Minnesota’s Top-25 Individual Performances from Week 8

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To cap off an exhilarating 2022 fall season we unsurprisingly had a phenomenal Week 8 finale to the regular season in the Great State of Minnesota filled with rivalry matchups, OT finishes and solidified playoff seeding, as well as some unfortunate extracurriculars. Back when I was playing MN high school football, we called it MEA break, and although I'm not sure if it's still referred to as that I still remember that those Wednesday games and the long weekend were well anticipated and well-needed after eight weeks of competition and contact. To end the regular season shenanigans we had some of our best top-end performances from individual performers we've seen all season, with multiple school records set and some eye-popping touchdown numbers that will be sure to intrigue our readers. I was also impressed with some personal defensive games, and there was also a strong batch of three-phase contributors and balanced stat lines coming from all sides of the football. Find out who finished as Minnesota's Top-25 Week 8 individual performers below and thank you for reading! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>--</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1) <strong>Bart McAninch</strong> (<em>Mankato West</em>) Junior. QB. - The fantastic <em>Scarlets</em> junior set a new <em>Mankato West</em> record with 7 passing TDs in a 54-0 win over crosstown <em>East.</em> On the night he was 14-20 for 296 yards and 7 passing TDs plus a rushing TD to boot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2) <strong>Anthony Powell</strong> (<em>Rogers</em>) Senior. RB. - The Preseason 5A First Team All-State RB had a massive night against <em>Moorhead</em> and finished with 365 all-purpose yards and 6 TDs, five rushing and one as a kick return. <em>Rogers</em> won in a 58-41 thriller. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3) <strong>Cole Hentges</strong> (<em>Sartell</em>-<em>St. Stephen</em>) Senior. QB. - In a big win over <em>Brainerd</em>, <strong>Hentges</strong> broke multiple school records as he went 14-18 for 389 yards and 5 TDs through the air. He also rushed four times for 53 yards and returned a punt for 42 yards. New single-game passing yards and TD marks were set. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4) <strong>Max McEnelly</strong> (<em>Waconia</em>) Senior. RB. - The Gopher wrestling commit had 12 carries for 230 yards and 6 TDs in a beatdown of <em>Holy Angels.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5) <strong>Tate Link</strong> (<em>Dassel-Cokato</em>) Senior. RB/LB. - In a thrilling 33-29 victory over <em>New London-Spicer</em> the senior stat-monster rushed for 247 yards and 5 TDs on 38 carries. <strong>Link </strong>is the state rushing leader in carries, yards, and touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6) <strong>Kaden Vig</strong> (<em>Kittson County Central</em>) Senior. DE. The senior stat monster was a big part of <em>KCC's</em> 30-22 victory over <em>Goodridge-Grygla-Gatzke</em> as he totaled 18 tackles, 3 TFLs, 2.5 sacks along with two catches for 36 yards and one rush for 9 yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7) <strong>Tyler Walden</strong> (<em>Eden Prairie)</em> Senior. RB. - 4 TDs and 175 rushing yards against <em>Stillwater</em> in one of the biggest matchup from the regular season finale.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8) <strong>Levi Pooley</strong> (<em>Fairmont</em>) 2024. WR. - Posted 11 catches for 156 yards and 3 TDs in a tough 14-point win over <em>Blue Earth</em>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9) <strong>Caden Rodkewich</strong> (<em>St. Anthony Village</em>) Senior. QB. - The 6'2 senior and his <em>Huskies </em>are rolling and in a win against <em>Brooklyn Center</em> and <strong>Rodkewich </strong>went 18-28 for 361 yards and 7 TDs and rushed four times for 57 yards and another TD for good measure.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10) <strong>Koi Perich</strong> (<em>Esko</em>) Junior. LB/RB. - The most recent Golden Gopher in-state offeree totaled 3 TDs on 6 touches with another TD called back and six tackles and a forced fumble as <em>Esko</em> beat up on <em>Duluth East.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>11) <strong>Aidan Jahns</strong> (<em>Rochester Lourdes</em>) Senior. ATH. - In a 35-14 victory over <em>Lake City</em> the 6'3, 185 lber. scored two touchdowns, recorded an interception, and was 5/5 on PATs as a kicker. Solid three-phase performance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12) <strong>Noah Strickfaden</strong> (<em>Norwood Young America</em>) Senior. QB. - <strong>Strickfaden </strong>is having a fantastic senior season and balled out against <em>LeSueur</em>-<em>Henderson </em>to the tune of 15-20 for 271 yards and 5 TDs to no interceptions in the dominant win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>13) <strong>Landyn Nelson</strong> (<em>Andover</em>) Senior. QB. - The 2022 breakout star had another good showing against <em>Cambridge-Isanti</em> and completed 14 passes on 20 completions for 220 yards and 3 TDs and added 10 rushes for 98 yards and 2 TDs with his 6'3, 215 lb. legs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>14) <strong>Nick Walter</strong> (<em>Annandale</em>) Junior. QB/LB. - In a 35-6 win over <em>Litchfield</em>, <strong>Walter </strong>was 9-15 for 231 yards and 3 TDs and added four carries for 40 yards and another TD on the ground. Also added an interception on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>15) <strong>Anthony Sykora</strong> (<em>West Central Area/Ashby</em>) Senior. ATH. - In a smackdown of <em>Underwood</em> the senior two-sport standout rushed for 267 yards and a TD, was 1-1 for 45 yards and a passing TD, and caught 2 passes for 35 yards and a TD. Also added five tackles for good measure.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>16) <strong>Beau Wiersma</strong> (<em>Kingsland</em>) Junior. RB. - The explosive <em>Kingsland </em>offense saw another big day from <strong>Wiersma </strong>as he tallied 20 carries for 211 yards and 4 TDs at a 10.6 YPC clip.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>17) <strong>Jaxon Howard</strong> (<em>Robbinsdale Cooper</em>) Senior. DE/TE. - The LSU commit totaled 16 tackles, one rush for six yards, and a 38-yard TD reception in a tight loss to <em>Benilde-St. Margaret's.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>18) <strong>Westin Hoyt</strong> (<em>Forest Lake</em>) Junior. ATH. - Posted 7 receptions for 175 yards and a TD as well as 8 tackles defensively in a tough loss to <em>Lakeville</em> <em>North</em>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>19) <strong>Richlu Tudee</strong> (<em>Champlin Park</em>) Senior. ATH. - The fastest high schooler in MN went off to the tune of 19 carries for 210 yards and 2 TDs as <em>Champlin Park</em> took down <em>Anoka </em>in the season finale. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>20) <strong>Nathan Burkhardsmeier</strong> (<em>New Prague</em>) Senior. RB/LB. - The 6' <em>Trojan </em>posted 18 carries for 144 yards and 3 TDs plus seven tackles defensively as <em>New Prague</em> beat <em>Red Wing</em> by three touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>21) <strong>Maxwell Woods</strong> (<em>Chanhassen)</em> Junior. RB. - The prolific 2024 RB had another big night in a win against <em>Jefferson </em>and totaled 25 touches for 211 yards and 3 TDs plus two tackles and a PBU defensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>22) <strong>Alex Riley</strong> (<em>Waconia</em>) Senior. RB. - The <em>Waconia</em> senior rushed for 175 yards and 3 TDs and added 8 tackles in a drubbing of the <em>AHA Stars</em>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>23) <strong>AJ Donovan</strong> (<em>La Crescent-Hokah</em>) Junior. QB/K. - In a win against <em>Pine Island</em>, <strong>Donovan </strong>was 26-37 for for 312 yards and 3 TDs to two INTs and was 6-6 on PATs as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>24) <strong>Hunter Neubarth</strong> (<em>Norwood Young America</em>) Senior. WR. - Caught 10 passes for 181 yards and 2 TDs as <em>Norwood Young America</em> beat <em>LeSueur</em>-<em>Henderson</em> 60-17.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>25) <strong>Joseph Randle</strong> (<em>St. Anthony Village</em>) Senior. WR. - Aided his productive QB and caught five passes for 128 yards and 2 TDs against <em>Brooklyn Center</em>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>--</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->