnesville (5-0): at Park Rapids Area (4-1)
Caledonia (5-0): vs. Chatfield (5-0)
Chatfield (5-0): at Caledonia (5-0)
Eden Valley-Watkins (5-0): at Maple Lake (0-5)
Jackson County Central (5-0): at Minnesota Valley Lutheran (3-2)
St. Agnes (5-0): at Austin (1-4)
Barnum (5-0): at Mille Lacs (3-2)
Norwood Young America (5-0): at Cleveland (1-4)
Cannon Falls (4-1): vs. Triton (3-2)
Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg (5-0): at Upsala/Swanville (4-1)