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Monday, September 5, 2022
2022 Football Preview
The 2021 football season
was a massive for “Journal 11”
teams. Five squads made section
title games, Chatfield, Rushford-
Peterson, LeRoy-Ostrander,
Lanesboro (10-1), and Fillmore
Central
( 9 - 2 ) . THE TRENDE
Chatfield
(13-1), REPORT
R-P (12-
1), and
L-O (12-
2) won
section
titles. All
three won
at least
one state
playoff
game. The Paul Trende
Gophers
(Class AA) and Cardinals
(9-Man) brought home state
titles. Said teams thus had some
studs: L-O, Lanesboro, and
Grand Meadow accounted for
seven All-State players. Due to
the graduations of said players,
the South-East district could be
a dogfight in 2022. State par-
ticipant R-P graduated a good
senior class. Chatfield returns a
lot, as does 1A runner-up FC.
The 2022 football campaign will
try to keep up to its credentialed
2021 predecessor.
A season ago was a whirlwind
campaign for the Chatfield
Gophers. It began with a loss.
It ended with their most her-
alded player missing the state
title game. Jeff Johnson’s group
still came out smelling like roses.
The Gophers went 6-0 in the
Southeast-White, winning the
sub-district. They marauded
through section 1AA, winning
the crown over Goodhue 46-15.
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FILLMORE COUNTY JOURNAL
AREA
SPORTS
Three more wins all at the next
level, including a 14-13 vic-
tory over West Central Area/
Ashby in the title game, gave
Chatfield its fifth football state
title. The Gophers finished 13-1.
Chatfield had just six seniors a
year ago. Ethan Ruskell (6’1”
210 DE/OL > 7 TFLs, 4 sacks),
Caden Nolte (6’2” 275 OL/
DL), and Grady Schott (6’2”
200 TE/LB > team second-best
79 tackles) made All-District.
Mason Clemens (6’0” 220 OL/
DL) and Campbell Berge (6’0”
215 DL/OL) were A-D Honor-
able Mention. Expectations are
high again this year in the Cho-
sen Valley. Chatfield returns four
A-D picks and six A-D HM
honorees. Heading the cast is
one of the state’s most explosive
players, senior Sam Backer (6’0”
190 QB/RB/S). Backer was
“White” MVP and Co-Offen-
sive Player of the Year after a
huge season last year (239-2,384
yards, 39 TDs rushing; 52 of 97,
733 yards, 12 TDs, two INTs
passing). He tallied 51 total TDs
and averaged
almost 10
yards per
carry. He’s a
three-time
A-D pick.
After him,
classmates
Isaac Stevens
(6’2” 190 T/ Sam Backer
DL), Drew
O’Connor
(6’3” 190
TE/LB > season ago, Jacob Erickson (6’0”
15-210),
and Drew
Schindler
(5’9” 160
WR/CB)
return after Isaac Stevens
Page 15
making A-D.
Schindler
the cavalcade. The Gophers have
a 19-man senior class, the above
TDs rushing; 22-478, 6 TDs
receiving) and Haven O’Connor
notably had plus Jake Brogan (6’2” 190 G/ (6’3” 235 OL/DL) made the
seven inter- DL), Ryan Nosbisch (6’2” 195 All-District team. Sikkink was
ceptions. T/DL), Sean Koenigs (6’2” 200 a repeat selection. He was Co-
All-District T/DL), Blake Thompson (5’11” Most Valuable Player in the sub-
HM picks 190 G/DL), and Lynn Borgen district. But after those guys, FC
Cole John- (G/DL). Chatfield opens host- returns mostly complete includ-
son (6’4” ing Rochester-Lourdes. Their last ing bringing back six A-D play-
190 WR/S Drew O’Connor three games are with Caledonia ers, or double that of any other
> 28-611, 9 (home), Triton (home), and team in the Blue (Randolph has
TDs receiv-
ing), Luke
Goodhue (away). L-A is the
other home game. The Gophers
three). The list includes Bryce
Corson (5’7” 160 Sr. RB/LB),
Carrier (5’9” are also at D-E, St. Charles, Jayce Kiehne (6’2” 170 Jr. WR/
165 WR/ and La Crescent/Hokah. Coach DB), Garrett Gossman (5’8”
LB), Jackson Johnson enters his 17th year 155 Sr. T/LB), Gunner Benson
Schild (5’11” leading Chatfield. (6’0” 190
170 RB/LB The Fillmore Central Falcons Sr. OL/DL),
> 94-421, 5 put together a strong campaign a Will Parker
TDs rush- Drew Schindler season ago. FC went 6-1 in the (6’2’ 160 Sr.
ing), Michael Mid-Southeast Blue. Their only OL/DE),
Greiner (5’9” loss was to Rushford-Peterson, and Jake
210 OL/ 26-15. Chris Mensink’s group Fishbaugher
DL), and (6’0” 165 Sr.
then made the Section 1A title
Carter Dan- game, but fell again to the Tro- WR/DB).
iels (5’9” jans, 7-0. FC finished 9-2. They Corson post- Bryce Corson
175 TE/ had just five seniors. Alec Sikkink
LB/S) add (6’0” 180 RB/DE > 123-763, 3 See SPORTS Page 16 
to a loaded
senior class, Cole Johnson
while Kail
Schott (6’1” THIS WEEK’S
185 Jr. RB/
LB > 50-291,
TD rushing,
team-best 82
tackles) made Caledonia/Spring Grove/Houston soc-
A-D HM as cer player Ayshia Gay had a quite a half
a sopho-
more. It that Kail Schott versus Cannon Falls. The senior had four
isn’t enough, goals in the stanza to help the Warriors
Parker Delaney (5’10” 165 Jr. to a 5-0 win. Gay has five of CSGH’s first AYSHIA GAY
QB > 43-81, 753 yards, 4 TDs, six goals this season. Caledonia/Spring
6 INTs) returns after making Photo by Paul Trende, Fillmore County Journal
Grove/Houston
some big plays at the state level, SOCCER
while would-be starting QB a S P O N S O R E D B Y:
180 Sr. QB), returns from inju-
ry. Eli Hopp (5’10” 160 Sr. WR/
DB), Isaac Erding (6’0” 165 Sr.
WR/DB), Thad Evans (6’0” 185
Sr. G/LB), and Sulley Ferguson
(6’0” 160 Sr. WR/LB) add to
WE ARE PROUD
TO SUPORT THE
TRENDE REPORT
SPORTS REPORT!
100 St Anthony St N. Preston, MN
507-765-3823
2768 Superior Dr. NW Rochester, MN
507-258-7580
229 Main Street N. Chatfield, MN
507-867-1605