Willmar Cardinals in State Championship

The Willmar Cardinals have flown to new heights under coach Jon Konold, a Minneota native. It had been 30 years since a Willmar football team had qualified for a state tournament.

And, after the Cardinals' 62-20 Class AAAA semifinal rout of St. Paul Johnson on Friday night at U.S. Bank Stadium, they have reached their first state final in 45 years.

“The biggest key for our kids was to live in the moment and not let playing in U.S. Bank Stadium be a distraction,” said Konold, a 1992 Minneota graduate who played wingback and free safety for three years for the Vikings.

In his senior year, Minneota reached the state quarterfinals before falling to Mankato Loyola, 21-14. Willmar (12-1) will face the unbeaten SMB Wolfpack (13-0), a conglomerate of St. Paul Academy, Minnehaha Academy and Blake, in the state championship at 4 p.m. Friday at U.S. Bank Stadium.

This is the first time as a player or coach that Konold has participated in the Prep Bowl. “Playing in a state final is something we all try and achieve as a player and coach,” said Konold, now in his 10th season as Willmar coach “It’s an unbelievable accomplishment for our players, school and community. We have tremendous support and very proud of what we have done.” Willlmar reached the section final in 2013 and 2014, but each time were denied entrance into the state tournament by Rocori.

This year, Willmar's offense has been like a unstoppable steamroller this season, flattening opposing defenses with a high-powered offense that has averaged 48 points-per-game this season and has scored 50-or-more points six times.

You wouldn't expect a team to amass 62 points in the state semifinals; especially in a 4A contest. But Willmar led bolted to a 41-0 lead at halftime and never looked back.

Willmar senior quarterback Drey Dirksen accounted for seven of the team's nine touchdowns; passing for four scores, and running for three. Dirksen completed 10-of-16 passes for 215 yards and TDs of 24, 34, 35 and 28 yards. Willmar’s defense picked off four of St. Paul Johnson’s passes, including a 90-yard interception return for a score by Ty Roelofs.

“We wanted the kids to just play our game and play fast,” Konold noted.

In a Mascot story four years ago, Konold credited his high school coach Gerhard Meidt and offensive coordinator Jim Rolbiecki for his knowledge of the game and becoming a successful coach. “I really learned a lot from them,” Konold said in 2014.

In years to come, Konold's former players will likely be saying the same thing about him.