It may be a new season, but the Caledonia juggernaut continues plowing forward and gouging deep path that teams in the Southeast White subdistrict and Class 2A must navigate as they attempt to run down the three-year reigning state champions.
Chatfield is next on the Warriors' schedule and unseating No. 1-2A Caledonia won't be easy. However, the Gophers possess a defense that has had opponents trying to dig out of holes all season.
The Warriors have won 59 consecutive regular season games since a a 17-3 loss to Plainview-Elgin-Millville in the 2011 season opener. Caledonia (4-0, 3-0) is also riding a 45-game overall win streak, which spans the last three and a half seasons, and the team has shown little to no signs of weaknesses through four weeks of this year. The Warriors are scoring 46.5 points per game and allowing fewer than 3.3. An efficient run game is spearheaded by senior Nick McCabe, who leads the way with 593 yards and nine touchdowns while averaging 14.8 yards per carry. Senior Jack Beardmore aids with 317 rushing yards and four touchdowns — averaging 9.9 yards per carry.
The Gophers defense is allowing just 6.5 points and 25.8 rushing yards per game this season, meaning the Warriors running game could be facing its most difficult test of the year.
On offense, Chatfield (4-0, 3-0) gives the ball to running backs Gage Tuohy and Carson Larrabee. The pair combined 368 yards and five touchdowns in a 42-13 win over Zumbrota-Mazeppa last Friday, and they may need a similar performance to keep the Gophers' record perfect through five games.