Sports
Slate Wiped Clean for Northfield in Football Playoffs
Northfield's 2-6 regular season no longer matters as they get set to host Albert Lea on Tuesday night.
The regular season didn't go as well as Northfield fans have come to expect, but none of that matters anymore. open Section 1AAAA tournament play Tuesday against Albert Lea with their slate wiped clean.
THIS WEEK
Despite winning just two regular-season games, the Raiders are the third seed in the section and will open with a home game at against the sixth-seeded Tigers. Albert Lea is somehow the No. 6 seed behind Winona, a team they beat during the regular season and finished ahead of in the Big 9 standings.
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LAST WEEK
Northfield (2-6) wrapped up a disappointing regular season with a ; Albert Lea (2-6) downed winless Austin 38-19.
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THE FIRST TIME AROUND …
Northfield and Albert Lea did not meet during the regular season.
TIGERS WIN IF …
They can overcome history. Northfield has traditionally been a strong playoff team under coach , and the Raiders' regular season record doesn't necessarily mean that won't continue this year. While they took their lumps against the Big 9's Class 5A schools, Albert Lea did OK in games within the 4A division, going 2-2 including a pair of road wins, so it's not like the Raiders are going to run them over.
RAIDERS WIN IF …
They can come up with anything resembling a big play or two. One thing the Raiders have had a shortage of this season is explosiveness. They might not need a 70-yard scoring run or a 60-yard interception return for a TD to beat the Tigers, but anything along those lines would sure help, both on the scoreboard and in the confidence department.
2010 PLAYOFFS
Defending section champ Northfield lost to St. Thomas Academy in the first round of the state tournament. The Tigers were eliminated by Faribault 14-6 in the first round of last year's section tournament.
SECTION 1AAAA SCHEDULE
Quarterfinals
Tuesday
Game 1 — No. 6 Albert Lea at No. 3 Northfield, 7 p.m.
Game 2 — No. 7 Austin at No. 2 Red Wing, 7 p.m.
Game 3 — No. 5 Winona at No. 4 New Prague, 7 p.m.
Semifinals
Saturday
Game 4 — Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, at high seed, 7 p.m.
Game 5 — Game 3 winner at No. 1 Faribault, 7 p.m.
Finals
Friday, Nov. 4
Game 6 — Semifinal winners, at high seed