BLAINE — The Willmar football team learned its opponent and the time and location of its state Class AAAA quarterfinal game Thursday.
The Cardinals earned the second seed in the South bracket and play No. 3 Hill-Murray at 6 p.m. Thursday at Blaine High School.
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Willmar (10-0) won Section 2AAAA on Friday by beating Marshall 22-12. Willmar also beat Marshall 34-14 on Sept. 18.
The Cardinals had their first unbeaten regular season since 1988 when they went 8-0.
Hill-Murray is 9-1 after beating Simley 42-7 in the Section 3AAA final. The Pioneers’ lone loss was at Byron, 21-14 Week 3.
Willmar makes its first state appearance since 2018, when it finished second, losing to the SMB Wolfpack 44-18.
That year, Willmar had an 11-2 record, beating Hermantown 44-0 in the quarterfinals and St. Paul Johnson 62-20 in the semifinals to advance to the final.
The Cards also made state in 1973, also finishing second, and in ‘87 and ‘88.
Hill-Murray makes its fourth straight state appearance. The Pioneers lost their state quarterfinal game the past three years.
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Hill-Murray lost in the quarterfinals 35-21 to Kasson-Mantorville in 2025. The Pioneers were defeated 24-0 by Totino...