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MARSHALL -- Area football teams learned their postseason paths as section playoff brackets were released, setting up a series of matchups across multiple classifications with section championships and state tournament berths on the line.
Marshall earns No. 2 seed in Section 2AAAA
Marshall earned the No. 2 seed in Section 2AAAA and will receive a first-round bye as it begins its postseason pursuit.
The Tigers will host a semifinal game on Oct. 31 at 6 p.m. at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall. Their opponent will be the winner of the quarterfinal between No. 3 Hutchinson and No. 6 New Ulm, scheduled for Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. at Hutchinson High School.
On the other side of the bracket, top-seeded Willmar will host the winner of the quarterfinal between No. 4 Rocori and No. 5 St. Peter. Rocori will host St. Peter on Oct. 27 at 7 p.m., with the winner advancing to face Willmar on Oct. 31 at 3 p.m. at Willmar High School.
The Section 2AAAA championship game is scheduled for Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. at the higher seed. The winner will advance to the state tournament.
Section 4A features several area teams
Section 4A features several area teams, led by top-seeded Minneota, which earned a first-round bye as it pursues another state championship.
The Vikings enter the postseason riding a 53-game winning streak and seeking a fifth consecutive state title. Minneota will open its playoff run in the section semifinals on Oct. 31 at 3 p.m. at Gerhard Meidt Stadium in Minneota, facing the winner of the quarterfinal between No. 4 Lakeview and No. 5 MACCRAY. Lakeview will host that matchup on Oct. 27 at 7 p.m.
On the other side of the bracket, No. 2 Dawson-Boyd will host No. 7 Yellow Medicine East on Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. The winner will advance to face the winner of the quarterfinal between No. 3 Lac qui Parle Valley and No. 6 Canby, which is scheduled for Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. at Lac qui Parle Valley.
The winners of the two quarterfinals will meet in the other Section 4A semifinal on Oct. 31 at 3 p.m. at the higher seed.
The Section 4A championship game is scheduled for Nov. 6 at 2 p.m. at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall. The winner will advance to the state tournament.
RTR, TMB and MCC prepare for Section 3A
Section 3A features Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, Tracy-Milroy-Balaton and Murray County Central, with all three teams looking to advance through the postseason bracket.
RTR earned the No. 4 seed, while TMB received the No. 5 seed. The teams will square off Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. at Russell-Tyler-Ruthton High School in Tyler. The winner will advance to face top-seeded Springfield in the semifinals on Oct. 31 at 3 p.m. at Springfield High School.
On the other side of the bracket, No. 3 Murray County Central will host No. 6 BOLD on Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. in Slayton. The winner will advance to face No. 2 Sleepy Eye United on Oct. 31 at 1 p.m. at Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s High School.
The winners of the two semifinal games will meet for the Section 3A championship, with a state tournament berth on the line.
Wabasso and Red Rock Central set for Section 2 nine-player playoffs
Wabasso earned the No. 1 seed in the Section 2 nine-player football bracket and will receive a first-round bye as it begins its postseason run.
The Rabbits will host the winner of the quarterfinal between No. 4 Renville County West and No. 5 Red Rock Central. Renville County West will host Red Rock Central on Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. in Danube, with the winner advancing to face Wabasso in the semifinals.
Wabasso will look to take advantage of its top seed and home-field advantage as it works toward a section championship and a berth in the state tournament.