ROCHESTER — Making its return to the state tournament after a three-year hiatus, the Murray County Central football team will look to maintain its ground-and-pound success when it takes on the second-seeded Fillmore Central Falcons in the Class A quarterfinals at Rochester Mayo High School tonight at 7 p.m.

Murray County Central enters the state tournament on an eight-game winning streak, now holding an 8-2 record after an 0-2 start with losses to No. 9 Dawson-Boyd and No. 2 Springfield. The Rebels have since avenged the latter of those two losses, beating Springfield 31-20 in the Section 3A championship to end the Tigers’ three-year reign over the section.

Heading into the matchup, MCC head coach Patrick Freeman said that the team’s primary focus is to continue believing in themselves and staying true to their identity. He added that the group is aiming to continue to improve each day in practice, and is looking forward to the opportunity to show the work that it’s put in on the big stage.

Since 2000, the Rebels have made the state tournament three times now. They were eliminated in the state tournament both times, but will look to flip the script this time around.

Fillmore Central had never made the state tournament before 2022, but it’s become a staple of the Class A tournament since then. The Falcons defeated Lewiston-Altura 34-21 in the Section 1A championship last week to earn their third state tournament appearance in four years.

In its previous pair of state tournament appearances, Fillmore Central is 1-2. The Falcons won their state tournament debut in 2022 before falling to eventual champion Minneota in the semifinals, and then lost to runner-up Springfield in the quarterfinals in 2023.

While the Falcons are a perfect 10-0 on the season, they have not been tested often. The Falcons have outscored their opponents 420-100 to date, but have not played a ranked team all season and played just two games against a team with a winning record, with both of those games being against Lewiston-Altura.

Still, the Falcons have done all in their power to prove their talent to date, earning a No. 3 ranking in the final coaches poll. The Falcons have doubled their opponents rushing yards, per Minnesota Football Hub, with 2,634 yards on 7.8 yards per attempt for the Falcons compared to 1,272 on 4.1 yards per attempt for their opponents.

While the passing yardage totals are more similar, with 1,401 passing yards for Fillmore Central and 1,089 yards for their opponents, the Falcons have averaged 13.0 yards per pass attempt compared to 5.3 yards per attempt allowed.

Kane Larson leads the Falcons rushing attack with 1,318 yards and 23 touchdowns on the ground. He’s averaged 7.1 yards per attempt, while complementary back Quinci Kaase has averaged 12.6 yards per attempt for 759 yards.

Kaase is also tied with Cody Serfling for the team lead in receiving touchdowns with five, and his 273 receiving yards trail only Serfling’s 287 and Rylan Ristau’s 357.

Bridon Bahl has also been an impact player under center for the Falcons, throwing for 20 touchdowns on just two interceptions.

The Falcons possess a blend of experience and youth that often translates to success, Freeman said, adding that Fillmore Central’s dominant defensive and offensive line, combined with quality playmakers presents a strong challenge. Still, he believes that the Falcons have the talent to get the win if the Rebels understand their individual responsibilities and execute them.

Beyond the individual responsibilities, the Rebels are aiming to create “constant, relentless pressure,” Freeman said, as well as consistently rallying to the football in order to limit the Falcons’ gains.

Lucas Kuball and Jordan Sturges in particular were able to come away with big defensive plays, with Kuball coming up with a first-half interception against Springfield’s high-flying passing offense and Sturges coming up with a handful of key deflections.

Beyond just staying focused on assignments, Freeman added that controlling the clock and getting the ball back quickly are focus points for the Rebels in the game. He also emphasized the importance of special teams, saying that it’s an aspect of the game that can often go unnoticed but can have a significant impact on the result of the game.

MCC’s option offense is one that catches many teams off guard. While the Rebels’ run-heavy game plan doesn’t open up the field like a downfield pass can, MCC brings a certain physicality to the game that many teams can’t stop even when they know it’s coming.

A lot of that success can come down to the physicality on the point of the attack from the offensive line, Freeman said, with seniors like Gabriel Wolske, Colby Kesteloot and Luke Iverson bringing significant experience to the group.

Additionally, Freeman credited sophomore quarterback Teague Meyer’s decision-making, as well as the ability of running backs such as Carson Lewis and Sturges to make the right reads, which allows this group to execute the way it does with everyone on the same page.

MCC’s game against Fillmore Central is set to kick off at 7 p.m. at Rochester Mayo High School. Tickets are available online at MSHSL.org/tickets, with student tickets available for $9 and adult tickets available for $13. A livestream is also available from NSPN.TV, which requires a $12 monthly subscription fee.