This weekend marks the end of the line for some high school football teams and a beginning, of sorts, for others as Section 5AAAA  playoffs commence for the Becker Bulldogs football team.

 

They play a very familiar foe in the Delano Tigers Saturday at Eppard Field. 

 

Becker and Delano have flip-flopped each year they’ve played each other in the playoffs with one team winning one year, then losing the next.

 

In 2010, Becker beat the Tigers 20-14 in the semi-finals before losing to Rogers for the section title.

 

The next year, 2011, Becker got destroyed by the Tigers, 41-14 in the semi-finals, finishing 6-4 that year.

 

In 2012, Becker beat the Tigers, 21-13 in the section finals, only to fall to Hutchinson in the state semi-finals at the Metrodome.

 

In 2013, Becker lost in the waning seconds to Delano, 20-14 after winning eight games in a row.

 

If history is any indication, this game should be all Becker.

 

“We have played  Delano a number of times in the sections, they are again a big team,” says Head Coach Dwight Lundeen. They run the ball very well and play tough defense.They have lost some close games this year but came back in the second half to beat a good Big Lake team on Tuesday. We are expecting that they will play us very tough on Saturday.”

 

Becker finished this year with a 7-1 overall record, only losing to Minnetonka in the first game of the year. Delano, with their first round win over Big Lake Tuesday, are sitting at 3-6.

 

The winner of the Becker/Delano matchup will face the winner of the Zimmerman/Orono game that same day.

 

The players to watch for in Saturday’s big game against Delano are Bulldog QB Michael Veldman, RB C.J.Schwintek, WR Eric Blomgren and the entire, swarming Bulldog defense.

 

Veldman finished the regular season throwing for 1,683 yards, 26 touchdowns and just two interceptions.

 

Schwintek had 714 yards amassed on 123 carries and had eight TDs.

 

Blomgren had 818 yards receiving on 45 catches for 17 TDs.

 

Delano averages 79.9 yards a game in passing and 194 yards per game rushing. They average scoring 20 points a game and have averaged giving up 29 points a game.

 

Becker is averaging 224 yards passing and 200 yards rushing per game. They are averaging 33 points a game scoring and have 23 sacks on the year, six fumble recoveries and four interceptions.

 

“I think we have a very good game plan for Saturday,” said Lundeen. “Both offensively and on defense. I have been very happy with the balance we have had running and passing  this year. It’s hard for teams to take both of those away and I feel that our defense is playing their best at the end of the season.”

 

Lundeen is especially thrilled to see his team is relatively healthy and the Bulldogs will see the return of their right tackle Casey Vesledahl, who went down early in the year with a leg injury. He looks to be completely healed and his presence on the line will be welcomed by all.

 

Becker finished 7-0 in the Granite Ridge Conference while Delano finished 0-5 in the Wright County East Conference.

 

The weather looks ideal. The matchup is classic. The significance unequalled. One team will move on, one team will not.

 

In other words, an end-of-the-year banquet will be planned for one of the teams, a second round playoff game is on the docket for the other. 

Which team will it be this year?