Sitting at the microphone at the press conference Mountain Iron-Buhl’s 26-20 loss On Thursday at Hills-Beaver Creek at U.S. Bank Stadium, Rangers head coach Dan Zubich was asked if his team was ready for a close game after a season of blowouts.

Zubich took the opportunity to address critics who accused him of running up the score against opponents throughout the season. The Rangers averaged 66 points per game throughout the season, scoring over 90 points once, 80 twice and over 70 points twice.

“It’s terrible,” he said. “You have guys who were taken early and didn’t play. Everybody says, ‘Oh, fire the coach.’ ‘They run up the score, that’s all they do.’ ”

Zubich said starters rarely play much in the second half.

“Our running back only carries it three times, the quarterback only carries it twice,” he said. “Tell me how I raised the score. I’m tired of hearing this whiny stuff. How to get 91 points? You can get 91 points if you are not captured at all. “We’re playing entire second halves in a row and still getting it done.”

Becker coach Dwight Lundeen talked about returning to U.S. Bank Stadium after crushing defeats the last two years.

Last season, Becker lost to Rocori in the group play-offs after eliminating the Spartans in the regular season.

Two years ago, the Bulldogs suffered a two-point loss to Rocori in the final minute.