The field is set for the 2023 state football semifinals that begin Thursday and wrap-up Saturday at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Games get underway at 10:30 Thursday morning with the first 9-player matchup between Kingsland (12-0) and Fertile-Beltrami (12-0).
"I had high hopes for this team and I thought that they would do really really well this year," said Kingsland Knights head coach, Matt Kolling. "I didn't know how far we would get."
Week one didn't go as planned for the Knights who fell behind Mabel-Canton 28-0.
Kingsland fought back, ultimately winning the game 40 to 34.
"I had to kind of second guess everything we've been doing because that's not what I was expecting, but we were able to fight back and showed a lot of character and showed a lot about our drive and our determination that game," Kolling said. "We fought back and won that game and ever since then it's been much much better."
The Knights rattled off win after win ultimately earning a spot in the Section 1 9-player championship game, beating Spring Grove 44-14.
Six days later, Kingsland beat Hills-Beaver Creek 26-14 to get to the semifinal round for the first time since 2003.
"It's been great for the town and it's been great for the school. It's been quite a few years since we've had a football team go up to the semifinal game, so there's a lot of excitement. Kids are excited, the whole school is excited we're, and we're just really happy to have this opportunity to go up there and compete."
Leading the charge for Kingsland is senior running back Beau Wiersma. The Winona State-commit has rushed for just over 1,800 yards this season and 34 touchdowns.
Sophomore quarterback Kaaleem Reiland has thrown for over 1,700 yards and is close to the 1,000 yard rushing mark.
"We threw Kaaleem in the mix last year and he had never played quarterback before," Kolling said. "Our senior quarterback got hurt and last year out passing game really wasn't that good. Kaaleem worked hard to become a better player and a better quarterback."
14 different players on the Knights roster have scored a touchdown this season.
"I like the 9-man game because it's fast and a really fun game. It's usually a little bit higher scoring. Pretty much everyone is eligible, or could be eligible at some time. It gives kids a lot of opportunities to get in the endzone."
Coach Kolling and the Knights now have their sights set on U.S. Bank Stadium and a potential 9-play state football title.
"It's business as usual to some extent," added Kolling. "We always tell the kids that it's maybe a different state, but it's still the game of football. The bigger stage is obviously the difference. We started our hydration plan early this week because there are a lot of problems with cramping when you get into that facility compared to what they've been doing lately playing in colder weather. Other than that, it's just trying to get the out of the 'wow factor' right away and getting them to concentrate on doing their job."
Full Semifinal Schedule
Nine-man
Kingsland vs Fertile-Beltrami (Thursday, November 16 at 10:30 a.m.)
Ottertail Central vs Nevis (Thursday, November 16 at 1 p.m.)
Class 1A
Springfield vs Mahnomen/Wabun (Saturday, November 18 at 9 a.m.)
Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa vs Minneota (Saturday, November 18 at 11:30 a.m.)
Class 2A
Jackson County Central vs Barnesville (Friday, November 17 at 9 a.m.)
Cannon Falls vs Eden Valley-Watkins (Friday, November 17 at 11:30 a.m.)
Class 3A
Stewartville vs Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton (Saturday, November 18 at 2 p.m.)
Dassell-Cokato vs Annandale (Saturday, November 18 at 4:30 p.m.)
Class 4A
Byron vs Rocori (Thursday, November 16 at 4 p.m.)
Hutchinson vs North Branch (Friday, November 17 at 4:30 p.m.)
Class 5A
St. Thomas Academy vs Alexandria (Friday, November 17 at 2 p.m.)
Chanhassen vs Andover (Saturday, November 18 at 7 p.m.)
Class 6A
Centennial vs Lakeville South (Thursday, November 16 at 7 p.m.)
Eden Prairie vs Edina (Friday, November 17 at 7:30 p.m.)
Semifinal winners advance to the Prep Bowl that will be held Friday, November 23 and Saturday, November 24 at U.S. Bank Stadium.