Everything coming together for close-knit Southland football team

Oct. 30—ADAMS — It was Week 3, a 22-20 win over perennial Class A power Fillmore Central that did it. That's when Southland — long mired in football mediocrity — realized that this season was going to be different. The Rebels really had something here. "At the beginning of the season, I think that people were kind of doubting us," said junior standout running back Cael Smith, whose team hadn't had a winning season since the COVID-19 shortened 2020 campaign when it finished 3-2. "But that win over Fillmore Central, that put us above what people were expecting from us this year." Southland hasn't stopped impressing since that Sept. 11 game. Now, it takes a 7-1 record into Saturday's Section 1, Class 1A semifinal game against fifth-seeded Lewiston-Altura (1-8). That game is scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m. in Adams. The winner advances to the section championship game on Friday, Nov. 6 at Dover-Eyota High School. It's been quite a season for the Rebels. They've lapped up every bit of it. "It has been a blast this year," said Smith, a lightning-quick and tough runner who's rushed for 825 yards and seven touchdowns (also 18 catches for 197 yards and a TD) this season and is already a three-year starter at running back. "We had a feeling when we went to some summer (football) camps that we had a really good group of guys. It's a group that always brings a great attitude and is really fun to be around." Southland finished 5-5 the last two seasons. But hope was created over this past winter. That's when its boys basketball team turned in its best season ever. The Rebels, loaded with quality athletes, carved out a 29-3 season and reached the state tournament for the first time in program history. A number of players from that basketball team also play football. They've brought that same winning vibe with them to this football season. "That just showed that anything is possible," said star Southland quarterback Henry Wiste, also a member of that standout basketball team. "We think we can be very good in basketball again; we'll have five starters back." Among them is Wiste, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound senior. Wiste is completely locked into the football season right now and is having a dream season. He's completed 71 of 101 passes for 931 yards, nine touchdowns and just four interceptions. He can also run with the ball. He has 347 yards on the ground with nine touchdowns. Now in his third year as a starting quarterback, Wiste is playing at an all-time high, according to Southland coach JJ Galle. Wiste has always had a big arm and can throw the ball nearly 60 yards. But it's his understanding of all that is going on around him that has put him at a different level. "When you are younger, you want to show that arm off," said the 44-year old Galle, in his fifth year as Southland's head coach and 22nd year in the program overall. "But we run a spread option offense and he's gotten really good at reading his keys. He went for over 100 yards rushing against New Richland. It's the diversity of who we can give the ball to that is really helping." Last year was Southland's first season back in 11-man football after playing the previous six in 9-Player. Galle said he enjoyed 9-Player, but he does get special satisfaction out of coaching in 11-man. "I do really enjoy 11-man football," said Galle, who guides the Southland defense. "I really like the competitiveness of it. I've been coaching against (Fillmore Central's) Chris Mensink since the day I got here. It's felt good to come back and coach against him again." Galle does love coaching. He compares it to an addiction. He just can't imagine himself ever staying away. That's despite the fact that not every season has gone like this one. "It's not always fun," he said. "You have some Friday nights when you're not in a good mood over what just happened. But when you get a chance to inspire young men to be great, give excitement to the town and see the impact that you can have, that's what keeps you going." Galle, who said he learned a lot by being a longtime assistant to former Southland coach Shawn Kennedy, has some general philosophies that he wants his player to live by when it comes to playing football. At the very top is to appreciate each other and the game. "Before every game we talk to the boys about playing with energy and enthusiasm," Galle said. "We tell them to love each other, love the game and respect your opponent. Everything we do is for each other. We have to keep that up."