(KWAD) – The 2025 MSHSL State Football Tournament kicked off this week with quarterfinal action across all six classes, setting the stage for next week’s semifinal matchups at U.S. Bank Stadium. From defensive shutouts to overtime thrillers, teams across the state punched their tickets to Minneapolis with championship dreams alive and well.

In 9-Man football, Kittson County Central flexed its defensive muscle in a 49–0 rout over Cook County in Grand Rapids, setting up a semifinal clash with southern power Hillcrest Lutheran Academy. Hillcrest Lutheran Academy edged Mabel-Canton 40–38 in a shootout. Hills-Beaver Creek advanced with a dominant 44–14 win over Red Rock Central. Fertile-Beltrami took care of Cromwell-Wright Area 40–14.

9-Man Semifinals (Thursday, Nov. 13, U.S. Bank Stadium)

• N2 Fertile-Beltrami vs. S1 Hills-Beaver Creek – 1:00 PM

• S2 Hillcrest Lutheran Academy vs. N1 Kittson County Central – 4:00 PM

In Class A, the North’s top-seed Breckenridge Cowboys left no doubt in their quarterfinal matchup, steamrolling Barnum 57–14 at Morris Area High School. Mahnomen-Waubun took care of Upsala/Swanville Area 17-8. In the south, the three-time defending Class A champion Minneota Vikings will be back at US Bank Stadium, cruising to a 42–6 win over Lester Prairie at Jordan High School. Murray County Central upset Fillmore Central 29-26.

Class A Semifinals (Saturday, Nov. 15, U.S. Bank Stadium)

• N2 Mahnomen/Waubun vs S1 Minneota 9:00 AM

• S3 Murray County Central vs N1 Breckenridge – 11:30 AM

Class AA saw the Holdingford Huskers move one step closer to their first State title since 2014 with a 40-24 win over Barnesville at Brainerd High School. Eden Valley-Watkins took care of Moose Lake/Willow River 30–14 at St. Cloud Apollo. In one of the closest games of the tournament so far, Goodhue outlasted Waterville-Elysian-Morristown 29–28 in overtime at Hastings High School. In the final game of the Class A quarters, Jackson County Central will take on Caledonia at 7:00 on Saturday night.

Class AA Semifinals (Friday, Nov. 14, U.S. Bank Stadium)

• N2 Eden Valley-Watkins vs S1 Jackson County Central or S2 Goodhue – 9:00 AM

• S4 Caledonia or S2 Goodhue vs N1 Holdingford – 4:30 PM

In Class AAA, Section 8 champ N3 Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton upset 7AAA champion N2 Pierz 28–7 in Alexandria. Waseca shut out Holy Family 14-0, and Minneapolis North hung a 50-spot on Pine Island, winning 50-21. N1 Annandale plays N4 Litchfield at 7:00 Saturday night.

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Class AAA Semifinals (Nov. 15, U.S. Bank Stadium)

• Low Seed North vs. High Seed South – 2:00 PM

• Low Seed South vs. High Seed North – 4:30 PM

The Grand Rapids Thunderhawks continued their late-season surge, crushing Benilde-St. Margaret’s 54–7 at Brainerd High School on Thursday night in the Class AAAA quarterfinals. Marshall earned a 21–9 win over Totino-Grace, while Kasson-Mantorville handled Hill-Murray 35–21 and Orono thumped Fergus Falls 36-14.

Class AAAA Semifinals (Thursday, Nov 13 and Friday, Nov 14, U.S. Bank Stadium)

• N3 Orono vs. S1 Marshall – Nov 14 at 10:30 AM

• S2 Kasson-Mantorville vs. N1 Grand Rapids – Nov 13 at 11:30

In the Class AAAAA quarters, the Alexandria Cardinals came up just short of the Spring Lake Park Panthers, falling 13-12 in overtime. The game was tied 6-6 at the end of regulation. The Panthers scored in the first OT and kicked the XP. Alexandria scored on their possession, went for two but QB Talon Witt’s came up short of the goal line. Defending state champion Elk River blew out Minneapolis Washburn 53-20, St. Thomas Academy beat Rochester Mayo 21-14, and Chanhassen survived Cretin-Durham Hall 23-19.

Class AAAAA Semifinals (Friday, Nov 14 and Saturday Nov 15, U.S Bank Stadium)

• N1 Elk River vs S2 Chanhassen, Nov 14, 2:00 pm
• S1 St. Thomas Academy vs S3 Spring Lake Park, Nov 15, 7:00 pm

Semifinals begin Friday, Nov. 14 at 2:00 PM at U.S. Bank Stadium.

In Section AAAAAA, Edina beat Eden Prairie 23-21, Minnetonka took down St. Michael-Albertville 34-7, Lakeville South knocked off defending state champion Maple Grove 49-31, and Moorhead upset top-seeded Centennial 35-21.

Class AAAAAA Semifinals (Thursday Nov 13 and Friday Nov 14, U.S Bank Stadium)

• Edina vs Minnetonka, Nov 13, 7:00 pm
• Lakeville South vs Moorhead, Nov 14 7:30 pm