NEW ULM — The Second Season begins Tuesday for high school football teams with New Ulm’s three local teams in action.

Both New Ulm Cathedral and Minnesota Valley Lutheran will face teams that they played only 11 days ago.

Cathedral (4-4) will host Renville County West (3-5) Tuesday at 7:30 at Johnson Field.

The Greyhounds defeated the Jaguars 35-12 on October 10th.

MVL (1-7) travels to Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial (5-3) to play the Knights, who defeated the Chargers 26-6 on October 10th.

New Ulm High School (2-6) heads to Willmar (5-3) to meet the Cardinals.

RENVILLE COUNTY WEST AT NEW ULM CATHEDRAL SECTION 2, 9-MAN PLAYOFF, 7 P.M.

Cathedral head football coach Denny Lux said that the Jaguars have speed at the receiver spots.

“So we need to be concerned about their passing game, and their fullback is big and hard to bring down,” Lux said. “But our defense played well when we played them — we did not give up the big play and I am sure [RCW] is going to look at what they can do sneak in a big play here or there. We have to watch for the screen game or any kind of double moves by the receivers — and they have a lot of misdirection in the backfield.”

Lux said that the earlier 35-12 win over Renville was a breakout game in the fact that they used Adrian Henry and Alex Portner in the Power-I set.

“We struggled with that [Wednesday] against Edgerton, so I am sure that Renville is going to take some of those things that Edgerton did to try and stop us.” Lux said.

While teams are scouting Cathedral for their tendencies, Lux said that the Greyhounds also scout themselves.

“The number one thing is to look at ourselves and look at the plays that did not work for us and why,” he said. “Was it something that we did or something that they did. We pretty much stayed with our running game, but we still need to get the play-action game going and that is the part that I am the most disappointed with. As much as we run, we should be able to get people open.”

Lux said that in Wednesday’s loss to Edgerton, his team could not match up with the Flying Dutchmen.

“They have speed at every position — everywhere — they looked good,” he said. “But the real season for teams begins [Tuesday] and come playoff time, you get three wins and you are going to the state tournament.”

And Lux is happy about the health of his team going into the playoffs.

“I feel good about that because there was some concern with the physical part of the game [Wednesday], but at this point of the season this is the most healthy we have been all year,” he said.

MINNESOTA VALLEY LUTHERAN AT LAKE CRYSTAL-WELCOME MEMORIAL, SECTION 3AA, 7 P.M.

Chargers head coach Jim Buboltz said in the October 10th meeting with the Knights that his team had a great first quarter.

“We got the game tied up at halftime at 6-6, but in the second half, they took over,” he said. “We did play a good first half but did not play a complete game again.”

Buboltz said that the Knights misdirection offense got the Chargers defense in trouble.

“They were pulling in different directions and we were trying to find the ball — they do it real well,” said Buboltz. “And they have size up front.”

He is hoping to counter that Tuesday by giving the Knights different defensive front looks.

“We are not going to give them the same look each time,” he said. “We are going to try and pressure different areas so that we do not get outnumbered. But the truth of the matter is that sometimes you have to take your chances on defense.”

The Chargers are heading into the playoffs after a win over Sibley East.

“I was just happy for our guys on the win.” Buboltz said. “I am especially happy that they never gave up and they are talking about playing their best football now. Now you throw records out the window — we go and play one game at a time.”

Buboltz said that the win was evident Thursday in practice.

“You are not as sore after a win and you have more pep in your step — they had all of that.”

Buboltz said he also “self-scouts” the Chargers.

“I do that a lot,” he said. “We look at what we can tweak — what can we give a little bit different look to and put your players in a better spot.”

Buboltz said that his team has to keep the game close at the end for a win.

“There are not a lot of 14- or 21-point plays in the book,” he said. “We need to take care of the ball on the ground. I have confidence in our guys going into Tuesday’s game.”

NEW ULM HIGH SCHOOL AT WILLMAR HIGH SCHOOL SECTION 2AAAA PLAYOFF, 7 P.M.

Last season, Wilmar ended the Eagles season by downing the Eagles 28-6 in the first round of playoffs.

New Ulm head coach Derek Lieser is hoping for some payback Tuesday.

“They have had a really good year — they have played some 4AAAA competition,” he said. “They do play a lot of spread offense — they like to be in the shotgun a ton, and their quarterback is back. He is evasive and is as much a danger as a runner as he is a thrower. We have to contain him.”

The Cardinals also have a 195-pound running back in their offensive arsenal.

“He runs hard and they have size up front.” Lieser said. “And they have a 6-foot-6 wide receiver.”

Lieser said that the Eagles are looking to find some tendencies to put their defense in a good position.

“We are going to be undersized against Willmar, but if we can know what they are going to do in certain formations we can give ourselves a shot,” he said. “We need to take care of the ball on offense and limit big plays defensively”

Lieser said that his team played their best game of the season Wednesday in a 21-14 loss to Waseca.

“Look at the quality of the team that we payed that was our best game of the year,” he said. “We played four quarters — we were physical and tough. We were happy with the overall effort of the team.

“Right now we are playing our best football — the energy and attitude of the team is high. They are excited about going and winning a playoff game. We have to be able to win at the line of scrimmage and win the turnover battle and limit the big pass and run plays and make them earn everything. We can give ourself a chance Tuesday.”