Southeastern Minnesota high school football power rankings, through quarterfinals – Post Bulletin

With no notable upsets and many of the top teams having byes in the opening round of the playoffs, there was minimal movement in the high school football power rankings.

(Editor's Note: These rankings are considered “pound-for-pound” rankings, similar to many ranking systems in boxing and mixed martial arts. They represent the best teams in southeastern Minnesota, relative to the division in which they play .)

The Tigers scored 44 points in the first quarter and had an offensive lineman (shoutout Lincoln Dube) score a touchdown in a 57-6 Section 1-3A quarterfinal win over Red Wing. The defending champions and state champions play with a lot of confidence and momentum.

Being a No. 1 seed in the six-team Section 1-2A means the Gophers didn't have to play Tuesday night. That means they will be rested at 1pm on Saturday when they host fourth seed Dover-Eyota in the group semi-finals.

The Cardinals seem to be on a different level than most right now. They are 9-0 after a 70-14 win over Lanesboro in a 9-way Section 1 quarterfinal on Tuesday. Their defense was as impressive as their attack. Case in point: 6-1, 200-pound senior linebacker/tight end Ryder Stern. He finished the regular season with 93 tackles (14 for loss), 6.5 sacks, 6 forced fumbles and two recoveries. He was 32-for-40 on extra-point kicks and 1-for-1 on field goals (44 yards).

We've said all season that the Section 1, Class 1A playoffs will be as fun to watch as any other section in the region, perhaps even in the state. We are not returning this claim and will see it now, in the next week or more. Goodhue is the top seed in this section and has all the tools to win it: a balanced offensive attack and an aggressive defense that allows a section-best 9.1 points per game.

Experience can be a big factor this time of year, especially when teams find themselves in close games in the fourth quarter. Spring Grove has plenty of experience, with nine seniors and nine juniors on the roster.

An overtime win in Week 2 looked like it could be really big for the Blossoms at the time. That turned out to be correct. Their dramatic 42-34 win over Fillmore Central in early September gives them home field advantage on the last Saturday in October. They'll face Fillmore Central in Blooming Prairie again, this time with both teams' seasons on the line in the Section 1-1A semifinals.

Since the season-opening 14-3 loss to Providence Academy, Byron has allowed a total of 53 points and recorded four shutouts. The Bears are 4-0 against Section 1-4A opponents and have outscored them by a total of 181-15 this season. That's why they are the top seed in the group and will play on their home court this weekend.

Fillmore Central's offense gets a lot of attention, and rightfully so. The Falcons average 41.0 points per game. But other than a 42-34 loss to Blooming Prairie — Fillmore Central's opponent in this weekend's Section 1-1A semifinals — the Falcons haven't allowed more than two touchdowns in any game this fall.

The 6-2 Warriors are the defending champions and the program has been to the state tournament 14 times since 2005. They spend most of the rest of the year preparing for this time of year. Their two losses this season – to Triton and Chatfield – were by a total of eight points, and their defense recorded five shutouts.

The Rockets, the No. 2 seed in Section 1-5A, host a section semifinal game for the first time in 12 years when No. 3 Northfield comes to John Drews Field. JM defeated the Raiders 28-6 in the regular season. If they do it a second time, they will likely get a chance to avenge one of their defeats and face Owatonna in the group final.

Kingsland (7-2), Cannon Falls (7-2), Triton (6-2), Pine Island (7-2), Lewiston-Altura (7-2), Kasson-Mantorville (5-3).