9-Man - LeRoy-Ostrander gets it done

LeRoy-Ostrander brings it home

by BRYAN ZOLLMAN

Section 1 in 9-man football has become a state tournament in itself.

Seven of the last 9-man state titles have come from that section. But LeRoy-Ostrander was not one of them, until now.

The Cardinals defeated Fertile-Beltrami handily in the 9-man Prep Bowl, bringing yet another title home for Section 1.

“It’s a very strong section,” said LeRoy-Ostrander Head Coach Trevor Carrier. “Every Friday night you have to bring it.”

That preparation and competition helped the Cardinals reach the Prep Bowl. They saw much improvement after early losses to section rivals Lanesboro and Grand Meadow. But they avenged those losses with wins during section playoffs, defeating Grand Meadow 39-34 in the semifinals and Lanesboro 30-6 in the finals.

Come state tourney time things became a bit easier. The Cardinals put up 57 against Wheaton-Herman-Norcross in a 57-26 win, and followed up with a 49-0 shutout against Kittson County Central.

But the Cardinals success didn’t come without changes. Early on they lost their starting running back to an injury, which led to Coach Carrier pulling Tanner Olson off the line and into the backfield. It proved to be a great decision.

“He stepped up big,” said Carrier. “And in the playoffs he became a monster.”

Of course, the Cardinals had Chase Johnson, their senior quarterback who ran the option with Olson to near perfection. Johnson set a Prep Bowl record for total yards in their 58-8 win.

“Chase’s athleticism is off the charts,” said Carrier. “His passing game has developed and he has managed our offense extremely well.”

Johnson racked up 412 yards, 272 of them on the ground and 140 in the air. Just 5’6”, Johnson played larger than life when it mattered most. On the season he was part of 60 touchdowns and ran for 2,800 yards while passing for more than 1,600.

“Everyone puts a game plan together to stop Chase, but he always finds a way,” said Carrier.

Johnson’s was part of five touchdowns in the Prep Bowl win. He doesn’t just do it on the field. He is No. 1 in his class and his coach says he is as humble as the day is long.

“He’s a great kid,” said Carrier. “Always positive.”

Tkhe Cardinals had 557 total yards in the 58-8 win.

It is LeRoy-Ostrander’s first title. Carrier said the community support was incredible.

“It’s been phenomenal.” Carrier said. “Everyone was on our side.”

Minnesota Prep Bowl History

2020* Due to COVID-19, only Section Winners were awarded. No Prep Bowl was played.

2019 AAAAAA Wayzata, Champlin Park 35-20 AAAAA Chaska, St. Thomas Academy 0-7 AAAA Rocori, SMB 22-21 AAA Pierz, Dassel-Cokato 28-27 AA Caledonia, MPLS North 26-0 A Blooming Prairie, BOLD 41-15 9-Man Mountain Lake, Hancock 22-14

2018 AAAAAA Lakeville North, Eden Prairie 28-21 AAAAA Owatonna, St. Thomas Academy 14-3 AAAA SMB, Willmar 44-18 AAA Rochester Lourdes, Fairmont 24-7 AA Caledonia, Barnesville 21-0 A BOLD, Mahnomen/Waubun 22-21 9-Man Spring Grove, Mountain Lake Area 40-18

2017 AAAAAA Eden Prairie, Minnetonka 38-17 AAAAA Owatonna, Elk River 63-26 AAAA Academy of Holy Angels, Cloquet 14-0 AAA Pierz, St. Croix Lutheran 34-21 AA Caledonia, Pipestone Area 57-6 A Minneota, Wabasso 28-13 9-Man Spring Grove, Nevis 32-0

2016 AAAAAA Totino Grace, Eden Prairie 28-20 AAAAA Elk River, Spring Lake Park 42-14 AAAA Benilde-St. Margaret, Winona 31-28 AAA Rochester Lourdes, St. Croix Lutheran 42-35 AA Caledonia, Pipestone Area 40-0 A Minneota, MPLS North 35-18 9-Man Grand Meadow, Cleveland/Immanuel 41-21

2015 AAAAAA Osseo, East Ridge 14-13 AAAAA St. Michael-Albertville, St. Thomas Academy 17-14 AAAA Becker, So. St. Paul 35-14 AAA Pierz, Jackson Co. Central 36-8 AA Caledonia, Eden Valley Watkins 40-0 A MPLS North, Rushford-Peterson 35-18 9-Man Grand Meadow, Underwood 34-20

2014 AAAAAA Eden Prairie, Totino Grace 28-27 AAAAA Mankato West, Simley 42-19 AAAA Becker, DeLaSalle 24-6 AAA Rochester Lourdes, New London Spicer 35-14 AA Holdingford, BOLD 20-18 (2OT) A Minneota, Dawson-Boyd 28 -14 9-Man Grand Meadow, Edgerton-Ellsworth 48-0

2013 AAAAAA Eden Prairie, Rosemount 28-7 AAAAA Owatonna, Brainerd 24-0 AAAA Hutchinson, Academy of Holy Angels, 49-7 AAA St. Croix Lutheran, New London-Spicer 48-44 AA Chatfield, *Minneota/Lincoln HI 17-7 A Mahnomen, Dawson-Boyd 46-13 9-Man Grand Meadow, Underwood 28-6

2012 AAAAAA Eden Prairie, Lakevile North 28-7 AAAAA Totino-Grace, Owatonna 49-21 AAAA Hutchinson Holy Family Catholic 67-7 AAA Blue Earth, Rochester Lourdes 30-7 AA Caledonia, *Moose Lake/Willow River 25-22 A Mahnomen, Bethlehem Academy 20-14 9-Man Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley, Grand Meadow 40-22

2011 AAAAA Eden Prairie, Wayzata 13-3 AAAA Rocori/Cold Spring, Bemidji 17-10 AAA St. Croix Lutheran, Fairmont 34-32 AA Caledonia, *Moose Lake/Willow River 27-0 A Dawson-Boyd, Mahnomen 35-20 9-Man *Edgerton/Ellsworth, *Wheaton/Herman-Norcross 36-28

2010 AAAAA Wayzata, Rosemount 31-14 AAAA Totino-Grace, Fridley Rogers 34-14 AAA Rochester Lourdes Holy Family Catholic, Victoria 41-13 AA Caledonia Triton, Dodge Center 28-7 A New Ulm Cathedral, Barnesville 19-13 9-Man Cromwell, Lanesboro 49-42 2009 AAAAA Cretin-Derham Hall, Eden Prairie 16-5 AAAA Totino-Grace, Sartell-Saint Stephen 45-7 AAA New London-Spicer, Glencoe-Silver Lake 28-21 AA Moose Lake/Willow River, Waterville-Elysian-Morristown 33-22 A Minneota, Adrian 42-21 9-Man Stephen-Argyle, Nicollet 37-22

2008 AAAAA Wayzata, Blaine 27-7 AAAA Mankato West, Northfield 33-14 AAA Glencoe-Silver Lake, DeLaSalle 42-21 AA Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg, Royalton 33-22 A Caledonia, Luverne 47-7 9-Man Houston, Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley 22-16

2007 AAAAA Eden Prairie, St.Paul Cretin 50-21 AAAA Totino Grace, Mahtomedi 14-8 AAA Glencoe-Silver Lake, DeLaSalle 56-20 AA Caledonia, Luverne 14-7 A Goodhue, Adrian 28-7 9-Man Stephen-Argyle, Waubun 43-21

2006 AAAAA Eden Prairie, Lakeville South 21-14 AAAA Totino Grace, St. Thomas Academy 40-25 AAA Glencoe-Silver Lake, Becker 42-20 AA Triton, Luverne 70-21 A Rushford-Peterson, New Ulm Cathedral 209-Man Stephen-Argyle, Wheaton 42-15

2005 AAAAA Wayzata, Cretin-Derham Hall 28-24 AAAA Mahtomedi, Holy Angels 27-26 OT AAA Becker, Albany 28-0 AA Eden Valley-Watkins, Caledonia 21-16 A Springfield, Goodhue 21-16 9-Man Stephen-Argyle, Cromwell 45-15

2004 AAAAA Minnetonka, Wayzata 23-14 AAAA Totino-Grace, Sartell-St. Stephen 27-6 AAA East Grand Forks, Becker 31-14 AA Pierz, Eden Valley-Watkins 39-14 A Rushford-Peterson, Otter Tail Central 20-6 9-Man Stephen-Argyle, Bertha-Hewitt 25-6

2003 AAAAA Lakeville, Hastings 34-9 AAAA Totino-Grace, Hutchinson 57-13 AAA Glencoe-Silver, Delano 21-0 AA Breck, Kingsland 51-14 A Goodhue, Medford/El Shaddai 20-8 9-Man Stephen-Argyle, Hillcrest Lutheran Academy 7

2002 AAAAA Eden Prairie, Champlin Park 21-0 AAAA Mankato West, Mahtomedi 17-7 AAA Plainview/Elgin-Millville, Glencoe-Silver Lake 24-21 AA Kingsland, Spring Valley Norwood-Young America 35-7 A Rushford-Peterson, Mountain Lake/Butterfield-Odin 14-7 9-Man Verndale, Nicollet 21-14

2001 AAAAA Hastings, Blaine 28-9 AAAA Detroit Lakes, Mankato East 36-34 AAA Jackson County, Central Becker 42-7 AA Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City, Windom Area 27-20 A McLeod West, Brownton Pillager 30-22 9-Man Hillcrest Lutheran Academy, Ada-Borup 37-7

2000 AAAAA Eden Prairie, Cretin-Derham Hall, St. Paul 24-14 AAAA Cambridge-Isanti, Saint Thomas Academy 24-14 AAA Glencoe-Silver Lake, Albany 21-0 AA Triton, Dodge Center *Otter Tail Central 31-12 A Sleepy Eye Public, Warren-Alvarado-Oslo 13-12 9-Man Westbrook-Walnut Grove, Cromwell 42-20

1999 AAAAA Cretin-Derham Hall, St. Paul Hastings 42-21 AAAA Mankato West, Cambridge-Isanti 35-28 AAA De LaSalle, Minneapolis Saint Michael-Albertville 28-7 AA Waterville-Elysian-Morristown West Central Area, Barrett 34-0 A Cook County, Grand Marais LeCenter 14-6 9-Man Stephen-Argyle, Nicollet 18-8

1998 AAAAA Woodbury, Champlin Park 28-7 AAAA Hutchinson, Owatonna 21-20 AAA Foley, Jackson County Central 21-7 AA Mahnomen B O L D, Olivia 27-26 A Cook County, Grand Marais Adrian 15-8 9-Man Cromwell, Hillcrest Lutheran Academy, 40-22

Source:

1997 AAAAA Eden Prairie, Blaine 32-28 AAAA Northfield, Detroit Lakes 28-0 AAA Albany, Jackson County Central 55-7 AA Pelican Rapids, Waterville-Elysian-Morristown 34-32 A Cook County, Grand Marais Adrian 13-12 9-Man Verndale, Cromwell 18-12

1996 AA Eden Prairie, Blaine 23-22 A Mora, Northfield 7-3 B Breck School, Golden Valley Windom Area 24-7 C Chatfield, Hawley 12-7 9-Man Cromwell, Verndale 46-44

1995 AA Stillwater Area, Rochester Mayo 31-7 A Detroit Lakes, Saint Peter 30-15 B Kingsland, Spring Valley Breckenridge 22-3 C Chatfield, Hawley 12-6 9-Man Cromwell, LeRoy-Ostrander 26-18

1994 AA Anoka, Alexandria 34-7 A Sartell, Northfield 24-21 B Triton, Dodge Center Becker 40-21 C Chatfield, Red Lake Falls 34-14 9-Man Kittson Central, Hallock Verndale 36-16

1993 AA Apple Valley, Rochester John Marshall 29-7 A Detroit Lakes, Northfield 21-14 B Saint Cloud Cathedral, Zumbrota-Mazeppa 28-6 C Mahnomen, Minneota 43-23 9-Man Chokio-Alberta, LeRoy-Ostrander 35-0

1992 AA Lakeville, Cretin-Derham Hall 19-7 A Detroit Lakes, Farmington 21-0 B Saint Cloud Cathedral, B O L D, Olivia 7-6 C Mahnomen, Mankato Loyola 20-13 (2 OT) 9-Man Stephen, Cromwell 36-20

1991 AA Burnsville, Lakeville 10-7 A Spring Lake Park, Rocori/Cold Spring 20-0 B B O L D, Olivia, Deer River 14-0 C Mahnomen, Mankato Loyola 42-0 9-Man Chokio-Alberta, Grygla/Goodridge 7-6

1990 AA Anok,a Elk River 19-14 A Fridley, Sartell 34-12 B B O L D, Olivia, DeLaSalle, Minneapolis 15-14 C Mahnomen, Becker 27-7 9-Man Hills-Beaver Creek, Argyle 28-21

1989 AA Burnsville, Stillwater 21-7 A Albany, Totino-Grace, Fridley 41-32 B Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop, Perham 27-15 C Waterville-Elysian, Mahnomen 14-7 9-Man St. Clair, Albrook 47-12

1988 AA Blaine, Cretin-Derham Hall 25-24 A Lakeville, Staples-Motley 35-28 B Breckenridge, Morris 21-7 C Minneota, Rushford 42-28 9-Man Hallock ,Stewart 35-24

1987 AA Moorhead, Winona 13-7 A Cambridge, Lakeville 28-14 B Granite Falls, Ely 43-20 C Minneota, Grand Meadow 27-7 9-Man Silver Lake, Verndale 30-14

1986 AA Apple Valley, Osseo 35-6 A Cambridge, Stewartville 24-0 B Watertown-Mayer, Granite Falls 29-6 C Minneota, Sherburn-Dunnell 52-19 9-Man Argyle, Silver Lake 32-7 1984 AA Stillwater, Burnsville 36-33 A Hutchinson Centennial, Circle Pines 32-7 B Granite Falls, Breckenridge 13-7 C Harmony, Glyndon-Felton 20-14 9-Man Norman County West, Silver Lake 37-20

1983 AA Coon Rapids, Bloomington Jefferson 34-31 A Hutchinson, Park Rapids 36-14 B Jordan, Breckenridge 27-0 C Southland, Adams Bird Island-Lake Lillian 28-0 9-Man Silver Lake, Norman County West/Climax 27-12

1982 AA Stillwater, Owatonna 34-27 A Brooklyn Center, East Grand Forks 30-8 B LeCenter, Mahnomen 12-6 C Truman, Belgrade 16-14 9-Man Westbrook, Hillcrest Lutheran Academy, 34-12

1981 AA Rosemount, Moorhead 40-14 A Saint Peter, Hermantown 18-14 B Holdingford, Pine Island 39-0 C Medford, Clarkfield 33-28 9-Man Argyle, Starbuck 31-19

1980 AA Burnsville, Cambridge 23-6 A Crookston, Pipestone 32-6 B Mahnomen, Austin Pacelli 34-0 C Bird Island-Lake Lillian, Mountain Lake 20-7 9-Man Hoffman-Kensington, Toivola-Meadowlands 18-14

1979 AA Columbia Heights, Richfield 8-3 A Rochester Lourdes, Apple Valley 22-6 B Gaylord, Mahnomen 15-6 C Bird Island-Lake Lillian, Harmony 34-6 9-Man Russell, Toivola-Meadowlands 17-14

1978 AA Edina, West Fridley 21-0 A Fridley, Grace Apple Valley 17-14 B New Richland-Hartland, Barnesville 48-8 C Alden-Conger ,Battle Lake 15-14 9-Man Hoffman Albrook, Saginaw 44-28

1977 AA Minneapolis Washburn, Stillwater 13-0 A Fridley Grace, Rocori/Cold Spring 36-12 B Granite Falls, Stewartville 44-6 C Battle Lake, Henderson 22-20 (OT) 9-Man Deer Creek, Hillcrest Lutheran Academy, 20-0

1976 AA White Bear Lake, Cloquet 14-13 (OT) A Saint Peter, Mora 56-12 B Caledonia, Sartell 38-7 C New Richland-Hartland, Bird Island 21-19 9-Man Deer Creek, Hillcrest Lutheran Academy, 57-14

1975 AA Stillwater, Richfield 20-17 A Saint Thomas Academy, Saint Peter 21-14 B Gaylord, Onamia 14-13 C Esko, Karlstad 62-0 9-Man Ruthton, Audubon 42-20

1974 AA Rochester John Marshall, Bloomington Jefferson 41-19 A Alexandria ,Chaska 26-7 B New Prague, Caledonia 41-12 C Battle Lake, Bird Island 34-26 (2 OT) 9-Man Lake Benton, Fisher 36-6

1973 AA Rochester John Marshall, Saint Paul Harding 25-0 A Eveleth, Willmar 28-18 B New Prague, Appleton 13-7 C Gaylord, Holdingford 29-6 9-Man Lake Benton, Brandon 50-12