For the first time since 2020, Dodger Stadium will host a state playoff game, as St. Edmond welcomes in No. 9 Fremont-Mills for eight-player action.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

The Gaels (5-3 overall) earned the district runner-up spot thanks to a thrilling 24-20 victory over Kingsley-Pierson on the road last week.

“I feel like that was a culmination of everything we have been preaching since I got here eight years ago,” SEHS head coach Matt Dillon said. “We showed toughness, guts and grit. The guys really played incredible and it was great to see all of that come to fruition with a big win.”

St. Edmond lost to Madrid in the A first round back in 2020, 41-38, in a game that featured seven touchdowns in the second quarter alone.

This marks the 14th playoff appearance for the Gaels all-time, as they are 11-13 in the postseason. They made the state finals in 2013 and the semifinals the year after.

Dillon has won two state championships, both coming with Dowling in 2000 and ’01. Those were the first in school history, as they have won eight more since under Tom Wilson.

“It’s great that we get this playoff game at home,” Dillon said. “We went out and earned it with the win over Kingsley-Pierson last week.”

Ethan Swisher has thrown for over 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns, adding nearly 200 yards rushing on the season. Aaron Hindt, who went over 1,000 career rushing yards earlier this year, leads the team with 390 and six rushing scores to go along with four more receiving TDs and 234 yards.

Jakob Koopman and Grant Galles have formed a strong senior duo, catching 59 passes for 797 yards and 11 touchdowns. Galles also has scored on two interception returns and two punt returns, as Hindt has a kickoff return for a touchdown.

Coltin Fevold anchors the defense with 30 tackles, including 5.5 for loss, as Koleman Hanson has seven tackles for loss. As a team, the Gaels have recorded 13.5 sacks, 42 tackles for loss and forced 13 turnovers.

Fremont-Mills (6-2) has reeled off three consecutive wins since a 40-8 loss to fifth-ranked Audubon, blowing out East Mills, Stanton and Sidney by a combined score of 172-13.

The Knights are led by Sawyer Forney, as the senior has thrown for 839 yards and 15 touchdowns while adding 326 yards and eight scores on the ground. He is a three-year starter at quarterback, recording 58 career offensive TDs.

JW Linkenhoker is the leading receiver, catching 15 passes for 253 and four scores while Paxton Campbell is the top rusher with 432 yards. Three others have over 100 yards receiving and three more have over 100 yards rushing.

Linkenhoker has 51 tackles on defense, recording 8.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss. Gavin Crom has 6.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss as part of a unit with 33 sacks and 75 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

“Fremont-Mills is a very good team and has a lot of the same features on offense and defense as Kingsley-Pierson,” Dillon said. “We’ve had a good week of practice and our kids will be ready for everything.”

Fremont-Mills has also forced 21 turnovers, including 15 interceptions. Forney has seven of those picks and Sam Sanchez five.

Back in 2011, the Knights won the eight-player state title with an 81-0 victory over Murray, capping a 13-0 season. Since, they have recorded 13 winning seasons, including going 7-2 a year ago.

As a school, Fremont-Mills has made 17 postseason trips overall and 16 straight, going 26-15 during that time with a pair of runner-up finishes in 2014 and ’20.