Missing Rings
Class 6A: St Michael-Albertville Knights The Knights finished the 2018 season with a 7-4 record, making it to the State Quarter Finals. Averaging 25 points a game while giving up 19 points a game, the Knights was one of the…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingClass 6A: St Michael-Albertville Knights
The Knights finished the 2018 season with a 7-4 record, making it to the State Quarter Finals. Averaging 25 points a game while giving up 19 points a game, the Knights was one of the few low-scoring, defensive teams in class 6A. Their 2019 season seems promising, returning players like:
Defensive Back: Kale Hoselton– tall, lengthy ball-hawk safety. Good vertical along with a pretty good set of hands.
Offensive Lineman: Everett Sunvold– quick-footed, strong tackle. Young with plenty of potential, shown he can pull and lead up the hole, always finds a defender to block.
St. Michael-Albertville has had State tournament runs in both Class 5A and 6A, but ultimately run into the teams that end up being the the runner-up or champion. They have a great chance to have a breakout season at any time.
Class 5A: Chaska Hawks
The Hawks finished the 2018 season with an 8-4 record, making an appearance in the State Tournament scoring 27 points a game while giving up 17 points agame. The key players the Hawks will return in 2019 include:
Linebacker/Running Back: Stevo Klotz– long, lengthy and quick linebacker, stays home and does his job on defense. On offense, shows some great speed and gets North and South real quick.
Offensive/Defensive Lineman: Max Lommel– Good lineman frame, good strength. On defense he reads, has a great motor and never gives up on the play. On offense he is a good pull blocker.
Chaska has had many winning seasons in the recent past, they are in a tough section which is why they have less state appearances than other teams. If the Hawks make the State tournament, they could win the Prep Bowl.
Class 4A: Marshall Tigers
The Tigers finished the 2018 season an 8-2 record, averaging 42 points a game while giving up 10 points a game. The Tigers showed they can put up points in a hurry, while their defense showed it shouldn’t be slept on. The players that will return for them in the 2019 season are:
Linebacker/Running Back: Brayden Hilgemann– Good Linebacker frame, shows great defensive instinct, keeps contain when blitzing from the outside.
Offensive/Defensive Lineman: Jackson Vierstrate– Great strength and technique, uses his size and speed to his advantage. Great dual blocker (pass and run), alsofights off blocks and tackles through the ball-carrier.
The Tigers also find themselves in a tough section, have made the State tournament a few times in recent history, but injuries have seemed to end their seasons more than anything else. If they can stay healthy throughout the whole season, they may find themselves bringing home the Prep Bowl.
Class 3A: New London-Spicer Wildcats
The Wildcats finished the 2018 season at 9-2, they averaged 39 points a game while giving up 15 points a game. The Wildcats love to sling the ball downfield and put up points early. The players that will return for 2019 are:
Defensive End/Tight End: Jacob Holmen– Great size and speed. Shows good blocking technique and can be a vertical passing threat. On defense, he shows strength and good field awareness.
Linebacker/Fullback: Tim Thein– Strength and awareness. Reads the play and reacts quickly, has a nose for the football in pass/run defense, good tackler. On offense, he doesn’t shy away from contact, being young and undersized.
New London-Spicer also has great success in the regular season, usually falls in the Section final game to another very tough team. If they ever get passed it, they will make a deep run for a Prep Bowl.
Class 2A: Moose Lake-Willow River Rebels
The Rebels finished the 2018 season 8-3, averaging 25 points a game while giving up 19 points a game, the Rebels run-dominant offense and stellar defense has gotten them many appearances in the State tournament. The key players they will bring back for the 2019 season are:
Defensive Back/Running Back: Eli Werner– Speed and awareness. He shows great patience and lets the play develop, then finds open space.
Offensive Lineman: Keegan Noyes– Size and drive. He is bigger than most typical high school lineman, he knows how to use it to his advantage. Drives defenders off the ball to open up seams for his running backs.
Moose Lake-Willow River has made the State tournament many times, but the Prep Bowl has always evaded them. They always seem to find the State Champion almost every year early in the tournament. If they find a way to get to the Final game they have a great chance to bring a Title home.
Class 1A: BOLD Warriors
The Warriors finished the 2018 season 13-1 their only loss coming in the Prep Bowl. They averaged 52 points a game while giving up 8 points a game. Proving to be a solid team on both sides of the ball to get them far in the playoffs, the player they will return in 2019 is:
Defensive Back/Quarterback Jordan Sagedahl– Great athleticism and touch. He has shown a great arm that can throw the ball all over the yard and has the touch to fit the ball in tight windows. On defense he is a ball-hawking defensive back with a good set of hands.
BOLD has had great success in every season in both Class 1A and 2A, but like many other teams on this list, they run into a great team early in the playoffs or has one play not go their way in the Championship game and just miss the title. If they can get up early in those big games, they would increase their chance of a Prep Bowl.
9-Man: Houston Hurricanes
The Hurricanes finished the 2018 season 9-2, losing to State Champion Spring Grove twice. They averaged 35 points a game while giving up 20 points a game. The key players they will return in 2019 are:
Defensive End/Fullback: Joey Fishel– Size and toughness. He has a big frame for a 9-man team and will throw his weight around to get himself in the end zone. Muscles through both tacklers and blockers to wreak havoc on the field.
Houston is in the toughest 9-man section in the State, their section has had the Prep Bowl Champion every year since 2013 in both Grand Meadow and Spring Grove. If they are able to knock both of them off in Sections, they should find themselves a Prep Bowl Title as well.