Minnesota’s Top-25 Individual Performances from Week 8
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To cap off an exhilarating 2022 fall season we unsurprisingly had a phenomenal Week 8 finale to the regular season in the Great State of Minnesota filled with rivalry matchups, OT finishes and solidified playoff seeding, as well as some…
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Continue ReadingTo cap off an exhilarating 2022 fall season we unsurprisingly had a phenomenal Week 8 finale to the regular season in the Great State of Minnesota filled with rivalry matchups, OT finishes and solidified playoff seeding, as well as some unfortunate extracurriculars. Back when I was playing MN high school football, we called it MEA break, and although I’m not sure if it’s still referred to as that I still remember that those Wednesday games and the long weekend were well anticipated and well-needed after eight weeks of competition and contact. To end the regular season shenanigans we had some of our best top-end performances from individual performers we’ve seen all season, with multiple school records set and some eye-popping touchdown numbers that will be sure to intrigue our readers. I was also impressed with some personal defensive games, and there was also a strong batch of three-phase contributors and balanced stat lines coming from all sides of the football. Find out who finished as Minnesota’s Top-25 Week 8 individual performers below and thank you for reading!
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1) Bart McAninch (Mankato West) Junior. QB. – The fantastic Scarlets junior set a new Mankato West record with 7 passing TDs in a 54-0 win over crosstown East. On the night he was 14-20 for 296 yards and 7 passing TDs plus a rushing TD to boot.
2) Anthony Powell (Rogers) Senior. RB. – The Preseason 5A First Team All-State RB had a massive night against Moorhead and finished with 365 all-purpose yards and 6 TDs, five rushing and one as a kick return. Rogers won in a 58-41 thriller.
3) Cole Hentges (Sartell–St. Stephen) Senior. QB. – In a big win over Brainerd, Hentges broke multiple school records as he went 14-18 for 389 yards and 5 TDs through the air. He also rushed four times for 53 yards and returned a punt for 42 yards. New single-game passing yards and TD marks were set.
4) Max McEnelly (Waconia) Senior. RB. – The Gopher wrestling commit had 12 carries for 230 yards and 6 TDs in a beatdown of Holy Angels.
5) Tate Link (Dassel-Cokato) Senior. RB/LB. – In a thrilling 33-29 victory over New London-Spicer the senior stat-monster rushed for 247 yards and 5 TDs on 38 carries. Link is the state rushing leader in carries, yards, and touchdowns.
6) Kaden Vig (Kittson County Central) Senior. DE. The senior stat monster was a big part of KCC’s 30-22 victory over Goodridge-Grygla-Gatzke as he totaled 18 tackles, 3 TFLs, 2.5 sacks along with two catches for 36 yards and one rush for 9 yards.
7) Tyler Walden (Eden Prairie) Senior. RB. – 4 TDs and 175 rushing yards against Stillwater in one of the biggest matchup from the regular season finale.
8) Levi Pooley (Fairmont) 2024. WR. – Posted 11 catches for 156 yards and 3 TDs in a tough 14-point win over Blue Earth.
9) Caden Rodkewich (St. Anthony Village) Senior. QB. – The 6’2 senior and his Huskies are rolling and in a win against Brooklyn Center and Rodkewich went 18-28 for 361 yards and 7 TDs and rushed four times for 57 yards and another TD for good measure.
10) Koi Perich (Esko) Junior. LB/RB. – The most recent Golden Gopher in-state offeree totaled 3 TDs on 6 touches with another TD called back and six tackles and a forced fumble as Esko beat up on Duluth East.
11) Aidan Jahns (Rochester Lourdes) Senior. ATH. – In a 35-14 victory over Lake City the 6’3, 185 lber. scored two touchdowns, recorded an interception, and was 5/5 on PATs as a kicker. Solid three-phase performance.
12) Noah Strickfaden (Norwood Young America) Senior. QB. – Strickfaden is having a fantastic senior season and balled out against LeSueur–Henderson to the tune of 15-20 for 271 yards and 5 TDs to no interceptions in the dominant win.
13) Landyn Nelson (Andover) Senior. QB. – The 2022 breakout star had another good showing against Cambridge-Isanti and completed 14 passes on 20 completions for 220 yards and 3 TDs and added 10 rushes for 98 yards and 2 TDs with his 6’3, 215 lb. legs.
14) Nick Walter (Annandale) Junior. QB/LB. – In a 35-6 win over Litchfield, Walter was 9-15 for 231 yards and 3 TDs and added four carries for 40 yards and another TD on the ground. Also added an interception on defense.
15) Anthony Sykora (West Central Area/Ashby) Senior. ATH. – In a smackdown of Underwood the senior two-sport standout rushed for 267 yards and a TD, was 1-1 for 45 yards and a passing TD, and caught 2 passes for 35 yards and a TD. Also added five tackles for good measure.
16) Beau Wiersma (Kingsland) Junior. RB. – The explosive Kingsland offense saw another big day from Wiersma as he tallied 20 carries for 211 yards and 4 TDs at a 10.6 YPC clip.
17) Jaxon Howard (Robbinsdale Cooper) Senior. DE/TE. – The LSU commit totaled 16 tackles, one rush for six yards, and a 38-yard TD reception in a tight loss to Benilde-St. Margaret’s.
18) Westin Hoyt (Forest Lake) Junior. ATH. – Posted 7 receptions for 175 yards and a TD as well as 8 tackles defensively in a tough loss to Lakeville North.
19) Richlu Tudee (Champlin Park) Senior. ATH. – The fastest high schooler in MN went off to the tune of 19 carries for 210 yards and 2 TDs as Champlin Park took down Anoka in the season finale.
20) Nathan Burkhardsmeier (New Prague) Senior. RB/LB. – The 6′ Trojan posted 18 carries for 144 yards and 3 TDs plus seven tackles defensively as New Prague beat Red Wing by three touchdowns.
21) Maxwell Woods (Chanhassen) Junior. RB. – The prolific 2024 RB had another big night in a win against Jefferson and totaled 25 touches for 211 yards and 3 TDs plus two tackles and a PBU defensively.
22) Alex Riley (Waconia) Senior. RB. – The Waconia senior rushed for 175 yards and 3 TDs and added 8 tackles in a drubbing of the AHA Stars.
23) AJ Donovan (La Crescent-Hokah) Junior. QB/K. – In a win against Pine Island, Donovan was 26-37 for for 312 yards and 3 TDs to two INTs and was 6-6 on PATs as well.
24) Hunter Neubarth (Norwood Young America) Senior. WR. – Caught 10 passes for 181 yards and 2 TDs as Norwood Young America beat LeSueur–Henderson 60-17.
25) Joseph Randle (St. Anthony Village) Senior. WR. – Aided his productive QB and caught five passes for 128 yards and 2 TDs against Brooklyn Center.
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