Upsala-Swanville Area Wins Section 5-1A Title
Upsala-Swanville Area beat Benson 36-12 at the Fargodome to claim its third straight section championship and advance to the state quarterfinals.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Football
Upsala-Swanville Area defeated Benson 36-12 on Friday at the Fargodome to win the Minnesota Section 5-1A football championship. The Upsala-Swanville Area is now 10-0 and has won three consecutive section titles.
Why it matters
The win sends Upsala-Swanville Area into the MN Class 1A state quarterfinals and ends Benson's seven-game winning streak. Benson had previously lost 52-7 at home to the same opponent in early September.
Upsala-Swanville Area led 22-6 at halftime-period after Dalton Welinski's 21-yard touchdown run, and scored on its first five drives. Benson's Adrian Young scored on a 3-yard run to cut the lead to 22-12, and William Schafer's 23-yard run closed the scoring at 36-12.
The players
Upsala-Swanville Area
Upsala-Swanville Area is a Minnesota high school football program that has won three consecutive section championships and is undefeated this season.
Benson
Benson is a Minnesota high school football program whose seven-game winning streak ended in the section championship loss.
The details
Benson drove 24 plays from its own 18-yard line to the Upsala-Swanville Area 6-yard line before halftime without scoring a point. A bad snap on a second-and-goal play, which included a 10-yard penalty, pushed Benson back to the 32-yard line.
Timeline
Early September: Benson lost 52-7 at home to Upsala-Swanville Area.
Friday: Upsala-Swanville Area defeated Benson 36-12 for the section championship.
Season Trajectory
The rematch narrowed the margin from 52-7 in early September to 36-12 in the section final, a 24-point difference after a 45-point one. Upsala-Swanville Area's third straight section title keeps it on course for the state tournament, while Benson's loss ends its seven-game run.
Upsala-Swanville Area advances to the MN Class 1A state quarterfinals, and its 10-0 record keeps it in contention for the state title. Benson's first loss in its winning streak ends its postseason hopes at the section level.
The takeaway
Upsala-Swanville Area's three straight section championships show sustained program strength, while Benson's late-season setback underscores how quickly a winning streak can end in playoff play.
Further reading
Explore more Minnesota high school football coverage for playoff and state tournament updates.
Source note: This article includes information reported by INFORUM.
