GGF football this week: East Grand Forks hosts Dilworth-G-F in section title rematch
Oct. 11—EAST GRAND FORKS — The East Grand Forks Senior High football team's path to last year's Minnesota Class AAA state tournament needed to go through Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton.
The Green Wave and the Rebels played a classic 7-6 battle in the section championship game in the Fargodome — a game that included a controversial 2-point conversion pass to win the game in which no pass interference was called on a Green Wave attempt in the end zone to give DGF the victory.
As the 2023 season hits the home stretch, it appears East Grand Forks' path through the section is once again needing to run through DGF.
The Wave will have their first taste of the Rebels this season when the two meet at 6 p.m. Thursday in East Grand Forks.
DGF is off to a 5-1 start. The Rebels ride a five-game winning streak and rank No. 5 in Minnesota's QRF formula.
DGF beat previously unbeaten Detroit Lakes 21-0 last Friday.
"It's going to be a really good test for us and a tough challenge," East Grand Forks coach Ryan Kasowski said. "They do their stuff so well. They're very disciplined and well-coached. It's going to be a very physical game of who makes the least mistakes and can stop the run."
Kasowski said the Rebels run some new formations this season compared to last year, but the ground-oriented style remains the same.
"It's the same concept of wanting to run the ball with two tight ends," Kasowski said. "It's very physical. It's a game of winning the line of scrimmage and not missing a gap or having eyes in the wrong spot. They can also hurt you with big plays."
The Green Wave dropped to 4-2 last week after losing a one-point game for the third time in the last seven games. Morris Area beat East Grand Forks on a 30-yard touchdown pass in the back of the end zone with 4 seconds left.
A postseason berth isn't guaranteed yet for Grand Forks Central, so coach Jake Schauer views the remaining schedule as must-win games.
The Knights (3-4 overall) wrap the regular season against Valley City (4-3) and Devils Lake (2-5). Central travels to play the Hi-Liners at 7 p.m. Friday.
"We need to win these next two games," Schauer said.
Central enters the matchup with Valley City with momentum following a 41-21 win over Wahpeton, a team Valley City lost to earlier this season.
"I like how we played (against Wahpeton)," Schauer said. "We were able to do things on the ground we haven't always been able to do. Any time you face adversity to do something different and you succeed, you feel good. I thought we really had kids step up in big moments and show they were ready to play at this level."
Caden Johansen has led the Central run game. Johansen has 510 rushing yards on 103 carries.
Polk County West took a step forward last weekend with a 34-20 win over Lake Park-Audubon. The Thunder will aim to avoid a letdown at 7 p.m. Friday at Menahga (1-5).
PCW rode Mike Gapp to a big second half in beating LPA.
Gapp finished with 33 carries for 284 yards and three touchdowns.
Jonny Speicher also ran for 112 yards on three carries as the Thunder rushed for more than 440 yards.
"We moved the ball well and defensively we were much better," PCW coach Darrin Byklum said. "(Gapp) can handle that (workload). If it's not broke, don't fix it."
PCW has a quick turnaround next week as it hosts Red Lake County in East Grand Forks on Wednesday night.
"It's that time of year where you have to heal up quick and get after it again," Byklum said.
