John's Journal: It Was Another Special Season For Mahnomen/Waubun

The Mahnomen/Waubun Thunderbirds are one of the premier football programs in Minnesota, winning state championships in 1980, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1998, 2012, 2013 and 2018.

They fell short of their goal this year, losing to Springfield 30-16 in Saturday’s Class A semifinals at U.S. Bank Stadium. But that doesn’t diminish what the Thunderbirds accomplished this fall, finishing with a record of 11-1.

“They're not the fastest, they're not the strongest, but they're tough,” said coach John Clark Jr., sitting next to seniors Jacob Littlewolf, Nick Baker and Alexander McDougall in the Vikings interview room after the game. “Nick played on one leg today, and that's how all three of these guys are, they'll play through injuries.

“They’re tough kids and they believe in what we're doing. We're not fun to watch probably for a lot of people, but they believe in what we do because it's successful; we run the ball and play defense and good things happen. These guys won four section championships in four years, the younger kids get to see that, and they’re even better kids off the field. I’ve got a grandson, and I hope he ends up like these three guys right here.”

Littlewolf talked about what being part of the team means to him.

“There’s just been tremendous support from everybody. There's so much support from the communities, from the coaches. They really push us and really raise us up and make sure our heads are up and we just keep pushing. There's a lot of stuff that goes on other than the games, with practices, morning running, meals, film. It's all fun.

“A lot of schools around our area don't get to do this every year. We’re just super proud we're able to get these opportunities that we do.”

Baker talked about how special it is to play at U.S. Bank Stadium.

“Ever since I was young, watching the Vikings play, I wished I'd be on the field. And I got the chance to play on this field, and it was really fun.”

It’s a four-hour drive from Mahnomen to downtown Minneapolis, and the Thunderbirds’ experience went beyond a football game. The team watched a movie together and played mini golf at a mall while they were in town.

“A lot of our kids have never even been down here, our younger kids, so one of the funner moments is watching their big, wide eyes when we pull into town,” Clark said. “And I think they all thought the Vikings players were just going to be wandering around all over the place, so they might be a little disappointed.”

As the interview session ended, the coach was at the door when he turned around, smiled, and said, “See you next year.”

That would surprise exactly no one.

The Class A Prep Bowl game, next Friday at 10 a.m., will be between familiar foes. After Springfield’s win over Mahnomen/Waubun, Minneota defeated Parkers Prairie 45-0 to set up a third-round rematch.

Minneota defeated Springfield in the last two Prep Bowls, winning 43-22 last year and 28-21 in 2022. Minneota also played in the 2021 championship game, losing to Mayer Lutheran 20-14. Overall, the Vikings have played at state 17 times, winning championships in 1986, 1987, 1988, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2022 and 2023.

Springfield is playing at state for the 10^th time. The Tigers were state champs in 2005.

“The last two have been personal,” said Springfield’s Aiden Moriarty, who caught six passes for 62 yards and scored a three-yard rushing touchdown. “There's a little more behind this one.”

Gavin Vanderwerf, who led the Tigers with 19 carries for 112 yards and a score, said, “We’ve been on the team for four years. We've always had a good team, but I feel like we've been growing towards this every year. Our goal is the Bank every year.”

Asked about the Prep Bowl matchup, Minneota coach Chad Johnston said, “They're familiar with us, we're familiar with them. It’s not like it's a short week, but playing on Saturday and playing on Friday again, it's not like you can put a whole lot of new things in. So it's going to basically, I think, come down to execution.

“They're going to look back at what they did against us last year and what was successful, what was not successful, make those adjustments. We're going to do the same thing. I told the guys that it's kind of a cool thing that you're playing for not only a threepeat, but you're playing for a threepeat against the same team. And that doesn't happen a whole lot. So that gives them an opportunity to do something very great.”

The Pequot Lakes Patriots have been building for several years to the achievement that came to fruition Saturday: Playing at U.S. Bank Stadium. They fell short in the Class 3A semifinals, losing a nail-biter to Dassel-Cokato 29-26, but their accomplishment was special.

The team won one game when the current seniors were in ninth grade, were section runners-up the last two years and finished 11-1 this year. That’s an impressive rise.

“Just seeing the energy from the guys, from the moment we left this morning on the bus ride and then getting here, the guys were pumped up,” said senior Bryar Nordby, who had 92 rushing yards and 51 receiving. “It's awesome. It's a great place to play, great atmosphere. I'm glad we got to bring as many guys as we did, just to experience it all.”

Fellow senior Jackson Jorgens said everything was “absolutely amazing. It's been our goal since we were freshmen. To finally push over the hurdle, it was amazing. We stayed motivated all season to get to this point and obviously it’s not the result we wanted. But I'm proud of each and every single one of my teammates for pushing and getting here with us.”

Patriots coach Bill Magnuson said the season meant more than football and winning and losing.

“They've been building this thing and dreaming about this for a long time, and they put in the time since the day it ended last year,” he said. “I don't know if this guy right here to my right (senior Dane Mudgett) missed a day of weightlifting. That's the commitment that a lot of these guys have to each other, they held each other accountable all season long. If somebody wasn't there this summer, I didn't have to do anything. They took care of it. That's the kind of brotherhood that they created, the team they created, and they'll never forget this experience.”

State Football Semifinals

Thursday

4A/ Becker 28, Marshall 7

Nine-Player/ Hills-Beaver Creek 26, Mountain Iron-Buhl 20

Nine-Player/ Fertile-Beltrami 60, LeRoy-Ostrander/Lyle-Pacelli 33

6A/ Minnetonka 48, Anoka 27

Friday

2A/ Jackson County Central 34, Kimball 26

4A/ Totino-Grace 30, Orono 21

5A/ Elk River 21, Chanhassen 19

2A/ Staples-Motley 36, Chatfield 24

6A/ Maple Grove 26, Shakopee 14

Saturday

1A/ Springfield 30, Mahnomen/Waubun 16

1A/ Minneota 45, Parkers Prairie 0

3A/ Dassel-Cokato 29, Pequot Lakes 26

3A/ Stewartville 33, Albany 20 

5A/ Alexandria vs. Owatonna

Prep Bowl schedule

Friday, Nov. 22

10 a.m. Class 1A/ Springfield vs. Minneota

1 p.m. 4A/ Becker vs. Totino-Grace

4 p.m. Class 2A/ Jackson County Central vs. Staples-Motley

7 p.m. Class 6A/ Minnetonka vs. Maple Grove

Saturday, Nov. 23

10 a.m. Nine-Player/ Hills-Beaver Creek vs. Fertile-Beltrami

1 p.m. Class 3A/ Dassel-Cokato vs. Stewartville

4 p.m. Class 5A/ Elk River vs. Alexandria or Owatonna

--MSHSL senior content creator John Millea has been the leading voice of Minnesota high school activities for decades. Follow him on Threads at johnmilleamn and listen to "Preps Today with John Millea” wherever you get podcasts. Contact John at [email protected] or [email protected]