The Martin County West football team welcomes Cleveland for a highly-anticipated rematch in Trimont on Saturday.
The #2 seed Mavericks and #3 seed Clippers are both 8-1 overall. Cleveland’s only loss came in Trimont against MCW 28-25 on October 20.
Both teams overcame a bit of a slow start in the quarterfinal round on Tuesday. The Mavericks eventually found their stride and ran away from Madelia 40-10 in Trimont. The seventh-ranked Clippers turned their home game against Lester Prairie into a 57-8 rout as well.
Mavericks senior Pierce Rohman became MCW’s all-time rushing leader and fellow senior Maddex Faber became the program’s all-time leading tackler on Tuesday.
MCW has the sixth-rated offense in Class A scoring more than 39 points per game, eighth-rated defense giving up just over 10 points on average, and also ranks sixth with a near +30 point differential. Cleveland has the fourth-best defense allowing just eight points per game, 13th-best offense at 37 points per game, and eight-best +29 point differential.
MCW is two wins away from the first trip to the State Tournament in program history. Cleveland is seeking a second trip and first since 2007.
Saturday is expected to be the final MCW varsity football game played in Trimont. The Mavericks plan to play on-campus next year at the brand new facility currently under construction in Sherburn. MCW played varsity football in Trimont these past two years for the first time since 1987.
Saturday’s coverage begins at around 1:40 p.m. with kickoff at 2:00 p.m. on Xtreme.
St. James Area blanked Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop 49-0 and will visit top seed Mayer Lutheran in the other Section 2A semifinal. The 7-1 Crusaders got the first-round bye and are tied for 11th in the latest Class A ranking. The 4-5 Saints lost 42-19 when they visited the Crusaders on October 14. Mayer Lutheran is the 2021 A champion looking for a ninth State appearance and first since 2023. St. James is seeking a debut at the State Tournament.
The winners of the Saturday semifinals play each other in the Section 2A Championship on Friday, November 6, at New Prague High School with a 7:00 p.m. kickoff.
We have the entire MCW postseason journey on Xtreme.
TOM ELLIOTT
ERIK HERMANSON