The Bulldog football team will take on the Princeton Tigers today (Saturday) at Eppard Field at 1 p.m. in the Section 6AAAA playoffs.

No. 4-seeded Princeton beat #5-seeded Big Lake Tuesday, 21-6 in the first round to advance to play the #1-seeded Becker Bulldogs.

Princeton is coming off a 4-4 regular season in which they outscored their opponents 177-176. They averaged 125 yards per game passing and 145 yards per game rushing.

Jack Slipy (#9) is the Tigers’ main QB. He played six games and was 38-of-80 for 587 yards for five TDs and four interceptions. Ben Arseneau (#8) played three games and was 20-of-35 for 380 yards and four TDs.

On the ground, Princeton relied on Cole Carlson  (#6) as he gained 1,010 yards on 181 carries. He scored nine touchdowns, averaging 5.6 yards per attempt. Ryan DeValk (#31) played four games at running back and had 118 yards on the ground on 31 carries. He scored three TDs.

Wideout Colton Malecha (#11) played eight games and had 21 receptions for 467 yards and five touchdowns. Adam Tarvestad (#22) had 10 catches for 140 yards and two TDs in seven games.

On the defensive side of the ball, Devin Dahlheimer (#2) played all eight games and had 36 tackles, three tackles for loss and 10 assists. Manny Flicek (#28) played seven games and had 27 tackles and seven assists.

Flicek is also the Tigers’ punt returner and he had seven returns for 36 yards and zero TDs.

Princeton finished third in the East Central-North standings behind Zimmerman (5-1, 7-1) and Albany (6-0, 8-0).

The Tigers beat Milaca (35-28), St. Cloud Cathedral (20-0), Foley (26-6) and Little Falls (41-19). They lost to Annandale (29-15), Dassel-Cokato (20-14), Zimmerman (24-14) and Albany (50-12).

The #1-seeded Bulldogs finished second in the North Central-White division behind Hutchinson (6-0, 8-0). Becker averaged 173 yards passing per game and 148 yards rushing.

Their defense had 18 sacks and five interceptions and averages just seven points per game.

Becker outscored their opponents 226-57.

QB Josh Fobbe played all eight games, amassing 1,382 yards on 176 attempts through the air and 18 touchdowns. He had four interceptions and a 58.5% completion percentage.

Isaac Koop took the load at running back, playing  seven games averaging 4.3 yards on 76 carries for 329 yards. He scored three times. Austin Berning played all eight games and averaged 6.3 yards per rush with 263 yards on 42 attempts.

Carter Callahan gained 272 yards on 45 carries for an average of six yards per carry and scored twice.

At wideout, Carter Hietala led all receivers with 34 catches for 565 yards and six touchdowns. He averaged 16.6 yards per catch. Cade Callahan had 207 yards on 11 catches and two TDs, averaging 18.8 yards per reception. Nick Mittlestaedt had 131 yards on 17 catches and four TDs, averaging 7.7 yards per reception.

On defense, Cade DeWall led all defenders with 34 tackles, nine assists, two tackles for loss, one sack and one fumble recovery. Riley Morrell had 27 tackles, nine assists, six tackles for loss and five sacks.

Teddy Halvorson had 35 tackles, eight assists, three TFLs and two sacks.

Koop was the team’s main punt returner and he gained 38 yards on five returns in seven games.

Kicker Emma Domka had one field goal made on one attempt and executed eight extra points through the season.

The Bulldogs beat Monticello (22-3), St. Cloud Apollo (53-0), Big Lake (48-7), Delano (26-13), Rocori (14-12), Willmar (12-0) and Sartell-St. Stephen (38-6).

Their only loss was to Hutchinson in the second game of the year by a 16-13 score.

No. 2-seeded Zimmerman takes on #3-seeded Delano Saturday evening at 7 p.m. in Zimmerman. The winner of that game and Becker’s game will meet Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m. at Monticello High School.