Martin County West will host Class 1A second-ranked Springfield at 7 p.m. Thursday in Sherburn.
The Mavericks have lost two straight one-score games, falling 12-6 in overtime at home to Wabasso and 36-30 on the road at Sleepy Eye United.
The Tigers come in with a 6-0 record and have been outscoring their opponents by an average margin of 37.3-9.3. MCW has been outscoring its foes 24.7-19.3.
Martin County West closes out its regular-season schedule at St. James Area Wednesday. The Saints play at Tracy-Milroy-Balaton Friday in a meeting of 1-5 teams.
Schedule/results
MARTIN COUNTY WEST (3-3)
Friday, Aug. 30: Canby, W 42-0
Friday, Sept. 6: at Adrian/Ellsworth, L 27-0
Friday, Sept. 13: Tracy-Milroy-Balaton, W 44-29
Friday, Sept. 20: at Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, W 26-12
Friday, Sept. 27: Wabasso, L 12-6 (OT)
Friday, Oct. 4: at Sleepy Eye United, L 36-30
Thursday, Oct. 10: Springfield, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 16: at St. James Area, 7 p.m.
SPRINGFIELD (6-0)
Thursday, Aug. 29: Adrian/Ellsworth, W 34-8
Friday, Sept. 6: at Murray County Central, W 28-18
Friday, Sept. 13: Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, W 32-7
Friday, Sept. 20: at Wabasso, W 48-7
Friday, Sept. 27: Sleepy Eye United, W 34-6
Friday, Oct. 4: at St. James Area, W 48-12
Thursday, Oct. 10: at Martin County West, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 16: Windom, 7 p.m.
Recent meetings
This will be the fifth time in the past six years that the Mavericks and Tigers have met. It’s also the third straight season.
Three of those meetings have come in the Section 3A playoffs, once in each of the three rounds.
The scores:
2019: Springfield 23, Martin County West 21 (Section 3A championship)
2021: Springfield 32, Martin County West 27
2022: Springfield 14, Martin County West 8; Springfield 21, Martin County West 7 (Section 3A semifinals)
2023: Springfield 50, Martin County West 0; Springfield 22, Martin County West 0 (Section 3A quarterfinals)
South (West-South) District
Standings
Springfield 5-0
Adrian/Ellsworth 5-0
Windom 4-1
Murray County Central 3-2
Sleepy Eye United 3-2
Martin County West 2-3
Wabasso 1-4
Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 1-4
Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 1-4
St. James Area 0-4
Thursday, Oct. 10
Springfield at Martin County West
Russell-Tyler-Ruthton at Murray County Central
Wabasso at Adrian/Ellsworth
Friday, Oct. 11
Sleepy Eye United at Windom
St. James Area at Tracy-Milroy-Balaton
District games only
Section 3A
Martin County West will compete in Section 3A in postseason play.
Here’s who the teams in the section play this week. Won-loss records are in parentheses.
Springfield (6-0): at Martin County West (1-3)
Adrian/Ellsworth (5-1): vs. Wabasso (2-4)
Murray County Central (4-2): vs. Russell-Tyler-Ruthton (1-5)
Sleepy Eye United (4-2): at Windom (4-2)
Martin County West (3-3): vs. Springfield (6-0)
Wabasso (2-4): vs. at Adrian/Ellsworth (5-1)
Tracy-Milroy-Balaton (1-5): vs. St. James Area (1-5)
Russell-Tyler-Ruthton (1-5): at Murray County Central (4-2)