Countdown to Kickoff: Midwest, South Central favorites
Pillager is firmly entrenched as the Blue subdistrict favorite coming off its 11-1 season. The Huskies have 14 returning starters, including four of five offensive linemen. Two-way starter Eli Horn is their most pivotal player on both sides of the ball for Class AA’s No. 3 team, while newcomer Dylan Loftis is being counted on to help replace the dynamic Ridge Hunstad, who graduated.
The closest contender to Pillager in the Blue subdistrict is Ottertail Central. The Bulldogs return 15 starters from 2016, which ended with a loss to the Huskies in the Section 6AA final. OTC dropped down a level for the upcoming season, which should make them a possible state tournament team. 260-pound lineman Dustin Olson is a load for opponents to handle on offense and defense, and junior Nick Van Erp is back for his second season as a starter under center.