2020 Football Recap

2020 Football Recap

In the fall of 2020, the Minnesota State High School League’s football season was abbreviated because of safety protocols implemented to minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus. In a vote on Aug. 4, the League’s Board of Directors approved postponing football until a spring season. But on Sept. 21, the Board of Directors approved a reconsideration placement of fall activities, a decision that brought football back to the fall season.

In the framework adopted by the Board of Directors, a six-game regular season was allowed followed by a planned two-week postseason. The postseason was halted with a week remaining when Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz released Emergency Executive Order 20-99 which initiated a four-week restriction on all organized youth and high school sports. The Executive Order took effect at 11:59 p.m., on Friday, Nov. 20.

The updated mandate prompted administrators to juggle postseason schedules. Some sections created championship matchups while others concluded the season with semifinals. Some section tournaments concluded with a champion being declared.

Here is a look at the section champions for the 2020 season:

Class Nine-Man

Section 1 --- Lanesboro

Section 2 --- Renville County West

Section 3 --- Hills-Beaver Creek

Class A

Section 1 --- Blooming Prairie

Section 2 --- Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop

Section 3 --- Wabasso

Section 5 --- Minneota

Section 6 --- Breckenridge

Class AA

Section 1 --- Chatfield (declared)

Section 2 --- Blue Earth Area

Section 3 --- Redwood Valley

Section 4 --- Minneapolis North Community

Section 5 --- Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta

Section 7 --- Crosby-Ironton

Class AAA

Section 1 --- Waseca

Section 2 --- Litchfield

Section 3 --- Luverne

Section 4 --- Cannon Falls

Section 5 --- Annandale

Section 6 --- Albany

Class AAAA

Section 1 --- Kasson-Mantorville

Section 4 --- Fridley

Section 5 --- Academy of Holy Angels

Section 6 --- Becker (declared)

Section 7 --- Hermantown

Section 8 --- Rocori

Class AAAAA

Section 1 --- Owatonna

Section 3 --- St. Thomas Academy

Section 6 --- Rogers

Section 7 --- Andover (declared)

Class AAAAAA

Bracket section champions --- Blaine, Centennial, Eden Prairie, Lakeville South, Rosemount, Shakopee