Team of the Week (Week 4) Nominees: Vote Now

Blaine - W, 56-20 over Cretin-Derham Hall

Blaine rose to No. 3 in Class 6A with its undefeated start and did not do anything to show it was unworthy of that spot after dispatching perennial power Cretin-Derham Hall 56-20.

The Bengals turned four first-half turnovers into 21 points to begin the rout. Blaine quarterback Jack Haring completed 15 of 18 passes for 303 yards with two touchdowns. He also rushed for three touchdowns and finished with 75 yards rushing in a complete performance.

Minneapolis North - W, 54-28 over Breck

Minneapolis North, ranked second in Class 2A, got some resistance from Breck, ranked No. 4 in Class 3A, but pulled away in the second half with 32 unanswered points. The Polars actually trailed by six at halftime before breaking the game open.

Zach Yeager threw for 257 yards on 19 of 26 passing for Minneapolis North while also rushing for a pair of touchdowns. Kehyan Porter rushed for 138 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries while the Polars defense intercepted Breck quarterback David Roddy three times.

Omar Brown caught eight passes for 141 yards and a touchdown for Minneapolis North to keep the Polars undefeated.

St. Thomas Academy - W, 21-0 over Mahtomedi

In a matchup of two top-five ranked teams in Class 5A, fifth-ranked St. Thomas Academy shut down fourth-ranked Mahtomedi for a 21-0 victory.

Brendan McFadden rushed 21 times for 168 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Cadets. Joe Deyak added a rushing touchdown and finished with 30 yards rushing. Deyak also completed 4 of 6 passes for 26 yards.

McFadden had a 4-yard score in the second quarter while Deyak plunged in from a yard out to give St. Thomas Academy a 14-0 lead at halftime. McFadden added a 45-yard touchdown in the third quarter to cap the scoring.

United South Central - W, 34-12 over St. Clair/Mankato Loyola

Isaac Meyer and Colby Klocek proved quite the connection in eighth-ranked 1A United South Central’s 34-12 victory over St. Clair/Mankato Loyola. Meyer completed three touchdown passes to Klocek to keep the Rebels running along this season.

Klocek finished with 145 yards receiving on five receptions while Meyer completed 9 of 16 passes for 168 yards.

Klocek hauled in touchdown receptions of 49 and 16 yards while also adding a rushing touchdown of 16 yards.

Winona - W, 25-14 over Mankato West

A few years ago no one would have predicted Winona defeating Mankato West but things have changed down in the southeast portion of the state for the Winhawks. Winona reached the semifinals of last year’s Prep Bowl in Class 4A and finished runners-up the year before.

Winona finished with 332 yards of total offense with Jackson Nibbelink going 10 of 22 passing for 189 yards with a pair of touchdowns. Trevor Pomeroy ran for 102 yards on 14 carries.

Big plays proved the difference as Ethan Ringo returned an interception 70 yards, Nibbelink completed a 63-yard pass to North Dakota State recruit Terrell Hall for the go-ahead touchdown and the Class 4A No. 3-ranked Winhawks also completed a 24-yard touchdown pass on a fourth-and-22 against the Scarlets, who came into the game ranked No. 3 in Class 5A.