10 local players still alive in small-college football playoffs

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Dec. 8—The college football season came to a close Saturday — unexpectedly for some — for a number of former southeastern Minnesota high school stars.

Ten former local standouts will continue to carry the banner for southeastern Minnesota at the Division III level, as Wisconsin-River Falls moved on to the NCAA Division III national quarterfinals.

Here's a look at how former area athletes and their teams did over the weekend:

—No. 3-ranked University of Wisconsin-River Falls, which features 10 players from southeastern Minnesota, extended its season on Saturday by rolling to a 42-14 victory at home against Saint John's. Conner Preston, a junior defensive back from Zumbrota-Mazeppa, and Peter Ladu, a sophomore DB and John Marshall grad, both had two tackles in the victory. Senior defensive lineman Carter Quam (Z-M) played but did not record a tackle; he has 18 total tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss this season.

Other local players on the UWRF roster include defensive lineman Rory Lane (Chatfield), tight end Oliver Liffrig (Z-M), Lewiston-Altura grads Owen Sommer (Fr., linebacker) and Levi Oevering (Fr., offensive line); Z-M's Jack Boraas (Soph., offensive line); Rochester Mayo's Jax Breitenfield (Fr., linebacker); and Red Wing's Rhowan Smith (Soph., offensive line).

UWRF is now 11-1 and will host Wheaton College at 2 p.m. Saturday in a national quarterfinal. That game can be streamed on ESPN Plus.

Red Wing's Keegan Knutson is a freshman wide receiver for Saint John's (10-2).

—Minnesota State University, Mankato lost 52-29 at No. 1-ranked Ferris State in the NCAA Division II national quarterfinals. MSU led 7-3 after one quarter, but Ferris scored three consecutive touchdowns in the second quarter to build a 24-7 lead. The Bulldogs didn't trail after that.

Chatfield's Sam Backer ran seven times for 47 yards, finishing his sophomore season with 980 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns. Byron's Adam Glynn didn't carry the ball on Saturday; he finished his season with 30 carries for 117 yards.

On defense, LeRoy-Ostrander grad Tanner Olson made two tackles from his tackle position and finished his season with 28 total tackles.

—Byron native Zach VanderPool, a redshirt freshman defensive lineman at No. 1-ranked North Dakota State, played but did not record a tackle in the Bison's 29-28 upset loss to Illinois State. VanderPool played in all 13 games for NDSU (12-1) and finished the season with 17 total tackles. Pine Island's Blake Schiltz redshirted for the Bison this fall.

—Unseeded North Dakota had its season end with a 31-13 loss at No. 4 Tarleton State (Stephenville, Texas). Caledonia native Isaac Fruechte is the offensive coordinator for UND, and Chatfield graduate Ethan Cole is a true freshman defensive tackle. He played in two games this season and made one tackle.

—Stewartville's Graysen Schneider is a true freshman defensive lineman for 11-2 Montana State, which beat Yale 21-13 on Saturday. MSU will host Stephen F. Austin at 7 p.m. Saturday in a national quarterfinal game on ESPN.

—Kasson-Mantorville's Caisen Thome is a true freshman for the University of South Dakota Coyotes, who blew out No. 7 Mercer 47-0 on Saturday. USD will play at No. 3 Montana in a national quarterfinal at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos