On Friday, Deer River, Hermantown, and MIB football all punched tickets to the state tournament with one score wins.

Deer River took down Mille Lacs in the Section 7A championship in a low scoring 8-6 affair, with the Warriors scoring their only touchdown of the game under the two minute mark. Hermantown staged a massive comeback, once down 28-7 as the Hawks shocked North Branch with a 35-28 win to claim the Section 7AAAA title. MIB had trouble shaking Cherry but eventually held on long enough, beating the Tigers 34-28 in Section 7 9-player.

Deer River’s win in the 7A championship marks their third section title in the last four years. Caden Schjenken came up clutch for the Warriors, as he scored the only touchdown for Deer River on a 4th and goal situation from the four yard line. He also ran in the two point conversion to clinch the win.

“Thought process was just get in the end zone, it was a great opportunity for us to get that turnover, you know, that was great. That was huge. You know, if that had been the other way around I don’t know, they were trying to run out the clock so, we gotta take advantage of those, we didn’t take advantage of those in the beginning of the game, but that one worked out,” said Brent Schimek, Deer River’s head coach.

“First couple years of making it to this point every year, last year just that kick back was a reminder that hey, this wasn’t just given to us, it was something we’ve all worked for over the four years,” said Lee Perrington, a senior tackle.

Hermantown benefitted from an offensive explosion in the second half, putting up four unanswered touchdowns, three thanks to Alex Schott and one by Martin Sleen. Hermantown avenges the last two season’s of losses to North Branch in the championship.

MIB football took down Cherry in Mid-October 62-6, but were given a much closer contest this go-around. The win marks the fourth straight season that the Rangers will head to the state tournament, and the seventh straight section win.

“They’ve been in battles like this so they know, but this year they haven’t. So it was different, but because there was so many seniors, it worked out alright. They really kept their cool pretty good,” said Dan Zubich, MIB’s head coach.

“I think we know what we want to do and we’ve been there and done that, but week in and week out we still got to go there and perform,” said Micaden Clines, senior quarterback.

All three teams will learn their opponents this weekend.