(Cover Photo: John Autey/St. Paul Pioneer Press)
| SMB | Willmar |
|  | |
| Record | 12-0 | 11-1 |
| Head Coach | Collin Quinn | Jon Konold |
| Final Rankings (NFN, AP, QRF) | 4, 4, 3 | 6, 8, 9 |
| State Championship Apparances | 0 | 1 |
| State Titles | 0 | 0 |
| Points Per Game | 27.9 | 46.8 |
| Opponents Points Per Game | 9.8 | 15.6 |
| Opponents Win Pct | 62-62 (.500) | 61-59 (.508) |
Both Willmar and SMB are in the Prep Bowl for the first time.
That's far from the only similarity between these teams. They both feature high-powered offenses with quarterbacks – SMB’s
Jalen Suggs and Willmar’s
Drey Dirksen - who could start on almost any team in the state.
Both teams also have receivers who will make any defensive coordinator nervous. Cardinals senior
Jake Evans has torched opponents for 40 receptions, 512 yards and a dozen touchdowns, while the Wolfpack's
Craig McDonald has amassed 38 catches for 578 yards and three scores. McDonald is currently the sixth-ranked player in
NFN's Class of 2020 rankings.
As good as both quarterbacks are both are expected to end their football careers after high school. Suggs, who's one of the top basketball players in the Class of 2020, is expected to compete on the hardwood in college, while Dirksen recently committed to play baseball for Augustana University.
Key Matchup
Dual-Threat QBs vs Defensive Front-Sevens
Both quarterbacks are dangerous with their arms and their legs. Dirksen runs the read option well, and Suggs is a threat to run every time he drops back to pass.
In just five regular-season games, Suggs rushed for five touchdowns and averaged 68 yards per game. Dirksen – on the other hand – led the Cardinals in rushing during the regular season averaging over 80 yards per game with nine touchdowns. While both have no problem throwing the ball, taking away their legs away eliminates possibly the most dangerous parts of their respective games.
SMB's Craig McDonald will be asked to make plays on both offense and defense against Willmar. (Photo from Hudl.com)
Key Player
Craig McDonald, WR/DB - SMB
SMB's leading receiver posted eight receptions for 62 yards and a score in the semifinal win over Waseca. He'll likely to be checked much of the game by one of the Cardinals’ most dynamic players, cornerback
Alexander Wickliff, who Willmar hopes can limit McDonald's impact.
On the other side of the ball, McDonald will likely be lined up on Evans (5 rec, 121 yds, 3 TD in the semifinals). How the Division-I recruit holds up with this workload on both sides of the ball will go a long way toward deciding the champion.
