Tigers back, hungry to finish state return on top
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KASSON -- The Springfield Tigers are no stranger to state tournament appearances over the past several years.
Springfield made the tournament three consecutive seasons from 2022 to 2024, just missing the tournament last season. But the Tigers are back after a win over Sleepy Eye United in the Section 3A championship game, and Springfield head coach Adam Meyer credits his senior class for their leadership this season.
"We have a great group of seniors that have displayed leadership in different, but effective ways," Meyer said. "They are a group that has been great in the off-season and it's carried over into the season whether it's at practice or in games. I think we have played very consistently this season and I give a lot of credit to the leaders on the team for maintaining a strong level of intensity and focus regardless of opponent."
That first opponent will be Southland as Springfield will take on the third seed in the north bracket as the second seed Friday at 7 p.m. at Kasson-Mantorville High School. Southland holds a 9-1 record, with its only loss coming against Waterville-Elysian-Morristown, who earned a high seed in the Class AA state tournament. Meyer expects the biggest challenge for Southland to present to be their athleticism and size.
"They made the state tournament last season and many of the players on that team from a year ago also play football," Meyer said. "They do a great job offensively of mixing it up with run and pass and are effective doing either. They play four receivers at times and all four are athletic and a threat to make a big play. They also have a three-year starter at quarterback that throws it very well, but also can take off and run."
Southland quarterback Henry Wiste has recorded 1,485 yards and 16 touchdowns passing on 68.7% completion percentage with only four interceptions while adding 409 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. His favorite target has been tate Goergen, who has 465 yards on 31 receptions with six touchdowns, while Cael Smith (242 yards, two touchdowns), Beau Sathre (309 yards, two touchdowns) and Lucas Boe (115 yards, two touchdowns) help spread things out. Smith is also the team's leading rusher with 1,001 yards and nine touchdowns on 101 attempts, averaging 9.9 per carry. Meyer said Smith was capable of breaking a big play at any time and was someone the Tigers were looking to limit.
The Tigers are no strangers to creating explosives either, however, led by three-year starting quarterback Parker Kuehn, who has 2,610 yards and 38 touchdowns with just two interceptions on 69.5% completion percentage. Madden Lendt leads the team in receiving, hauling in 38 passes for 874 yards and 15 touchdowns, but Braxton Brown had a big game in the section championship and has 28 catches for 757 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season. Ely Streich adds 597 yards and eight touchdowns on the season. On the ground, Springfield has three rushers who have at least 400 yards on the year, led by Carter Jackson, who has the most rushing yards (620) and touchdowns (11) despite missing three games. Connor Schmitt (466 yards, six TDs) and Colten Sell (400 yards, four TDs) add additional punch to the rushing attack.
Those explosives will be key to seeing who comes away with a first-round victory.
"They have an offense, like we do, that can score from any position on the field," Meyer said. "Their defense is very set on not allowing the ball to get pushed down the field, but we need to try and manufacture some plays for our guys down the field. I also think the running game on both sides will tell the story of the game. Whoever can slow the running game down more will have a really good chance to come away with a win."