The Staples-Motley football team is returning to the state championship after nearly 40 years

On By Littum

MN HS ​​football team goes to state for the first time in 40 years

The Staples-Motley High School football team will be standing for the first time in 40 years.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – A central Minnesota school is headed back to the state championship game for the first time in nearly 40 years. And the entire city plans to support the high school at US Bank Stadium on Friday.

The history of the team

The last time the Staples-Motley High School football team went to the state championship was in 1988. Just two seasons ago, the team went 0 and 9. Now they are 12 and 0 in hopes of bringing home the state title.

“It’s been a dream since I was really young to get a state championship,” junior runner Connor Kuhns said.

That dream could become a reality for junior star soccer player Kuhns on Friday. Being on the undefeated Staples-Motley high school football team, he is excited to head for the state championship. He currently plays running back, safety and corner. As a freshman, he remembers losing every match.

“That was it. It was tough there at first. It’s just how far we’ve come. It’s just amazing,” Kuhns said.

How far they have come is an understatement.

“I didn’t know it was going to happen this quickly and I knew we were going to have the talent,” head coach Drew Potter said.

On the road to the state championship

Head Coach Potter transformed his players from walking home to walking onto the field at US Bank Stadium within three seasons. Now, Staples-Motley High School and the local community are rallying behind the football team.

“I went into town earlier today to pick up my brother and everywhere I went people were congratulating me,” Kuhns said.

The congratulations don’t stop there.

“Our fan and community support has been fabulous. The amount of people that have traveled to our postseason games, this community has rallied around us and that’s it. It’s a special time right now,” Potter said.

Now Kuhns will prepare for the special moment.

“I’ve seen two games of film so far this weekend and I’m resting and drinking lots of water. Otherwise, undo everything,” Kuhns said.

Kuhns hopes his nerves will fade when he takes the field to play Jackson County Central on Friday. One of the teams will go to Thanksgiving with a championship title at the dinner table.