Here we go!

Hello Streeter fans and welcome to the Section Final game between the Sauk centre No. 7 seeded Mainstreeters (4-6) and the top-seeded Pierz Pioneers (9-1).
Both teams are coming into the section final with a chance to advance to the coveted state tournament where they will play the Section 7 winner Moose Lake-Willow River (11-0). They beat Cook County 48-0 in the section 7 finals Thursday night.

Tonight’s game will feature two teams who rely heavily on running the ball. Pierz, whose only loss of the year came to Sauk Centre’s neighbor Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa 31-21 on Oct. 7 in Belgrade, has a lot of depth at the running back position. They most certainly are a run-first team and it will be interesting to see if Sauk Centre can stop them early and force them to change their game plan.

The Mainstreeters won’t be much different in regards to their game plan. They are led by a three-headed monster in the backfield – three players who can break a 75-yarder at anytime. Roosevelt Austin is the No. 1 back. He leads the team in yardage and touchdowns and if the Streeters continue to advance would have a chance at the single season touchdown record of 23.

Michael Knoblauch and Cody Bartkowicz are Sauk’s two other backs. Both average about 10 carries a game and have averaged close to 10 yards a carry in their first two playoff games.

Yes, the Streeters have run at will in their first two playoff wins — a 56-29 win over Osakis and a 48-0 win over Long Prairie-Grey Eagle — but may be a little more hard pressed to run against the Pioneers, who have a bit bigger defensive line and more athletic linebackers.

But that’s okay, because Sauk has a more than capable throwing quarterback in junior Patrick Knoblauch and two strong targets in Terrence Ellis and Derek Holm. Knoblauch has connected with Holm for big yardage plays twice in the two previous games, one for a score.

Not much is known about Pierz’s passing game because they haven’t had to throw the ball to win games.

There is also the variable of classes. Pierz plays a 2A schedule in the Central Minnesota Conference, while Sauk played a 3A schedule against the likes of Albany and New London-Spicer. What does this mean?
These are two good teams, both who will try to run the ball and stop the run. If both team sare able to run, expect a high scoring affair. If not, expect a lot of punts.

In any respect, it should be a great game…..stay tuned for a running play by play of the section final between the Sauk Centre Mainstreeters and the Pierz Pioneers.