Weekly Recap: What We Learned From Week Two
The high school football season has kicked off to a thrilling start. There was plenty to happen in week two, but there were a few things that caught my eye. Russell Corrigan, TE/QB, Hutchinson is a very good football player…
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Continue ReadingThe high school football season has kicked off to a thrilling start. There was plenty to happen in week two, but there were a few things that caught my eye.
Russell Corrigan, TE/QB, Hutchinson is a very good football player on a very good football team.
Photo by Ryan Kastenschmidt (crow river media)
On Friday night against Becker, Hutchinson QB/TE/LB Russell Corrigan made his early season argument to be Mr. Football. The Boise State commit and Hutchinson took down Becker in a thrilling contest. The Tigers took down the Bulldogs 16-13 behind a dominating performance from their QB. Corrigan who has been recruited to play as a tight end at the next level- has spent his senior at quarterback in Hutchinson’s first two games. Against Becker, Corrigan finished with a very versatile stat line of 5/6 passing for 96 yards- to go along with 14 carries, 61 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground. That comes out to 141 yards through the air and 99 on the ground, paired with five total touchdowns through the first two games of the season. As well as being the focal point of the offense, he has also taking on the punting duties this season. Corrigan has proved that he is the most versatile player in Minnesota. Hutchinson has quite the beast to go through in hopes of winning the class 4A state championship, but if anyone can beat SMB at the 4A level it will be Hutchinson.
Pierz won over Paynesville and RB Matthias Algarin is also a very good football player on a very good football team.
Pierz vs. Paynesville was on my week two matchups of the week where you can read . Pierz’ senior leader Matthias Algarin came to play in their big matchup. Algarin already holds offers to Nebraska and South Dakota State, and there might be more coming after his performance Friday. The talented “do-it-all” offensive weapon finished with 80 rushing yards, 82 receiving yards, and 2 total touchdowns on only 10 touches. Along with the offensive production Matthias had two kick returns on special teams which he turned into 41 yards. Pierz made sure to utilize Algarin’s production- in route to taking down one of the best 2A programs in the state Paynesville 32-28. This was arguably Pierz’ toughest matchup of the year- so an undefeated regular season is on the table for the Pioneers. They still has to go through very good Waseca and Rochester Lourdes teams, but the Pioneers definitely showed they’re legit in week two.
Could SMB compete at the 5A level?
By this point everyone should know that SMB has division-one talent all over the field. They are obviously lead by two-sport athlete Jalen Suggs at QB, surrounded by the consensus number one recruit in Minnesota LB/TE Kaden Johnson, talented DB Trevon Howard, and ATH Terry Lockett round out their star players. You can read more about SMB in my season preview of the defending class 4A State champs here.
The Wolfpack have not been challenged at all through the first two weeks of the season. They had a dominating performance over Columbia Heights winning 35-7 week one, where Suggs had a game clinching interception (you can find the video in my week one recap here). They continued their dominance by putting a 50 burger on Spectrum winning 51-16. Jalen was dominant in their week two matchup putting up 121 total yards, and two total touchdowns.
Photo from: (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
SMB has won almost effortlessly to start 2019, which begs the question… Would the 4A State champs be able to compete at the 5A level? If there was any season that they would be able to I think it would be now. 5A has no dominant team, but they do have Owatonna, and St. Thomas Academy who have proved to be dominant programs. I think SMB’s combination of talent and experience would give them a serious chance to compete at the 5A level. Their experience would make me honestly believe that they would win the 5A State Championship if they were playing in that class. They have played in the big games, and their whole roster has three of four years of varsity experience at least. This question is obviously just a fun hypothetical that we will never know, but we do know that SMB has talent we have never seen at the 4A level before.
Minneapolis North still runs class 2A, and Terrance Kamara is a VERY good running back.
Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine
Minneapolis North had a big matchup this week against cross-town rival Minneapolis Southwest. The Polars had a STATEMENT performance, winning 19-7 over Minneapolis Southwest. Minneapolis North has historically dominated Class 2A, and this season might be no different. They were carried by arguably the best performance of the year from running back Terrance Kamara. The junior finished with 29 carries for a ridiculous 234 yards and touchdown on the ground. Kamara out-dueled fellow all-state running back TK Marshall. Kamara’s coming out party gives him an argument to be the best running back in the city of Minneapolis. As a team the Polars look dominant as usual and barring injury you should expect a deep playoff run from the storied program. North will have to go through Caldedonia and Paynesville if they want to win the 2A State Championship, but there is no doubt that we will be seeing them play late into the season.