​Nov. 13—ZUMBROTA — Darin Raasch has dragged through some lean, dreary seasons as the Zumbrota-Mazeppa football coach.The Z-M head man since 2015, Raasch’s teams have gone a cumulative 44-68 in his 12 years in charge. That includes back-to-back 1-8 seasons in 2021 and ’22, and an 0-4 COVID-19-shortened season in 2020.Tough, dark, character-testing times.That’s why when the 51-year-old Raasch reflects on Z-M’s star quarterback Hadyn Boraas being able to take a knee late in the evening on Nov. 6, allowing the clock to run out with an 8-7 win secured over rival Pine Island in the Section 1, Class 3A championship game, Raasch got emotional.”I’m a crier,” he admits with no apologies.And it’s why three days later, in the course of an interview, he choked up again as he relived that magical moment. Not only did Boraas’ taking a knee indicate his team had improved to a stellar 10-1 overall, the Cougars’ second straight winning season, that moment also included the realization that the Z-M football team had accomplished something even bigger.It was headed to the state tournament for the first time in 30 years.At noon Saturday in Apple Valley, Raasch’s unranked Cougars will take on No. 8-ranked Waseca in the Class 3A state quarterfinals.Raasch couldn’t be more thankful and proud of what this season has brought.”I’ve seen both sides of this (over the years),” said Raasch, as he choked back tears. “But winning the section is so enjoyable because I remember the two-win seasons and the one-win seasons. Those kids worked hard, too, but they didn’t see the success.”Members of those losing teams are seeing the wins now and are basking in it. Raasch said he has gotten countless congratulatory notes from former players who mired through the muck of continuous losing, only to see Z-M go 7-3 last year and then bump that to 10-1 this one, with a trip to state on the way.They are cherishing it. And Raasch and all of those connected to this Zumbrota-Mazeppa team are cherishing it along with them.”We’ve got a team that is not like any other that I’ve ever been a part of,” said Boraas, a Minnesota Vikings All-Star game selection who plays quarterback and linebacker and has passed for 1,586 yards and 16 touchdowns and rushed for 596 yards and 12 TDs. “Our guys care so much about each other. It’s a brotherhood. Our people work hard because they don’t want to disappoint the guys next to them.”The Z-M motto this season is “All In.” Raasch has demanded that football be a total experience for the Cougars players, physically, emotionally and mentally. Raasch came up with that motto this pre-season, when he detected that this was indeed a special and incredibly invested group.They have not let him down. They have been going at it continuously in the weight room and in the gym with speed and agility training since last season ended. And then training through the summer, even on the hottest days.”We had a million guys coming in (to train) all summer,” said star Z-M running back