9-Man State Tournament Football Preview

Nov 8, 2012

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

First year head coach Tony Deleon will lead his South Ridge Panthers into the state tournament for the first time in the school’s history as the Panthers will open play on Friday at St. Cloud State University. Deleon helped turn around a team which only won one game in the past two seasons and is now 10-1 on the season.

The Panthers who enter the state quarterfinals will rely on a passing attack led by Kody Karppinen, and a strong running game led by Devon Lee and Brody Wilton. The Panthers offense averages 30 points per game while only allowing 12 per contest.

The Panthers will face the high scoring Nevis Tigers who average 42 points per game. The Tigers play in the Great Northern Conference along with several local teams including Wrenshall, Cromwell, and McGregor. The Tigers are 11-0 entering the state quarterfinals.

South Ridge, making their first appearance in the state tournament went seven times as AlBrook and once as Cotton. AlBrook was state runners up in 1978 and 1989 and were last in the state tournament in 2004. Cottons only appearance was a runner up finish in 1972.

Nevis will be making their fourth appearance in the state football tournament with their last appearance coming in 1993. Senior Collin Huckbody will lead the Tigers and will rely on Gavin Hitchcock’s running game. Gavin Becker and Tyler Chase are Huckbody’s top two receivers.

The Panthers defense forced five turnovers, in the section finals against the Cromwell Cardinals last Friday night. They are hoping to continue to play solid defense, as they only allowed 12 points per game. The Panthers were only one of three of the states eight sections number one seeds to advance to the state tournament.

Of the state qualifying nine man teams, only Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley has an allowed fewer points per game the Panthers. The Wolverines enter the state tournament only allowing 9.2 points per game as they face Wheaton/Herman- Norcross.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com