MN Week 1 Intriguing Matchups & Storylines
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Tomorrow is finally the day! Much like Christmas Eve, I am sure I’m not the only going to bed giddy tonight, and Friday’s matchups are the proverbial presents that will be dancing through my head tonight. In preparation for the…
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Continue ReadingTomorrow is finally the day! Much like Christmas Eve, I am sure I’m not the only going to bed giddy tonight, and Friday’s matchups are the proverbial presents that will be dancing through my head tonight. In preparation for the games, I figured it would be fun to list and comment on some interesting storylines, good team contests, and any other fun facts I can think of regarding Week 1! Thanks for reading.
Mankato East vs. Worthington
The Mankato East Cougars are bringing a really talented rosters led by senior big-boys Eli Olson Eli Olson 6'5" | OL Mankato East | 2021 State MN (UMD commit) and Rieley Fleming Rieley Fleming OL Mankato East | 2021 State MN , and junior QB Jacob Eggert Jacob Eggert 6'1" | 195 lbs | QB Mankato East | 2022 State MN and ATH Gus Gartzke Gus Gartzke 5'9" | 185 lbs | LB Mankato-East | 2022 State MN , so I’m really excited to see how their offense looks especially. This is one of their most talented rosters in a while, and they have a lot to prove this season. Olson is one of the most under-recruited 2021 lineman in the state as well, and is the de facto leader of a Cougar squad that has a great chance to beat cross-town rival Mankato West this year. On the other side, Worthington is coming off a winless 2019 season but have a senior-heavy team with some talent in 2021s Terbuto Ochothow (6’, 165), Brock Burns (6’5, 185), Tommy Lais (6’3, 185), and Kent Lais (5’11, 175). They have a lot to prove this season as well.
Shakopee vs. St. Michael-Albertville
This is an intriguing 6A matchup that I believe our scout Brian Jerzak is covering, and there’s a lot of talent in the 2021 class featured here. Both teams graduated a stud as Shako lost Connor Raines to graduation and STMA graduated Kale Hoselton, but some heavy-hitters in the trenches to replace their talent. The Knights IOL Everett Sunvold Everett Sunvold OL St. Michael-Albertville | 2021 State MN will have an exciting personal matchup against Minnesota Golden Gopher DL commit Deven Eastern Deven Eastern 6'5" | DL Shakopee | 2021 State MN , so I’m excited to see the Hudl film from that. Also worth noting is the size Shako has, as in-addition to Eastern (6’5, 265), they have OL Dylan Hack (6’3, 265), 2022 OL Jade Trelstad (6’, 225), and LB Vincent Nyanducha (6’2, 210). The dark-horse on all of Shakopee is 2022 WR Nick Katona Nick Katona WR Shakopee | 2022 State MN (6’6, 180), a fantastic 2-sport ATH who I’m really high on and am hoping can have an impressive junior campaign. For the Knights, QB Jack Drobinski Jack Drobinski 6'2" | 210 lbs | QB St. Michael-Albertville | 2021 State MN and RB David Collins David Collins 5'8" | RB St. Michael-Albertville | 2021 State MN will need to have big games.
Mayer Lutheran vs. Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton
What I like most about this game is the non-senior talent on both sides. For Mayer-Lutheran, 2022 6’7, 205 TE Teigan Martin Teigan Martin 6'6" | 220 lbs | TE Mayer Lutheran | 2022 State MN has the potential to be one of the best TE’s in the Midwest, and 2022 QB Ty Hoese Ty Hoese 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Mayer Lutheran | 2022 State MN is a stud in his own right and a D1 prospect to boot. I’m also a fan of 2022 Charlie Broveleit Charlie Broveleit 6'0" | 285 lbs | OL Holy Angels | 2022 State MN (6’3, 170) of Mayer-Lutheran, and they have a strong and experienced senior OL leader in Rogan Lilienthal Rogan Lilienthal OL Mayer Lutheran | 2021 State MN . For JWP, 2023s Karson Lindsay Karson Lindsay 5'11" | 190 lbs | ATH Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton | 2023 State MN and Ryder Thissen have a lot to like in their game, and Lindsay is one of the top 2023 prospects in the state. They also have some 2022 talent in Dawson Slughter, and have some strong top-end senior leadership in OL Cody Gartner (6’2, 210), RB Jack Morsching (5’8, 160), and ATH Jacob Crouch (6’2, 190). I’ll be looking forward to checking out the film from this game.
Champlin Park vs. Centennial
This game will be a rematch of CP’s only 2019 loss besides the Prep Bowl, and it will be interesting to see how both squads look after losing some studs to graduation such as Jaice Miller Jaice Miller 6'4" | WR Champlin Park | 2020 State MN and Brock Johnson for the Rebels, and Connor Zulk and Carter Anderson for the Cougars. Both sides do return experienced senior talent, and both will need a lot of leadership to navigate the first game with new players at a lot of positions. For Champlin I’ll be excited to check out recent St. Thomas RB commit Shawn Shipman Shawn Shipman 5'11" | RB Champlin Park | 2021 State MN , as well as DBs Edmund Ocansey and Cam Hammonds, and for Centennial DEs Zach Frank Zach Frank 6'2" | DL Centennial | 2021 State MN and Elijah Ward will bring a lot of pressure to the new Rebel QB, and 2022 LB Mason Mix Mason Mix 5'11" | 190 lbs | LB Centennial | 2022 State MN will help the backend of Centennial’s defense as well. Someone on offense will need to make this season their own for Centennial.
Apple Valley vs. Hopkins
In a great Week 1 5A battle it’s hard not to notice LB RJ Chakolis RJ Chakolis 5'11" | LB Hopkins | 2021 State MN for Hopkins, the best LB in the 2021 class and a defending AAA 195 lb. state champion wrestler. He’s helped out on the OL by college prospects AJ Torfin and Ryan Papacek, but Hopkins will have a lot to prove on their normally potent offense, as a lot of skill-position players will need to step-up into bigger roles. For Apple Valley, 2022 talents Tim Wyandt Tim Wyandt 6'0" | 165 lbs | QB Apple Valley | 2022 State MN and Conner Elliot will have to have big games on offense and defense respectively if the AV Eagles want to earn themselves a victory.
Fridley vs. SMB
One of the best matchups regardless of class today, both Fridley and SMB have a lot of returning talent but have to replace big-time playmakers from the 2019 season. Of course, SMB has to replace Mr. Football and Mr. Basketball Jalen Suggs Jalen Suggs 6'4" | QB SMB | 2020 State MN , so the QB replacement Charlie Johnson Charlie Johnson 6'3" | 180 lbs | QB SMB | 2022 State MN is a position to watch in both this game and the whole season. Luckily, he’s got a lot of WR talent in Savion Robinson Savion Robinson 6'0" | WR SMB | 2021 State MN , 2022 Drew Kittelson Drew Kittelson 6'4" | 185 lbs | QB Blooming Prairie | 2022 State MN , and two-way threat Tony Avila-Tovalin Tony Avila-Tovalin DB SMB | 2021 State MN , so if he can be accurate in his ball-distribution the Wolfpack offense can stay dangerous. They also have a really exciting 2023 prospect in 6’9, 300+ OT Peyton Lange Peyton Lange 6'9" | 340 lbs | OL Minnehaha Academy/SMB | 2023 State MN , easily one of the top-2 2023s in the state. SMB also has some really exciting defensive prospects in 2021 DT Kevvan Anderson Kevvan Anderson 6'0" | DL SMB | 2021 State MN – one of the most underrecruited DTs in the state – as well as 2022 P5 DE Chase Carter Chase Carter 6'6" | 220 lbs | DL SMB | 2022 State MN . I’m also a big fan of 2022 LB Michael Hall Michael Hall 6'1" | 220 lbs | LB SMB | 2022 State MN , and MIAC FS recruit Tobias Jacobson provides an experienced leader in the secondary. For Fridley, they need to replace All-Metro ATH and Winona State commit Kaleb Blaha Kaleb Blaha 6'1" | QB Fridley | 2020 State MN , but have a really deep and talented senior class with Air Force DT commit Cheick Kaba Cheick Kaba 6'1" | DL Fridley | 2021 State MN , DB Micah Niewald, LB Charles Rice Charles Rice LB Fridley | 2021 State MN , DT and stud wrestler Josh Franklin Josh Franklin 6'3" | DL Fridley | 2021 State MN , and WR/DB Terrell Davis Terrell Davis DB Fridley | 2021 State MN . Michael Ude is another prospect for Fridley I like.
St. Thomas Academy vs. Coon Rapids
The STA Cadets would have probably been one of my favorites to win the 2020 5A state championship if we were having a state tournament. They have studs returning across a board, with my pick for 5A Preseason Defensive Player of the Year in Garrison Solliday Garrison Solliday 6'0" | DL St. Thomas Academy | 2021 State MN , as well as a loaded RB backfield in Danny McFadden Danny McFadden 5'9" | RB St. Thomas Academy | 2021 State MN , and another Top-10 2023 prospect in Love Adebayo Love Adebayo 5'9" | 195 lbs | RB Saint Thomas Academy | 2023 State MN . Cadets DB Yenika Fondungallah Yenika Fondungallah DB St. Thomas Academy | 2021 State MN continues the theme of standout DBs to wear the STA uniform, and DE Oscar Berg and LB Jaime Smith are poised for big seasons as well. The big question for STA will be can they replace their 2020 OL studs, and how efficient can their QB play. Coon Rapids has a lot of talent to replace as well, as their senior class last season took them to the 5A state semifinals, with Myles Taylor Myles Taylor 6'0" | LB Coon Rapids | 2020 State MN playing his college football at Augustana, QB Jake Van Hulzen playing at Winona State, and LB Jordan Nolan Jordan Nolan 6'0" | 220 lbs | LB Coon Rapids | 2020 State MN heading to SMSU. However, they still have one of the best-kept OL secrets in the state in Gavin Layton Gavin Layton 6'4" | OL Coon Rapids | 2021 State MN , and have an experienced LB prospect in Ethan Tedrow Ethan Tedrow LB Coon Rapids | 2021 State MN returning to help lead the defense. 2022 RB Will Richman Will Richman 5'9" | 200 lbs | LB Minnetonka | 2022 State MN and WR Sonny Thao Sonny Thao DB Coon Rapids | 2021 State MN will need to be offensive playmakers for Coon Rapids to replicate their season from last year.
Providence Academy vs. Mound Westonka
Another good matchup, both teams return a good amount of talent that I’m really excited to see play this year. For Providence Academy, 2022 RB Jacob Meissner Jacob Meissner 5'10" | 200 lbs | RB Providence Academy | 2022 State MN is a stud who could play some high level college football, and have a deep 2022 class with Sean Allerheiligan (6’2, 195), Logan Ahlers (5’11, 185), and Mark McCarthy (6’4, 225) are all good-looking college prospects. The Mound Westonka squad is more heavy with senior talent led by Logan Leonard and Tucker Anderly Tucker Anderly ATH Mound Westonka | 2021 State MN . Those two can flat out ball, and will need to do a lot for the Whitehawks this season.
Luverne vs. Pipestone
A small-school matchup that our scout Jake Evans Jake Evans WR Willmar | 2019 State MN will be at, Luverne has a potent offense led by lineman Zach Ahrendt Zach Ahrendt OL Luverne | 2021 State MN , the recent Southwest Minnesota State commit, and overlooked RB Lashad Smith Lashad Smith RB Luverne | 2021 State MN . They are joined by fellow seniors Bailey Cowell (6’, 160) and Carlton Oftedahl (6’3, 265) to combine for a well-led and well-experienced team. Pipestone is looking to continue it’s streak of getting deep into the section playoffs, and have a nice-looking 2023 prospect in 6’3, 225 lineman Jayden Hoss. They also have a good recruit in 2021 Dawson Schelhaas. It should be a good game!
Alden-Conger vs. Nicollet
Alden-Conger had a very interesting game week as they had to reschedule against three different opponents against Watertown-Elysian-Morristown, GFW, United South Central, and then found a confirmed matchup to play 9-man ball against Nicollet. Talk about wanting to play! I’m excited to follow Isaac Burgett Isaac Burgett 5'9" | ATH Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons | 2021 State MN of Alden-Conger to track his senior season, and Nicollet has a lot of talent including 6’6, 185 Shane Stevensen, and fellow seniors Nathan Duis (6’, 175), Austin Gieseke (6’1, 175), Riley Mans (6’, 165), and Tyler Laven (6’1, 190). They also have a nice 2022 QB prospect in 6’3, 160 Colton Thomsen.
Rosemount vs. Lakeville North
Unfortunately cancelled due to COVID-19.
Eden Prairie vs. Minnetonka
The StarTribune Game of the Week, ’Tonka is coming off their worst season in recent memory and have a new Head Coach, but have some experienced players returning such as UMD OL commit Peter Grefe Peter Grefe OL Minnetonka | 2021 State MN , and fellow senior offensive weapons Ben Tolkinen and Jaxen Iverson. They also have a loaded 2022 class led by ATH Cade Conzemius Cade Conzemius 5'10" | 165 lbs | WR Minnetonka | 2022 State MN and DT Andrew McCalla Andrew McCalla 5'10" | 225 lbs | DL Minnetonka | 2022 State MN , so the future is looking bright for the Skippers. The Eden Prairie Eagles are also coming off a down season by their standards, but are going to have an exciting 2020 season as their senior class is filled to the brim with talent in WR and UMD commit Cade Kramer Cade Kramer 6'2" | WR Eden Prairie | 2021 State MN – one of the most underrecruited wideouts in the Midwest – as well as NDSU OL commit Sam Henry, NSIC OL target Forrest Scheel Forrest Scheel OL Eden Prairie | 2021 State MN , and Iowa LB commit Justice Sullivan Justice Sullivan 6'2" | LB Eden Prairie | 2021 State MN . 2021 DE Trent Jones II Trent Jones II 6'3" | DL Eden Prairie | 2021 State MN is still getting recruited by NDSU and could benefit from a huge senior season, and LB Dan Knudsen is no slouch himself. They also have some studs in the 2022 class with potential breakout star Logan Gareis Logan Gareis 5'10" | 175 lbs | DB Eden Prairie | 2022 State MN , already known star Bennett Larson Bennett Larson 5'10" | 190 lbs | LB Eden Prairie | 2022 State MN at LB, and playmaker Javon Palmer-Pruitt.
Princeton vs. Annandale
This is another one of the best games in the state regardless of class, and both teams are stacked. Annandale is a gigantic football team size-wise, as Golden Gopher OT commit Logan Purcell Logan Purcell 6'7" | OL Annandale | 2021 State MN checks in at 6’7, 240, NSIC and potential Missouri Valley OL Isaac Hagstrom Isaac Hagstrom 6'5" | OL Annandale | 2021 State MN is 6’5, 260, NSIC and NAIA OL target Drew Conte Drew Conte OL Annandale | 2021 State MN is 6’2, 275, and QB Landon Jones Landon Jones 6'5" | QB Annandale | 2021 State MN is 6’5, 225. Princeton has one of the best athletes in the 2022 class in the Midwest in Haydn Stay Haydn Stay 6'4" | 220 lbs | ATH Princeton | 2022 State MN , and is led with senior experience from LB Thomas Rush, lineman Ben Westling Ben Westling OL Princeton | 2021 State MN , and OL Cade Willie. I wish I could attend this one in person and am excited to see the film!
Spring Lake Park vs. Becker
This was originally supposed to be a matchup of Spring Lake Park vs. Robbinsdale Armstrong, but COVID had other plans. Instead, we get a really unique contest against two teams who normally wouldn’t play each other in SLP vs. the Becker Bulldogs. Both teams have been historically strong in the 2010s, and Spring Lake Park has a lot of speed and talent in their skill positions in WR/FS and NSIC target Kaleb Skelly Kaleb Skelly 6'4" | WR Spring Lake Park | 2021 State MN , WR Nicholas Wetzel Nicholas Wetzel ATH Spring Lake Park | 2021 State MN , truck-stick RB Henry Dennis Henry Dennis RB Spring Lake Park | 2021 State MN Jr., and FS Joey Sorenson Joey Sorenson ATH Spring Lake Park | 2021 State MN . They also have one of the best 2022 DE prospects in the state in Nicholas Ojile, who already holds a UMD offer. The Becker Bulldgs hold one of the best LB trios in the state in the grossly overlooked Brayden Weber Brayden Weber 6'2" | LB Becker | 2021 State MN , Caden Dewall Caden Dewall LB Becker | 2021 State MN , and Tommy and Teddy Halvorson Teddy Halvorson LB Becker | 2021 State MN . They need to replace some productive offense studs due to graduation to continue their success from the past decade.
Sartell vs. St. Cloud Apollo
Both teams have good looking rosters, with Sartell containing talent of all ages led by senior ATH Ethan Torgrimson Ethan Torgrimson 6'0" | RB Sartell-St. Stephen | 2021 State MN – who is getting a lot of recruiting attention from the University of Mary and also holds Bemidji State, Concordia-Moorhead, and UW-River Falls offers. 2023 QB Cole Hentges Cole Hentges 6'0" | 200 lbs | QB Sartell-St. Stephen | 2023 State MN is a great athlete for his age and played significant minutes last season, and 2022 6’5, 250 lb. TE Blake Haus should be a name-to-know for MN prep football fans going forward. Fellow junior Steven Brinkerhoff Steven Brinkerhoff 6'1" | 180 lbs | LB Sartell | 2022 State MN has some game as well. For Apollo, 2022 6’8 DE prospect Thomas Diew Thomas Diew 6'8" | 240 lbs | DL St. Cloud Apollo | 2022 State MN has a P5 ceiling in football, and has a stud opposite of him in 6’, 220 DE David Guzman, but Apollo’s senior class is worth mentioning as Ismael Hall (6’, 210), Erassy Antsino, Peter Zorn (5’10, 150), Jakob Corrow (6’2, 165), David Boyd Jr. (6’3, 185), Max Overboe (6’1, 200), and Zach Trushenski make for one of the best senior classes for Apollo in recent memory. Let’s see if they can make some noise.
Stillwater vs. White Bear Lake
The Stillwater Ponies have some nice prospects in their senior class in 6’1, 260 OL Cameron Morgan, 6’, 185 ATH Erik Roettger, returning All-Conference RB/WR Nick Schlender, RB duo Dom and Joe Krenz, 6’1, 180 QB Casey Venske, and 6’1, 195 lb. DB/LB Ian Tandy all can play college ball. For White Bear Lake, I like UST 6’5, 245 TE commit John McBride John McBride 6'6" | TE White Bear Lake | 2021 State MN , and QB Branden Berwald Branden Berwald QB White Bear Lake | 2021 State MN throws a nice ball and is a high-academic kid. 2022 OT prospect Jeremiah Peterson is well-built at 6’2, 250 as well.
Burnsville vs. Lakeville South
A tough Week 1 matchup for the Burnsville Blaze, they will need senior playmaker Myiion Hodges Jr. to have a big game, and will also rely on their talented 2022 class to play like seniors as 6’5 WR Jay Homuth Jay Homuth 6'5" | 180 lbs | WR Burnsville | 2022 State MN , 6’2, 215 LB Dylan Fischer, 6’2, 220 FB Colton Gregersen, 6’, 190 QB Bailey Wishart Bailey Wishart 6'0" | 200 lbs | QB Burnsville | 2022 State MN , and 6’4, 270 OL Mateo Noriega Mateo Noriega 6'5" | 270 lbs | OL Burnsville | 2022 State MN all are looking for breakout seasons. I also like 2021 OT Derek Olsen for the Blaze. For the 2019 6A state semifinal showing Cougars of Lakeville South, they return the #1 prospect in the 2021 class in MN in Riley Mahlman Riley Mahlman 6'7" | OL Lakeville South | 2021 State MN , but need to replace what was a loaded backfield in 2019 as Minnesota State-Mankato RB commit John Shabaz, UW-Lacrosse commit Hank English, and All-State DB/RB George Brekke George Brekke QB Lakeville South | 2020 State MN . They also need to replace All-State OL Kyle Lattery as well. However, they have one of the best 2022 prospects in the state in TE Chase Androff Chase Androff 6'6" | 230 lbs | TE Lakeville South | 2022 State MN , a D1 football recruit and D1 hockey commit in LB/DL Cade Ahrenholz Cade Ahrenholz DL Lakeville South | 2021 State MN , and DII basketball commit Reid Patterson Reid Patterson QB Lakeville South | 2021 State MN at QB. I think the Cougars are going to be just fine this year.
Glencoe Silver Lake vs. Litchfield
The Litchfield Dragons have one of the best SW small-school MN senior classes in 6’4, 277 lb OL Kayden College Kayden College 6'4" | 195 lbs | WR Armstrong | 2022 State MN , returning District MVP in QB Benjamin Alsleben Benjamin Alsleben QB Litchfield | 2021 State MN , 6’3, 260 OL Christian Kelsey Christian Kelsey OL Litchfield | 2021 State MN , 6’1, 180 ATH Maison Olson, and 5’11, 190 WR/ATH Bennett Lecher Bennett Lecher 5'11" | WR Litchfield | 2021 State MN .The Glencoe Silver Lake team has a great 2022 OL prospect in 6’1, 260 Nathan Stoltenburg, a 6’4, 210 RB prospect in 2022 in Michael Jaskowiak, and a 6’4, 270 senior OL Nathan Warner, so there will be some good battles near the LOS.
Fairbault vs. Northfield
Always a good rivalry, Fairbault and Northfield are 20 minutes apart and the rivalry has usually gone to the Northfield Raiders, but Fairbault has a lot of talent this year, especially in their 2022 class, with 5’10, 215 RB Elijah Hammonds and 6’5, 290 2022 lineman Devin Lockerby – who is receiving a lot of NDSU interest. They also have an intriguing 2021 prospect in 6’6, 205 Nick Ehlers. Northfield has a big WR prospect themselves in 2022 6’5, 195 Zach Edwards, and will lean heavily on offensive weapon and overall ATH Cole Stanchina. Should be a good game!
Mounds View vs. Woodbury
An exciting 6A contest, Mounds View graduated one of the best QBs in the Metro in South Dakota commit Cole Stenstrom Cole Stenstrom 6'1" | QB Mounds View | 2020 State MN , but returns a great-looking defensive prospect in 6’2, 220 Drew Lindgren and a stud Metro OL in 6’4, 300 Bill Ketola Bill Ketola OL Mounds View | 2021 State MN . Mounds View qualified for the state tournament last season, and will need their QB and WRs to come up big to replicate this success. For Woodbury – who graduated NDSU PWO LB commit Cole Smutny and UST LB commit Parker Theis – but return a lot of talent in similar positions to the MV Mustangs as Minnesota State-Moorhead LB commit Jack Bungarden Jack Bungarden 6'2" | LB Woodbury | 2021 State MN can hit ya and returning All-Metro OL Jake Raines Jake Raines 6'2" | OL Woodbury | 2021 State MN is criminally underrated and is another stud to commit to the UMD Bulldogs in college. It will be a nice game in the trenches!