Week 6 Preview: Matchups of the Week

We are getting closer to the playoff season every week, and the intensity of the regular season is in full swing. Week six has plenty of marquee matchups, in my opinion there are three that stick out.   Benilde-St.Margaret's (5-0) @ Robbinsdale Cooper (4-1) [caption id="attachment_13373" align="alignleft" width="128"] Camden Royal on a junior-day visit to the University of Iowa.[/caption] Benilde-St. Margaret's has been one of the most dominant teams in the state regardless of class in this season. They have punished opposing teams with their killer run game. Their success on the ground is led by their big senior offensive tackle Noah Layton. He is listed at 6'5" 280 pounds and he currently holds an offer from the University of South Dakota. Layton has been able to clear running lanes for sophomore running back Camden Royal. Royal is currently averaging 11.7 yards per carry on 64 attempts totaling at 750 yards and nine touchdowns. He has turned his great performance into a recent offer from South Dakota. Royal had large shoes to fill- taking over for senior University of North Dakota commit, and pre-season all metro running back Isaiah Smith. Smith is currently out with an injury. Camden has clearly taking the opportunity and ran with it asserting himself as the future of the running back position in MN high school football. The Knights have begun the season 5-0 and they have a combined winning margin of 179-56 while rushing for 322.8 rushing yards a game.   [caption id="attachment_13374" align="alignright" width="248"] Photo by Mark Hvidsten, SportsEngine[/caption] Robbinsdale Cooper has had a streak of talented wide receivers come through their program. Having Phoenix Sproles two seasons ago as well as Pedro Amoussou, and Adrian Adams last season. This season their identity has stayed primarily the same. The Hawks are still a pass heavy team that will not abandon the run. They're led by sophomore QB Joseph Russell, who has done very well in his first season as a starter completing 68.5% of his passes for 1,075 yards and 14 passing touchdowns. The other key piece to their high powered offense is in the backfield with senior running back Sherrod Russell. Sherrod has ran for 575 yards and five touchdowns this season, making their offense very well balanced. Cooper's one loss came in a tough week one matchup against a very good Waconia team 12-14.   I expect this week six matchup to be very high scoring in opposite ways. Benilde's power run game will look to out-duel Copper's high powered passing attack. This bout between one of the best 4A teams in the state Benilde and one of the most underrated teams in the state regardless of class Cooper, will be one of the best games of the week.   Fridley (5-0) @ Mound Westonka (5-0) Fridley has been one of the biggest surprise teams of 2019. They have added to the long list of dominant teams in class 4A. The Tigers have outscored their opponents by a ridiculous margin of 220-20. They are a very balanced offense led by senior dual-threat quarterback Kaleb Blaha, who has 19 total touchdowns on the season. I believe the strength of Fridley's team is their defense. First off allowing only 20 point through five games should be enough evidence itself. The heart of their defense is senior linebacker Michael Ude. He has 33 total tackles on the season, as well as two interceptions and one fumble recovery- with one of the INTs being returned for a touchdown. Ude is also one of Fridley's top running backs where he has just under 500 yards on the season and five touchdowns.   [caption id="attachment_13375" align="alignleft" width="142"] Photo via: (DAVID JOLES/STARTRIBUNE)[/caption] Mound Westonka has blown through their relatively easy schedule in the first five weeks of the season. Their offense had struggled to be explosive on the season only averaging only 315 total yards of offense per game. Their defense on the other hand, has made plays all over the field. They have forced an astounding 15 turnovers as a team. Senior defensive back Charlie Nesbitt has had four interceptions alone (tied for 4th in state). Nesbitt is also one of their most explosive players on offense- reeling in four catches for 35 yards and two of them have went for a touchdown.   Fridley will look to continue their dominant run against a fellow class 4A opponent Mound Westonka who will be trying to prove that their 5-0 record is for real. Mound Westonka will have the home field advantage in their first tough test of the season. This will be a big game for both teams, but the Whitehawks's schedule really begins to heat-up with a tough matchup with SMB next week.   Champlin Park (4-1) @ Rosemount (3-2) The main reason this game makes this list, is in large part due to the matchup between two of the best "wide-receivers" in the state. Rosemount's senior receiver Jonathan Mann who will be staying home next year and he will be attending the University of Minnesota next season. He chose the Gophers over schools such as Iowa State, Iowa, and Arkansas. And Champlin Park senior receiver Jaice Miller holds offers from North Dakota and South Dakota State, while being one of the best all-around athletes in Minnesota.   [caption id="attachment_12881" align="alignright" width="188"] Photo by Mark Hvidsten, SportsEngine[/caption] Johnathan Mann began with a slow start to the season, but he has really found his stride as of late. In a big game against Farmington, the 6'4" track-star broke out, and reeled in five catches for 159 yards and three touchdowns. He continued his success with six total touches in week five for 141 yards from scrimmage and two receiving touchdowns. That brought Mann's totals for the season to 17 catches for 459 yards and five touchdowns.   [caption id="attachment_13376" align="alignleft" width="171"] Photo via:(Shari L. Gross/startribune.com)[/caption] Jaice Miller is a different story. Although the 6'4" senior is being recruited to play wide receiver at the next level- he is currently playing quarterback for the Rebels. Jaice has taken the opportunity and ran with it. He has completed 47.1% of his passes for 680 yards and seven touchdowns through the air. He has also found success on the ground adding 228 yards and a touchdown on the season, making him one of the most exciting players in the state. The Rebels have often led on junior running back Shawn Shipman who has accumulated 713 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on the year. The high powered Champlin Park offense will look to continue their success in what will be one of the most exciting matchups of week six.   **Other matchups to look out for: <ul> <li>St. Michael-Albertville (4-1) @ Prior Lake (3-2)</li> <li>Mounds View (4-1) vs. Cretin Durham Hall (4-1) @The University of St. Thomas</li> <li>Redwood (4-1) @ Pipestone (4-1)</li> </ul>