Prep Bowl XL Preview
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In preparation for the final weekend of the Minnesota high school football season, check out this quick breakdown of each championship match-up – where each team is strong and who are the key players to watch. I took the rankings…
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Continue ReadingIn preparation for the final weekend of the Minnesota high school football season, check out this quick breakdown of each championship match-up – where each team is strong and who are the key players to watch. I took the rankings of opponents from the final Star Tribune media poll.
Friday
Class A
Springfield (11-2) biggest win over #3 Deer River 54-30 in the state semi-finals
The defense held teams to single digits six times and under twenty points eight times.
Tigers players to watch
Ashtin Johnson Ashtin Johnson 5'11" | 180 lbs | RB Springfield | 2023 MN RB
Macoy Krick Macoy Krick 6'0" | 195 lbs | WR Springfield | 2023 MN WR
Minneota (11-2) biggest wins section semi-final over #5 BOLD 22-0 section final over #4 Lakeview 28-6 state semi-final over #2 Fillmore Central 28-27
The Vikings scored at least 30 points in 8 of 13 games.
Vikings players watch
Isaac Pohlman QB
Zack Fier RB
Class AA
Chatfield (12-0) most significant wins #8 Caledonia 19-6, #8 Caledonia 10-8, state semi-finals #5 Eden Valley-Watkins 27-12
The offense was held under twenty points just twice – against Caledonia, who shut out four teams and only allowed more than twenty points just once.
Gophers to watch
Sam Backer Sam Backer 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB Chatfield | 2023 State MN QB/DB
Cole Johnson Cole Johnson 6'4" | 190 lbs | WR Chatfield | 2023 State MN WR
Barnesville (12-0) biggest wins #10 Osakis 51-8, #4 Jackson County Central 41-12 state semi-finals
The defense ended with six shutouts and didn’t allow a team to score more than thirteen points all season.
Trojans to watch
Ethan Larson Ethan Larson 6'1" | 200 lbs | ATH Barnesville | 2024 State MN RB/LB
John Roller RB
Class AAAA
Hutchinson (11-1) key wins #8 Rocori 38-14, section final #5 Marshall 52-30, state quarterfinal #1 Stewartville 60-22
The offense was held under forty points just twice in twelve games.
Tigers players to watch
Alex Elliot LB
Levi Teetzel Levi Teetzel 5'11" | 190 lbs | ATH Hutchinson | 2023 State MN ATH
Simley (11-1) key wins # 8 Rocori state semi-finals 17-16
The Spartans’ defense has only allowed one team to score more than eighteen points.
Spartans players to watch
Gavin Nelson Gavin Nelson 6'0" | 220 lbs | LB Simley | 2023 MN RB/LB
Tayvion McCoy Tayvion McCoy 5'11" | 170 lbs | DB Simley | 2023 State MN WR/DB
Class 6A
Maple Grove (12-0) key wins #5 Centennial 24-17, state semi-finals #4 Lakeville South 14-7
The Crimson offense scored at least 41 points in six games in 2022.
Crimson players to watch
Jacob Kilzer Jacob Kilzer 6'3" | 200 lbs | QB Maple Grove | 2023 State MN QB
Rosemount (12-0) key wins #3 Eden Prairie 14-7, #4 Lakeville South 10-7, #7 Prior Lake 27-17, state quarterfinals #5 Centennial 27-0, state semi-finals #3 Eden Prairie 14-10
Prior Lake was the only team to score more than one offensive touchdown in a game against the Irish defense.
Irish players to watch
Hayden Bills Hayden Bills 6'4" | 255 lbs | DL Rosemount | 2023 State MN TE/DL
Gavin Bass Gavin Bass 6'3" | 220 lbs | LB Rosemount | 2023 State MN LB
Saturday
Nine-man
Mountain Iron-Buhl (12-0) key wins section championship #10 Cherry 56-24, state quarterfinals Kittson County Central 42-28, state semi-finals #1 Wheaton-Herman-Norcross 36-15
The Rangers’ offense’s low mark of the season was 34 points. They topped 70 points three times – topping out at 83 points in one game.
Rangers’ players to watch
Spring Grove (13-0) key wins section finals # 7 Lanesboro 35-0, state quarterfinals # 8 Hancock 40-22, state semi-finals # 2 Fertile-Beltrami 27-6
Dominate all season – only one team stayed within twenty points of the Lions.
Lions’ players to watch
Elijah Solum Elijah Solum 6'1" | 190 lbs | ATH Spring Grove | 2024 State MN QB
Hunter Holland RB
Ashtin Johnson Ashtin Johnson 5'11" | 180 lbs | RB Springfield | 2023 MN RB
Class AAA
New London-Spicer (10-2) key wins # 8 Milaca 44-36, state quarterfinals #8 Milaca 18-14 state semi-finals #7 Watertown-Mayer 33-28
The Wildcats know how to win close games. They were 4-2 in one-score games this season – including three straight games to get to the Prep Bowl.
Wildcats players to watch
Brycen Christensen Brycen Christensen 6'3" | 185 lbs | WR New London-Spicer | 2023 State MN WR
Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton (12-0) key wins state quarterfinals #1 Esko 21-17, state semi-finals #10 Fairmont 16-7
The Rebels are also comfortable in one-score games. They won seven one-score games – including the last five straight to get to the Prep Bowl.
Rebels players to watch
Jordan Summers Jordan Summers 5'11" | 185 lbs | RB Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton | 2023 MN RB
Max Baumgartner Max Baumgartner 6'3" | 260 lbs | OL Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton | 2023 MN OL
Class AAAAA
Elk River (12-0) key wins #7 St. Francis 30-13, state semi-finals #4 Mahtomedi 38-21
The Elk’s offense was never held under 30 points in 2022 and topped 50 points five times.
Elks to watch
Caleb Sandstrom Caleb Sandstrom 6'3" | 220 lbs | LB Elk River | 2023 State MN LB
Cade Osterman Cade Osterman 6'1" | 185 lbs | ATH Elk River | 2023 State MN RB
Mankato West (12-0) key wins #6 Rochester Mayo 28-24, section championship #5 Chanhassen 23-21, state quarterfinals # 6 Rochester Mayo 20-17
The Scarlets’ defense pitched four shutouts in 2022 and only allowed two teams to top twenty points.
Scarlets to watch
Damian Riewe Damian Riewe 5'10" | 175 lbs | DB Mankato West | 2023 State MN DB