Four schools turned the 49th state football tournament into their first state title

Minnesota's football tournament is turning 50 — and we're marking the milestone with a year-by-year look at what made each season special. Follow along as writer Ron Haggstrom works from the present to the past.

October 14, 2022 at 12:59PM
After defeating Fertile-Beltrami 58-8, LeRoy-Ostrander seniors Hayden Sass (58), Gavin Sweeney (24) and Tanner Olson (50) hold up the trophy for fans after the 9-man football championship at the US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn., on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. ] SHARI L. GROSS • shari.gross@startribune.com
LeRoy-Ostrander seniors Hayden Sass (58), Gavin Sweeney (24) and Tanner Olson showed off their trophy. (Shari L. Gross, Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Fifty years ago, just about this time of year, Minnesota high school football teams were preparing for the first state tournament. Twenty teams made it in 1972, four each in five classes.

We celebrate now what began then: 50 years of high school football state tournaments in Minnesota.

The tournament has changed shape and size since. Ten years in, they gave the title games a roof, playing them in the Metrodome, and a name, the Prep Bowl. Only the finals of 2014 and 2015 have been played outdoors since, in the stadium on the University of Minnesota campus now known as Huntington Bank Stadium. These days the finals and semifinals are played in U.S. Bank Stadium. This year's semis will be Nov. 17-19 and the finals Dec. 2-3, the title games delayed from their usual Thanksgiving weekend dates because the Vikings have a Thanksgiving night game.

Here's how we party on this milestone anniversary: Every day from today through Dec. 2 we'll publish state tournament memories, quotes, scores, photos. We're starting with last year and counting backward to 1972. We know who won that year; maybe you do, too. Or maybe you'll just check startribune.com every day until you find out.

Look for the words "50 years in the making" 50 times in the next 50 days.

Year: 2021

"Does it get any better than this? I don't know." — " LeRoy-Ostrander coach Trevor Carrier

The LeRoy-Ostrander Cardinals were one of four teams — Lakeville South in Class 6A, Dassel-Cokato in 3A and Mayer Lutheran in 1A joining them — to win their first state championship. LeRoy-Ostrander did it with a 58-8 victory over Fertile-Beltrami for the Nine-Man championship.

LeRoy-Ostrander senior quarterback Chase Johnson set a Prep Bowl record for total yards in a game with 412, finishing with 272 rushing and 140 passing while scoring five touchdowns. The Cardinals accumulated 557 total yards and didn't have to punt once, scoring on each of their possessions.

"I don't know if you can execute any better than that, especially on the offensive end," Carrier said.

Lakeville South senior quarterback Camden Dean scored twice, the second time on a 52-yard run with 3:05 to play in a 13-7 victory over Maple Grove; Mayer Lutheran coach Dean Aurich hoisted his first state championship trophy after more than three decades at the school following a 20-14 triumph over perennial power Minneota; and senior running back Eli Gillman ran for 150 yards on 32 carries and scored three touchdowns as Dassel-Cokato outlasted Plainview-Elgin-Millville 28-21.

"It's definitely satisfying to finish the job," Chargers senior linebacker Hayden Hoernemann said.

State championship games

Class 6A: Lakeville South 13, Maple Grove 7

Class 5A: Mankato West 24, Mahtomedi 10

Class 4A: Hutchinson 42, Kasson-Mantorville 14

Class 3A: Dassel-Cokato 28, Plainview-Elgin-Millville 21

Class 2A: Chatfield 14, West Central Area/Ashby 13

Class 1A: Mayer Lutheran 20, Minneota 14

Nine-Man: LeRoy-Ostrander 58, Fertile-Beltrami 8

Lakeville South High School players celebrate after stopping Maple Grove High School on a final fourth down play to seal their 13-7 victory in the Minnesota High School football Class 6A State Championship Friday, Nov. 26, 2021 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. ]
The Lakeville South celebration. (Alex Kormann, Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Dassel-Cokato High School players Devan Nguyen (21), Grant Haataja (3) and Eli Gillman (1), left to right, celebrate with their teammates after defeating Plainview-Elgin-Millville High School 28-21 in the Minnesota High School football Class 3A State Championship Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. ]
Dassel-Cokato players Devan Nguyen (21), Grant Haataja (3) and Eli Gillman (with trophy). (Alex Kormann, Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Mayer Lutheran Tyler Neitzel (46), running back Elijah Jopp (7) and fullback Cole Neitzel (86) celebrate their win in the Class 1A state championship football game between Minneota and Mayer Lutheran Friday, Nov. 26, 2021 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn. ] AARON LAVINSKY • aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com
Mayer Lutheran’s Tyler Neitzel (left), Elijah Jopp (7) and Cole Neitzel (behind). (Aaron Lavinsky, Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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about the writer

Ron Haggstrom

Prep Sports Reporter

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Six players plus head coach Garrett Raboin and assistant coach Ben Gordon are from Minnesota. The tournament’s games will be televised starting Monday.

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