PHOTOS: After Heartbreak in Rogers, St. Michael-Albertville Football Now Waits

Nearly a week after its 38-37 overtime loss to Rogers on the Royals' home field, the St. Michael-Albertville football squad will play spectator tonight as they await their opponent for Saturday afternoon. 

The Knights (7-1), coming off their best regular season in coach Jared Essler's three seasons at the helm, will take on No. 3 Willmar or No. 6 Buffalo in the Section 7-5A semifinals at STMA Middle School West field at 3 p.m. That much is for sure. 

The Cardinal have a potent offense through the air, and the Central Lakes Conference co-champs have surrendered just 19 points per game, making them the favorite in tonight's matchup. 

However, Buffalo has used a young defense in two regular season wins to pull through, making tonight's matchup more than a formality. 

For Essler, last Wednesday's loss, which came on an incompletion in overtime on his play call, was just the end to the first chapter of what he hopes can be a storybook season. 

"You compete hard and you want to be conference champions, but we're focused on the new season. It starts Saturday with a home game, and that's what we'll plan for this week," Essler said. "Look, this was a great game. Rogers is a great team and it's nights like this that make you compete at a high level. But our team is going to be ready to hopefully come back here and play these guys again and walk out with a win." 

That would mean the Knights' first 5A State Tournament birth, and a chance to play on either TCF Bank Field or in the Metrodome one final time next month. 

"We think we have the team to do it," Essler said. "We're in good shape. Our offense is making plays. We need to do some things better defensively, but we know those are things we can work on this week to get ready for Saturday." 

A reminder that regular season passes are not honored at MSHSL Section playoff games. Students and adults will need to buy tickets via the activities office at the high school or at the gate for Saturday's tilt, no matter the opponent. 

Look for broadcast information later this week on St. Michael Patch.