Football University Team of the Week Nominees: Week 2
Houston - W, 30-16 over No. 1 (9M) Grand Meadow
Pegged as one of the 9-Man marquee games to watch in Week 2, the Hurricanes sent shockwaves around Minnesota by defeating the Superlarks in Grand Meadow to end their 51-game winning streak.
The game was close throughout, as Grand Meadow led by eight entering the fourth quarter, only to see the Hurricanes post 22 points in the final frame to rally for the win. Junior quarterback Jaytin Millen accounted for three touchdowns (two rush, one pass), including the go-ahead score that gave Houston a 22-16 with less than six minutes to play in the game. Senior Brady Happel, who led the team with 82 yards rushing, iced the game with a late 16-yard scamper.
The loss was Grand Meadow's first since October 5, 2013 against Lanesboro.
St. Michael-Albertville – W, 40-20 over No. 3 (6A) Blaine
St. Michael-Albertville, a newcomer to Class 6A, is proving its more than comfortable playing big-school football. The Knights followed up their opening-week victory over Mounds View with a statement win on the road against the No. 3 Bengals.
The combination of Mitchell Kartes and DeSean Phillips were too much for the Blaine defense to handle. The duo combined for 320 yards rushing and five touchdowns, along with an average of more than eight yards per carry.
STMA's defense was stellar too. The Knights held the potent Blaine offense to just two scores until the waning moments of the game. Senior Austin Springer paced the unit with 19 tackles, while Matthew Feldick recorded an interception for the second straight week.
Eden Prairie – W, 41-13 over No. 2 (6A) Lakeville North
The top-ranked Eagles left no doubt about being the favorites in Class 6A with a drubbing of Lakeville North at home.
Eden Prairie led 13-0 at halftime on the strength of two Cole Kramer touchdown passes. The junior quarterback connected with Daejon Wolfe early in the third quarter for another score before the Panthers trimmed the deficit back to a two-score game less than a minute later.
The Eagles bulldozed North after that though, beginning the onslaught with a halfback pass from Wolfe to Jack Tuttle for a 61-yard score. Mike Grant's defense did the rest. The Eagles intercepted the Panthers twice and held their running game to just a 3.5 yards-per carry average.
Caledonia – W, 34-27 over No. 6 (2A) Triton (Dodge Center)
Caledonia's 29-game winning streak was on life support after the Cobras went ahead 27-7 with seven minutes to play in the third quarter.
Somehow, someway, NFN's No. 1 quarterback in the state, Owen King, and the Warriors produced a stunning rally, including 21 fourth-quarter points, to shock Triton and extend the winning streak.
King's first two-and-a-half quarters were easily the worst of his high school career, but the veteran tossed four touchdown passes – three to Andrew Goergen – in the final 18 minutes and finished with 287 yards and five scores. The last King-to-Goergen connection came with only 50 seconds to play.
Triton, which posted the most points by a Warriors opponent since 2008, had its potential game-tying drive thwarted by senior Jordan Burg's interception to secure a wild win for the No. 1 Warriors.
St. Croix Lutheran – W, 50-14 over No. 3 (4A) SMB
The Crusaders dominated from the opening kickoff, asserting themselves as the team to beat in Class AAA with a 36-point drubbing of SMB.
St. Croix Lutheran's offense showed it's got a passing attack to go along with the traditionally strong ground game. Junior quarterback Jonathan Liesener connected with North Dakota commit Garett Maag twice for touchdowns in the first 12 minutes of play.
The 51- and 27-yard scoring connections were sandwiched around a long Mike Stern touchdown run to give the Crusaders a 22-point lead after the opening quarter. SCL's defense did the rest, holding the Wolfpack its second-lowest point total since the cooperative program was formed in 2015.
Stern finished with 263 yards and three touchdowns as the offense salted away the game by running for almost 400 yards.
