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MARSHALL -- Success has become a familiar part of Marshall High School athletics, and the football program has continued that trend in recent years.
The Tigers have made back-to-back trips to the state tournament, advancing to the state semifinals in both seasons. In each of those appearances, Marshall’s season ended against the eventual state champion, with Becker defeating the Tigers in 2024 and Orono doing the same in 2025.
With another season on the horizon, head coach Terry Bahlmann returns to lead the Tigers and believes the program has developed a culture that can continue to produce success.
"These kids know how to work hard and know our program," Bahlmann said. "The last couple of years, we have been a defensive team and led the state in scoring defense both years."
That defensive identity has become a point of pride for the Tigers. Bahlmann said the players take pride in the physical style of football Marshall has established and understand the importance of playing disciplined defense.
Marshall will also enter the season with some extra motivation after how last year’s campaign ended. The Tigers suffered an overtime loss in the state tournament, leaving the team hungry to get back to that stage and finish the job.
"The guys are disappointed with how our last season ended with the overtime loss at state," Bahlmann said. "We talk a lot about one play at a time. We are building our offensive line and have some big names to replace, but when it is a kid’s turn to step up, they know what our program is about and have been running the same offense for years."
While Marshall will need to replace several key contributors, Bahlmann is confident in the players waiting for their opportunities.
One of the players expected to make an impact is tailback Sam Meier, who averaged more than 10 yards per carry last season. Bahlmann also pointed to Noah Frazee and Ethan Weedman as players who will be key contributors for the Tigers.
The receiving corps could be another major strength. Bahlmann believes the group is among the deepest Marshall has had in recent seasons, and the return of Jayden Meister from injury gives the Tigers another major weapon.
"We have a great nucleus of guys already, and once it is a new guy’s turn to step up, they have always done a great job," Bahlmann said.
Marshall will not take an easy route through the regular season. The Tigers’ schedule includes several teams that reached the state tournament last season, including Fergus Falls, Orono and Benilde-St. Margaret’s. Marshall will also face traditionally strong programs such as Delano, Hutchinson, Rocori and Willmar.
"Hutchinson is probably the most decorated school in 4A over the years," Bahlmann said. "We have Rocori in there, Willmar and Fergus Falls. We just have to take things week by week and get better each day."
Rather than avoiding difficult competition, Marshall sees the challenging schedule as an opportunity to prepare for the postseason.
"The intensity of the regular season now is huge," Bahlmann said. "For seeding purposes in the section, we do not want to stumble, and we’re seeing the best schools, best players in the state week to week, so it does nothing but make us better as we go."
After consecutive state semifinal appearances, Marshall enters the season with another opportunity to compete against some of the state’s best teams. With a strong defensive identity, experienced players ready to step into larger roles and a challenging schedule designed to test them, the Tigers will look to turn another successful regular season into a deeper postseason run.