Previewing the Best One-on-One Matchups of Prep-Bowl Weekend

Unfortunately we still have to wait until next Friday (the 29th) to see the first state championship game. So I thought there would be no better time to preview some of the matchups. There are plenty of great individual one-on-one matchups through all seven levels, but there are three that especially stand out to me.   6A Championship: Wayzata (12-0) vs. Champlin Park (10-1) <ul> <li>Wayzata, LB, Loshiaka Roques trying to contain Champlin Park, QB, Jaice Miller</li> </ul>   Loshiaka Roques has emerged as one of the best defensive players in the state of Minnesota. In the state tournament alone (four games) Roques has unofficially racked up a remarkable 23 total tackles, four tackles for loss, and three sacks. The 6'4" senior spends most of his time on the field as a standup outside linebacker, anywhere from a 7-9 technique–often lined up outside the widest down lineman. The NDSU commit's combination of next-level speed and superb size for his position has made him nearly unblockable this season. [embed]http://twitter.com/Loshiaka1/status/1146845451972427782[/embed] Even though Roques will not be lined up one-on-one with Champlin Park QB, Jaice Miller–Wayzata will need to lean heavily on their talented pass rusher if they want to slow down the Rebels high powered offense. Last season Jaice played wide receiver for Champlin Park and he did so well at the position it earned him a scholarship offer from North Dakota and South Dakota State as a receiver. Long time starting quarterback Bennet Otto graduated last season, so Champlin was in need for a replacement. Miller was able to make the transition flawlessly. In three state tournament games, the 6'4" senior contributed 460 passing yards, and 192 rushing yards with 10 total touchdowns. I am almost certain that Roques will make it his goal to get his hands on Miller, Friday night.   5A Championship: Chaska (11-1) vs. St. Thomas Academy (11-1) <ul> <li>Jackson Smith and STA's offensive and defensive line trying to slow Chaska, OLB/RB, Stevo Klotz</li> </ul>   [caption id="attachment_15220" align="alignleft" width="182"] pictured above: Tommy Brandt on his junior day visit at Kansas University.[/caption] St. Thomas Academy has returned to the state championship game for the second consecutive season. This year they're were originally led by senior offensive lineman Tommy Brandt. Brandt has unfortunately been out with a knee injury for the majority of the season, but St. Thomas' offensive line has been able to find their rhythm without him. The Cadets are now led by senior offensive tackle, Jackson Smith who was recently named to the all-metro team. As a team they are coming off a game where they dominated Elk River in the trenches with 361 total rushing yards as a team and 0 allowed sacks. On the defensive end St. Thomas held Elk River to remarkably only 192 rushing yards (a team that averaged 479 yards a game on the ground in the regular season). St. Thomas will have their hands full with Chaska, OLB/RB Stevo Klotz. Klotz spends a lot of his time on the offensive side of the ball at running back, where he is leading Chaska in rushing for the state tournament with 216 yards and five touchdowns. When the 6'4" senior is not running for touchdowns he plays outside linebacker on the defensive side of the ball. Unlike Loshiaka Roques, Klotz plays more of a traditional 3-4 outside linebacker, but he has gotten to the QB plenty of times this postseason. Stevo has gotten three sacks and one tackle for loss in Chaska's two state tournament games. If he wants to continue his success he will no doubt have to go though Tommy Brandt. Klotz may not get the same buzz as other players on this list, but he has surely asserted himself as one of the most underrated players in the state this postseason. [caption id="attachment_15221" align="aligncenter" width="300"] (photo via: Shari L. Gross shari.gross@startribune.com) [/caption]   2A Championship: Minneapolis North (12-0) vs. Caledonia (12-0) <ul> <li>Minneapolis North, RB, Terrance Kamara vs. Caledonia, QB/DB, Noah King</li> </ul>   [caption id="attachment_14788" align="alignright" width="180"] (photo via: ANTHONY SOUFFLE anthony.souffle@startribune.com)[/caption] Minneapolis North vs. Caledonia has an argument to be the best matchup of the weekend. It is one of two championship games between two unbeaten teams. This game will be lead by two of the best players in the state. The Polars from Minneapolis North, have one of the best running backs in Minnesota, junior, Terrance Kamara. Kamara has remarkably ran for over 2,000 yards this season. This is Kamara's first season with the 2A powerhouse–after he transferred from Champlin Park following his sophomore season last year. The junior surprisingly does not publicly hold any division one offers, but after the dominant season that he has had, I would expect that to change this offseason. Caledonia is historically one of the most dominant programs in the entire state, and this year has been no different. They're led by South Dakota State basketball commit, Noah King. The senior leads Caledonia's offense at the quarterback position, but he has also contributed more and more on the defensive end as a defensive back throughout the playoffs. King has been absolutely ridiculous through the air putting up video-game like numbers, but he will more importantly look to slow down Kamara on the defensive end in this matchup. In Caledonia's two state tournament games King has accumulated 11 total tackles, three tackles for loss, and even one sack. We know that King will find success on the offensive end, but the difference in this game might be on the defensive trying to slow down Kamara. Noah King's basketball highlights... [embed]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nyKhbq2c-M[/embed]