Prep Bowl XXXIX preview

<strong>Class A Friday 10:00 Minneota (13-0) vs. Mayer Lutheran (12-1)</strong> Minneota might have the best defense left in the state. The Vikings have nine shutouts in thirteen games – NINE. I didn’t see any of the games, but I think it is safe to assume they would have hit double digits if they had not subbed down in the second half. They have allowed a score in the four games, led by senior linebacker and leading tackler <strong>Jonah Gruenes</strong>; only once have they allowed multiple touchdowns. Those touchdowns came in the fourth quarter after the Vikings were ahead 36-0. In fact, all five touchdowns allowed by the Vikings came in the fourth quarter. Mayer Lutheran’s defense hasn’t been as absurd as the Vikings’ defense, but since their opening week loss, the defense has had four shutouts and has allowed a team to reach double digits just three times. However, offensively is where they really put other teams in a bind. Since that opening week loss, the Crusaders have scored at least 33 points each game. Dual-threat quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="22948" first="Ty" last="Hoese"] leads them. He threw five touchdown passes in a 41-6 victory over New York Mills in the state semi-finals. <strong>Class AA Friday 1:00 Chatfield (12-1) vs. West Central Area/Ashby (11-1)</strong> Unfortunately, much of Chatfield’s game plan resides in the court. As of now, I don’t know if one of their top players will be able to play Friday. The player was suspended for one game, and it is now in the hands of the legal system as to if the player will be able to play. Offensively, when the team is right – they can score with anyone in AA. The Gophers started the season 1-1, and then the offense got rolling – scoring at least thirty points every game until last week when they defeated Barnesville 22-18. The offense relies primarily on the running of [player_tooltip player_id="112047" first="Sam" last="Backer"]. Offensively, West Central Area/Ashby will rely on the passing of <strong>Evan Paulson</strong> and the running of <strong>Anthony Skora</strong>. However, the success or failure of the Knights will depend on their defense. In their state semi-final game, they only gave up one touchdown to a Maple River team that scored at least 40 points seven times and topped 50 points twice. Led by <strong>Nas Dotts</strong>’ eleven tackles, not only did the defense shut down a good offense, they scored the game-winning points. Down 7-6, the defense came up with a safety – to win by one point. <strong>Class AAAA Friday 4:00 Kasson-Mantorville (9-3) vs. Hutchinson (11-1)</strong> One of the surprises of the Prep Bowl is the appearance of the KoMets. After a 5-3 season, something clicked with the offense. They were up and down during the regular season. In their three losses, they averaged fourteen points per game. Once the playoffs hit, they scored over 40 points three times. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="49912" first="Matthew" last="Donovan"] is the straw that stirs the offense’s drink. His ability to run the option offense will be critical if the underdog KoMets can finish their playoff run. I am sure the Hutchinson Tigers were expecting to have the chance to avenge their one loss this season, but K-M took care of that by taking care of then-undefeated Becker. Since that loss, the Tigers’ offense has been on a roll, scoring at least 30 three times and over 40 three times. The running game will always fuel the Tigers, and this year is no exception. They will need a big game from their three-headed backfield – [player_tooltip player_id="112070" first="Levi" last="Teetzel"], <strong>AJ Ladwig</strong>, and <strong>Alex Elliot</strong>. <strong>6A Friday 7:00 Maple Grove (11-1) vs. Lakeville South (12-0)</strong> Maple Grove has relied on their defense much of the season. The only time they have given up more than twenty points was their one loss when they gave up 21 points. They will need another great defensive game to slow down the Lakeville South running game. They held their opponent to one score, led by leading tackler <strong>Sawyer Skanson</strong> and sack leader [player_tooltip player_id="49842" first="Mason" last="South"] - six times. Offensively, the running game – led by <strong>Derrick Jameson</strong> – will need to control the clock and complement the defense. What is there to say about Lakeville South? They have been the favorites all year and have not blinked. The offense has been on fire since their last close call against Shakopee. The offense has scored at least 40 points each of their final five games. There is no secrete what the Cougars are going to do – rely on the offensive line and the running of [player_tooltip player_id="112043" first="Carson" last="Hansen"]. Their underrated defense has only allowed over twenty points twice in eleven outings. <strong>9-Man Saturday 10:00 LeRoy-Ostrander (11-2) vs. Fertile-Beltrami (13-0)</strong> The LeRoy-Ostrander offense has been the engine that has driven the Cardinals into the Prep Bowl. They have been held under thirty points just once during the season. In nearly half of their games, they have topped half a hundred. Quarterback <strong>Chase Johnson</strong> and running back <strong>Tanner Olson</strong> will need to continue to be the one-two punch driving the Cardinals’ bus. Olson and <strong>Gavin Sweeney</strong> will be in the mix on the defensive side of the ball, anchoring a defense that has held opponents – including their semi-final opponent to one score a game. The Falcons were a balanced group all season, but like the Cardinals, their offense will need to score points as the defense – while solid – has given up some points this season. The offense has scored at least thirty points in all but two games. <strong>Everett Balstad</strong> is the Falcons’ leading rusher. Last week he went for 135 yards on the ground and three touchdowns. <strong>Tyler Stuhaug</strong> and <strong>Rylin Petry</strong> each recorded eleven tackles, and Tucker Bolstad was credited with nine tackles and three sacks. <strong>Class AAA Saturday 1:00 Plainview-Elgin-Millville (11-2) vs. Dassel-Cokato (13-0)</strong> If you can overlook a strange blowout loss to Cannon Falls in which PEM gave up 52 points, kept every other team at twenty points or less. They have pitched three shutouts. In their semi-final victory, <strong>Martin Prieto</strong> picked up nine tackles, and [player_tooltip player_id="234878" first="Peyton" last="Schumacher"] chipped in five tackles and three interceptions. The run defense will have to be on point to complete the championship run. Offensively, they are led by the passing of quarterback <strong>Connor McGuire</strong>. In the Bulldogs’ two state tournament games, he has a 68 percent completion percentage, over 500 yards, and seven touchdown passes. Dassel-Cokato’s offense features one of the best players in the state. [player_tooltip player_id="22923" first="Eli" last="Gillman"] has rushed for over 2000 yards and has scored nearly 40 touchdowns. Defensively, they have allowed twenty points or less in every game but two – including a shutout. Two weeks ago, their most impressive defensive performance was when they held the high-powered Fairmont program to just 13 points in a 40-13 victory. <strong>Class AAAAA Saturday 4:00 Mahtomedi (10-2) vs Mankato West (12-0)</strong> Mahtomedi is a classic run the ball and play good defense team. Defensively, they allowed more than 21 points just once – one of their two losses against Spring Lake Park. Since they dropped their second game – against Mankato West common opponent St. Thomas Academy – Mahtomedi has given up just twenty points twice in six games. Offensively, the Zephyrs will need to get great games out of their backfield – especially running backs <strong>Jordan Hull</strong> and <strong>Nicholas Beiersdorf</strong>. In that same span – post STA – the offense has been rolling, scoring at least 34 points per game. Mankato West has been the best – or one of the best – teams in AAAAA. They averaged nearly the same amount of rushing yards as a balanced offense as passing yards. They have scored over thirty points nine times this season – including 42 in the state semi-finals. The defense has even been better. They had seven shutouts and allowed more than one score just twice the entire season. Defensive back [player_tooltip player_id="18425" first="Mekhi" last="Collins"] has as much talent as any defensive back in the state, but the team in front of him is just as effective. [player_tooltip player_id="49868" first="Ryan" last="Haley"] and [player_tooltip player_id="49958" first="Gannon" last="Rosenfeld"] make plays all over the field, and <strong>Gibson Blackstad</strong> gets after the passer.