Football: Willmar Cardinals gear up for rival Rocori Spartans

Sep. 26—WILLMAR

— Another week, another ranked opponent waits in the wings for the

Willmar

football team.

Following a 45-14 homecoming loss to now-No. 1 ranked Becker last Friday, the Cardinals turn their attention to ninth-ranked Rocori in the Spartans' homecoming at 6 p.m. Friday at Blattner Stadium in Cold Spring.

"(Rocori's) a top-10 team and their program is always a challenge," said Willmar head coach Jon Konold. "And you always have that rivalry piece to it as well. It'll be a fun challenge for us to get ready for and get going."

The Spartans are 3-1 and have won three straight, including back-to-back shutouts over Benilde-St. Margaret's 13-0 and previously top-ranked Hutchinson 11-0.

"They typically match up pretty well with Hutchinson and they were able to shut them down," Konold said. Willmar matches up with Hutchinson next week.

Slowing down the Spartans on Friday starts with their quarterback, Will Steil. A North Dakota State commit, Steil has completed 41 of 69 passes (59.4%) for 644 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. He's also the team's leading rusher with 274 yards and four TDs on 58 carries.

"It revolves around their quarterback," Konold said. "He's not the thrower they had last year (with Jack Spanier). But he is really dynamic with his feet, really fast. And he can throw the ball well enough to guys, so we really got to defend that as well."

Konold said Rocori's defense has speed similar to Becker while offering more size up front. The Spartans are holding teams to 9.8 points per game, ranking third in Class AAAA behind Byron (5.2) and Hutchinson (7.2). Aaron Baisley leads the team with 39 total tackles, followed by 37 from Grant Tylutki.

"They run really well to the football," Konold said. "They do some different things on defense. They're big up front and they're fast on the back end. So we really got to be able to find a way to attack them and nullify their speed and get into good situations on third downs so we can be in a manageable situation instead of a long down-and-distance."

The Cardinals are dealing with some key injuries going into the second half of the season. Konold said junior receiver/defensive back Ethan Swierenga (knee) is getting evaluated this week. On the line, junior Luke McCleary (knee) is also hurt and senior captain Matthew Strey (hip), the team's center, is day-to-day.

Konold credited senior Brady Murphy for stepping into Strey's role for most of the Becker game. Murphy missed the first three games of the season with an elbow injury before being vaulted into action last week.

"He's getting the opportunity to be out there and playing," Konold said. "He played over half the game Friday night and did a nice job."

Looking back at the first four games, Konold admits the team's 1-3 record is "now what anyone expected." The second half of the season sees the Cardinals playing four ranked teams in this week's poll: No. 9 Rocori, No. 6 Hutchinson, No. 8 Chisago Lakes and No. 7 Totino-Grace.

"We've had a couple close games that, you know, two or three plays here or there and things could be different," Konold said. "You're 2-2 or 3-1 and the first-half reflection is more, OK, we got a few things to clean up and make sure we're ready to go."

Konold added, "Every time something happens, we've got to keep going. We have to make sure that we're always fighting to the end. We got to get back on track and if good thing happen, stay the course, and if bad things happen, you gotta pick each other up."

Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa at Upsala/Swanville Area

7 p.m. Friday

A pair of undefeated teams match up Friday in Upsala as both Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa and Upsala/Swanville Area look to gain an edge in the Section 4A standings.

The host Patriots are ranked seventh in Class A in Minnesota-Scores.net's QRF rankings and ninth in the Class A state poll. The Jaguars are 13th in the QRF

Friday's match-up features one of Class A's top offenses against a top defense.

BBE is averaging 49.5 points per game, which ranks second behind BOLD's58.0. The Jaguars are led on that side of the ball by senior quarterback Luke Dingmann. He's completed 67.1% of his passes (51 of 76) for 895 yards, 18 touchdowns and two interceptions. Dingmann also leads the team in rushing with 284 yards and three TDs. Brett DeRoo (12 catches, 267 yards, four TDs), Luke Illies (13-188-5) and Hayden Sobiech (6-164-3) all have more than 150 receiving yards. Josh Walstrom also had five touchdown catches.

Meanwhile, Upsala/Swanville is tied for third with Red Lake County and Sleepy Eye United with 7.0 points allowed per game. The trio sit behind Goodhue (3.2) and Parkers Prairie (5.5). The Patriots have 10 takeaways this season (six interceptions, four fumble recoveries). Leading the pick parade is Jack Primus with four.

USA's offense is also ranked fourth in Class A at 45.8 points per game. Franky Meagher has thrown for 592 yards, 11 touchdowns and one interceptions. Carter Natvig has run for 413 yards and three TDs on 45 carries.

The two teams played twice last season. BBE won the Week 4 matchup 16-12. USA was victorious in the section semifinals, 22-6.

(Games at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted)

Friday

* Willmar at Rocori, 6 p.m.

* Watertown-Mayer at NLS

* Dassel-Cokato at Litchfield

* ACGC at West Central Area

* BBE at USA

* Paynesville at SC Cathedral

* Benson at Browerville/EV

* Dawson-Boyd at BOLD

* Rockford at Minnewaska

* Sauk Centre at Montevideo

* KMS at LPGE

* LQPV at Canby

* Minneota at MACCRAY

* RCW at Hills-Beaver Creek

* YME at Lakeview