Northern Minnesota State Tournament Watchlist
It’s officially tournament time in Minnesota, as top players, and teams from around the state will battle it out over the next three weeks for the right to be crowned State Champions. Today we are going to take a look…
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Continue ReadingIt’s officially tournament time in Minnesota, as top players, and teams from around the state will battle it out over the next three weeks for the right to be crowned State Champions. Today we are going to take a look at some of the top players from Northern Minnesota whose teams are still standing.
1. Bren Salo, QB New York Mills High School (6’0″ 185lbs)
As the champions of Section 6A, the New York Mills Eagles enter the state tournament with a 9-1 record and are led by their senior Quarterback Bren Salo. Salo is a big, physical QB who is utilized predominantly in the run game. Salo ran for 697yds in the regular season, averaging 8.5yds/carry and scoring 8 TD’s on the ground. The senior QB is built with a thick lower half that makes it tough on LB’s and DB’s to bring him down. The Eagles don’t throw the ball often but when they do, Salo shows an ability to make throws at the short and intermediate levels. His best throws are on post routes over the middle of the field where he can drive the ball into windows between the Linebackers and Safties. You can catch Salo and the Eagles against Deer River at 7 pm on November 12th at Brainerd High School.
2. Justin Littlewolf, OL/DL Mahnomen/Waubun High School (6’4″ 290lbs)
The Thunderbirds enter the state tournament on a roll, winning their last 6 games by a combined score of 217-53. The Thunderbirds are led up front by Justin Littlewolf, a dominant presence on both sides of the ball. Littlewolf lines up as the NG in Mahnomen-Waubun’s 3-3 stack defense. From this position, Littlewolf can impact the game in a variety of ways from collapsing the pocket on pass downs, to controlling the A gaps on early run downs. Littlewolf has impactful hands and plays with a low center of gravity that helps him take on frequent double teams. On the offensive side, Littlewolf plays with a nasty edge that helps open gaping holes for the Thunderbirds option offense. He routinely washes down defensive linemen and allows his backs plenty of room to operate.
3. Tait Kongsjord, OL/DL Deer River High School (6’6″ 265lbs)
The UMD commit leads the Deer River Warriors into the first round of the state tournament with a perfect 11-0 record. Kongsjord is a force up front on both the OL and DL. He possesses a unique combination of strength and athleticism that shows up repeatedly on tape. For a big guy, he still uses leverage to play under a smaller offensive lineman or just play through them with his strength and aggressiveness. He has the frame to add more weight at the college level and it’s easy to see why the Bulldogs offered the local recruit.
4. Asher Zubich Asher Zubich 6'1" | 185 lbs | QB Mountain Iron-Buhl | 2023 State MN , QB/OLB Mountain Iron-Buhl (6’2″ 185lbs)
Last, and certainly not least, Asher Zubich Asher Zubich 6'1" | 185 lbs | QB Mountain Iron-Buhl | 2023 State MN is the hand that guides the potent MIB offense. MIB enters the state tournament as one of the top 9-man teams in the state putting up gaudy offensive numbers throughout the year. Scoring over seventy points on four different occasions, the MIB offense is tuned up just in time for the State Tournament. Zubich is a dynamic athlete, who can make throws to all three levels of the field and isn’t afraid to use his legs when nothing is open. He has breakaway speed in the open field that makes defenses pay for losing contain.