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MARSHALL -- Coming off a dominant finish to the regular season, the Marshall football team is looking to carry its momentum into the postseason.
The Tigers closed the regular season with a 38-0 win over Benilde-St. Margaret's, finishing 6-2 overall and ranked No. 3 in Class AAAA. Marshall also picked up wins over ranked opponents Fergus Falls, Delano and Hutchinson, defeating the Tigers on the road in Hutchinson. Marshall's only losses came in road games against Orono, the No. 1-ranked team in Class AAAA, and Willmar, ranked No. 2. Both teams remain undefeated at 7-0.
Marshall head coach Terry Bahlmann said the Tigers executed well offensively in their regular-season finale, building on improvements made over the previous two weeks.
"Offensively, I thought we came out really sharp and executed," Bahlmann said. "I think we scored on every drive we had the football, so we really controlled it in the run game."
The success on the ground started with the offensive line, including guards Donny Chavaria and Bennett Gravin, along with tackle Braeden Vanmeveren. Bahlmann said the work of the linemen helps create opportunities for running backs Tyler Kraft and Sam Meier.
"Those guys really had a really good game. They go unnoticed, but when they do their thing, guys like Tyler Kraft and Sam Meier can run the football," Bahlmann said.
Limiting mistakes has been another point of emphasis for the Tigers as they prepare for the playoffs. Bahlmann said the team made too many mistakes offensively earlier in the season, particularly in its loss to Orono, but has made progress in recent weeks.
"For us to be a good football team, we need to limit those," Bahlmann said. "Two weeks in a row, we played really well on offense. Of course, two shutouts speak for themselves. So we think we're getting better, and it's a good time to peak right now."
With the regular season complete, Marshall will have additional time to prepare for its playoff opener. The Tigers will host either Hutchinson or New Ulm, with the matchup to be determined by the outcome of their game Tuesday night.
Bahlmann said the extra preparation time gives the team an opportunity to revisit fundamentals and make sure the players are ready for the postseason. The coaching staff plans to spend the first part of the week focusing on the team's own execution before turning its attention to the opponent.
"We have a good chance to review fundamentals and talk about our fundamentals and make sure we have that going," Bahlmann said. "We've been there before, so hopefully our kids understand how to handle it and just take care of our stuff."
If Hutchinson advances, Marshall will face a familiar opponent. Hutchinson is currently ranked No. 8 in Class AAAA, and the teams have met approximately five times over the past two-plus years, according to Bahlmann. Marshall defeated Hutchinson on the road during the regular season, and Bahlmann expects both sides to make adjustments if they meet again.
"Their program is tradition-rich, so they're not going to change a whole lot, and we're very familiar with each other," Bahlmann said. "Everybody's going to have a couple wrinkles. You just want to find some things and see if you can get one thing to make yourself better this time of year."
If New Ulm advances, the Tigers will face a team Bahlmann has seen briefly, including at a summer camp. He noted New Ulm's size up front is one of the most notable things about the team..
The Tigers also have postseason experience to draw on, with seniors who have been part of teams that reached the state semifinals twice. Bahlmann said the group understands what it takes to prepare for this stage of the season.
"Our kids like to play football, and I don't think they're ready to be done," Bahlmann said. "It doesn't feel like it's time to be done. And to do that, we know we need to play our best right now."