VERNDALE -- Only six football teams in the entire state get to end their seasons with victories, but Stan Olson's LeRoy-Ostrander Cardinals will not be one of them.

The fifth-ranked Cardinals had their season come to a close with a 28-13 state 9-man quarterfinal loss at Verndale Friday afternoon, but the defeat also ended the 31-year coaching career of Olson.

Olson established LeRoy-Ostrander as a program to be reckoned with, especially in southern Minnesota. He finished with a career record of 222-91 and a winning percentage of .709.

"We had to lose eventually unless we made it all the way," Olson said after Friday's loss to second-ranked Verndale. "I'm content. It would've been nice to go back to the Dome."

L-O defeated Grand Meadow for its fourth consecutive Section 1 title and state berth. Olson guided the Cardinals to state in 11 of his 31 seasons, including two championship game appearances. LeRoy-Ostrander was runner-up to Chokio-Alberta in 1993 and Cromwell in 1995. Their last trip to the semifinals at the Metrodome was in 1996.

"I've coached some wonderful players over the years," Olson said. "I hope I've brought a lot of pride to the people of these two communities and tradition to the football program.

"If I had a legacy, that'd be it."

Olson's final home game in LeRoy was a 49-34 Section 1 finals victory over rival Grand Meadow. The two programs have provided area football fans with plenty of fireworks over the years.