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Today’s edition · Sat., Nov. 7

Mankato West football heads back to the state tournament

Plus, Dave's Hot Chicken has a Nov. 20 opening date on Madison Avenue.

The Daily Mankato team2 stories15 sources4 min read

Prep SportsTop story

Mankato West beats Waconia 21-⁠14 to win the Section 2AAAAA football title

Mankato West held off Waconia in the section final

  • Waconia14
    Mankato West21
    FinalSection 2AAAAA championship, played in Chaska

Sources: Mankato Free Press, KEYC News Now

If you bleed scarlet, mark your calendar: Mankato West is headed to the state tournament. The top-seeded Scarlets beat Waconia 21-14 on Friday in the Section 2AAAAA championship. The game was moved to Chaska because of field conditions at Todnem Field.

West opened with 11 straight rushing plays and a four-yard touchdown by quarterback Osborne Lorenz. Lorenz scored again on an eight-yard scramble, and Evan Senske caught a 41-yard touchdown pass, the only pass West threw in the first half. Waconia scored with 1:35 left, but West recovered the onside kick. "This means everything," senior Hudson Clarksean said.

Lorenz ran for 156 of West's 275 rushing yards

Source: Mankato Free Press

View as table
Value
Scarlets team275 yds
Osborne Lorenz156 yds
  • Next up: state quarterfinal Sat., Nov. 14; opponent and site set Saturday
  • Section title games: West has played in 20 of the last 22
  • Waconia's record: 8-2

Asked

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Asked

Do you plan to catch a Scarlets state game?

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Gifts for retirees, students, and healthy living

Food & Drink

Dave's Hot Chicken is set to open Nov. 20 in the old Hardee's on Madison Avenue

If you've watched the flashy paint job go up at the former Hardee's on Madison Avenue, here's your date: Dave's Hot Chicken is set to open Friday, Nov. 20. The chain serves Nashville-style hot chicken tenders, bites and sliders. Aluminum souvenir cups go to the first guests, too.

Dave's brings seven heat levels to Madison Avenue

12th
Dave's Hot Chicken in Minnesota
7
levels of heat, from no-spice to "Reaper"
100
first customers get free slider cards

Sources: Mankato Free Press, keyc.com

Two other local comebacks are in final prep. A combined Jimmy John's and Baskin Robbins is preparing to open on Webster Avenue near Highway 169 in North Mankato. And Sol Mexican Restaurant & Grill, at 2041 Blazing Star Drive, where Los dos Primos closed this summer, goes before the Mankato City Council on Monday for a liquor license.

  • Dave's sneak peek: Wed., Nov. 18, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m.
  • Sol's liquor license: $4,960, plus a $500 investigation fee
  • Nearest Baskin Robbins now: Owatonna, 45 miles away

Three dates to know for the new restaurants

  1. Nov. 9Mankato City Council has Sol Mexican's liquor license application before it.
  2. Nov. 18Dave's Hot Chicken holds a sneak peek event.
  3. Nov. 20Dave's Hot Chicken is set to open on Madison Avenue.

Sources: Mankato Free Press, keyc.com

News Notes

Mavericks soccer

If you follow Minnesota State women's soccer, it was a long night. The Mavericks led 2-1 in the first half, Northern State tied it 3-3 in regulation, and after two overtimes Minnesota State won a 13-round shootout 9-8. They play Bemidji State for the NSIC championship Sunday at 1 p.m. KEYC News NowMankato Free Press

9-8Minnesota State's 13-round shootout win over Northern State

The Mavericks advance to the NSIC championship against Bemidji State on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Sources: KEYC News Now, Mankato Free Press

Section champs

Waseca beat TCU 28-24 in the Section 3AAA football title game to earn a spot at state. WEM repeated as Section 2AA champs. In volleyball, Sleepy Eye St. Mary's beat Cleveland 3-0 Thursday in St. Peter, and the Knights are on to state. KEYC News NowKEYC News NowMy KLGRNew Ulm Journal

Winter shelter

The Salvation Army shelter switched to winter hours this week: open 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you need a place overnight, contact spots like . Local shelter leaders say they're bracing for a long winter. KEYC News Now

Sharing Tree

The starts its 41st year Nov. 12, with gift cards due Dec. 13, and aims to provide gifts to more than 1,500 people in Blue Earth and Nicollet counties. Giving trees will be at sites in Mankato, North Mankato and St. Peter, and each envelope lists a recipient's first name, age and a gift card suggestion. KEYC News Now

Downtown trees

If you drive downtown, expect possible temporary lane closures starting Monday while the city removes 25 ash trees infested with , most along or near South 2nd Street between East Cherry Street and East Main Street. The work should take one to two weeks, depending on weather. Mankato Free Press

Home

Two home kitchen upgrades under $24 while sales last: super-absorbent dish towels that come in an eight-pack and include a hanging loop, and a water-absorbing stone sponge holder that’s minimalist, compact, and keeps counters and sponges dry with natural diatomite stone.

Trending

Your wardrobe is begging for these two fall footwear essentials on sale for a limited time: a sturdy, versatile chelsea boot in your choice of faux leather or suede, and the perfect home moccasin that will keep your feet cozy against cold floors all winter.

Play

New crosswords, Sudoku and themed word searches land at 6 a.m. with the newsletter. Play today’s before the coffee is gone.

Content marked with an * is advertising.

Asked

Tap an answer to see how Mankato answered.

Asked

Which new Mankato-area spot are you trying first?

Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

All 13 games

Quoted

Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.

— Cesar A. Cruz

Things to Do

Things to Do

Mankato, MN

Saturday, Nov. 7

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Real Estate

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The Buy

The Wrap

Ever wonder what happens behind the mechanic's garage doors? At South Central College in North Mankato, auto collision and service students now get in-class time with the high-tech driver assist diagnostic and repair equipment they'll use after graduation. The systems give step-by-step repair instructions and a post-repair check. Once the systems are fully instituted into a garage, they help with repairs.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Sleepy Eye St. Mary's heads to state; deer sampling is mandatory

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Every source in this edition15 links · 7 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. Mankato Free Pressmankatofreepress.com
  3. KEYC News Nowkeyc.com
  4. Mankato Free Pressmankatofreepress.com
  5. keyc.comkeyc.com
  6. KEYC News Nowkeyc.com
  7. Mankato Free Pressmankatofreepress.com
  8. KEYC News Nowkeyc.com
  9. KEYC News Nowkeyc.com
  10. My KLGRmyklgr.com
  11. New Ulm Journalnujournal.com
  12. KEYC News Nowkeyc.com
  13. KEYC News Nowkeyc.com
  14. Mankato Free Pressmankatofreepress.com
  15. Mankato events calendardailymankato.com

Past issues

  1. Fri., Nov. 6Sleepy Eye St. Mary's heads to state; deer sampling is mandatory
  2. Thurs., Nov. 5Crusaders head to state; Texas Roadhouse eyes Mankato
  3. Wed., Nov. 4Loyola's boiler dispute and a Nov. 15 international festival
  4. Tues., Nov. 3North Mankato eyes a 2.75% tax rate increase; Texas Roadhouse plans filed
  5. Mon., Nov. 2MSU men's hockey ties Lake Superior State 2-2, and the Lakers take the shootout point
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Daily Mankatoto me · Sat., Nov. 76:00 a.m.

Mankato West football heads back to the state tournament

Plus, Dave's Hot Chicken has a Nov. 20 opening date on Madison Avenue.

The TLDR

  1. Mankato West beats Waconia 21-14 and heads to state
  2. Dave's Hot Chicken is set to open Nov. 20
  3. MSU women's soccer plays for the NSIC title Sunday
Read this edition

More stories this week

From Daily Mankato’s other editions

All the news
High School SportsSleepy Eye St. Mary's sweeps Cleveland for its first Section 2A volleyball titleIf you follow area volleyball, here's Thursday's big one. Sleepy Eye St. Mary's swept Cleveland in the Section 2A championship in St. Peter. It's the Knights' first section title ever.Friday’s editionRead High School SportsThe Crusaders are headed to Class A state for a fourth straight yearIf you follow the Crusaders, KEYC reports they're set for a fourth straight Class A state appearance after a third consecutive Section 2A championship. Ingstad Media's state qualifier list includes the Mankato Loyola-Cleveland-St. Clair girls team and the boys' Griffin Ruiz.Thursday’s editionRead City HallNorth Mankato's council is ready to propose a 2.75% property tax rate increase for 2027If you own a home in North Mankato, here's your 2027 number. The council is prepared to propose a 2.75% rate increase. The 2027 levy would be $11,521,700, up $1,294,700, or 12.66%, from 2026. Finance Director Jessica Ryan wrote that it's important to distinguish between the levy increase and the tax-rate increase, and she pointed to the city's growing tax base.Tuesday’s editionRead

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