Minnesota's Top-25 Performances from Week 5

Just to kick things off, I think this is one of the wildest and most competitive 6A seasons of recent memory. I could potentially see five, maybe six teams that are in legitimate contention for the big school crown, and don't even get me going on the rest of the classes. Besides Chatfield in Class AA and Mankato West in 5A, every returning state champion has lost, and in every classification, there are still a ton of undefeated teams at the midseason point of 2022 and multiple programs who are looking and playing in state championship-esque fashion. Basically what I'm getting at is that this fall has been one to remember and a heckuva fun time so far, and I'm not feeling great about my preseason state title predictions! Enough fluff, however, let's get into the Week 5 edition of PrepRedzoneMN's Top-25 Performances. Offense, defense, special teams, we got it. Congrats to this week's standouts and thanks for reading!   --   *belated #1: [player_tooltip player_id='348767' first='Francis' last='O'Malley'] (Montevideo) Junior. RB. 6', 235 lbs. - Rushed for 348 yards and 7 TDs (!) in a 45-18 win over Minnewaska. Sadly, this was last week, but since I missed it I felt obliged to at least mention it here.   1) [player_tooltip player_id='139178' first='Adam' last='Glynn'] (Byron) Junior. RB. 5'10, 170 lbs. - Despite sadly having to leave the game at the end of the 4th quarter due to a broken collar bone, Byron Bears RB Glynn posted 331 rushing yards and 4 TDs in a 35-28 win over Mankato East.   2) Jakob Nachreiner (Springfield) Junior. QB. There is just something about Springfield quarterbacks putting up crazy numbers. 2024 gunslinger Nachreiner completed 20 passes on 29 attempts for 344 yards and 5 TDs in a 40-14 win over St. James.   3) [player_tooltip player_id='246028' first='Bart' last='McAninch'] (Mankato West) Junior. QB. 6'1, 205 lbs. Was 25-36 for 255 yards and a passing TD to go along with 3 TDs on the ground in the Scarlet's 28-24 win over Rochester Mayo, one of the best games of the weekend.   4) Tavionte Powell (Brooklyn Center) Senior. ATH. 6', 160 lbs. #7 for the Centaurs was a part of a big 42-40 victory over Minneapolis Roosevelt as he caught 9 passes for 186 yards and 4 TDs.   5) Evan Lindgren (Hillcrest Lutheran) Senior. RB/DB. In a thrilling 47-46 dub over Rothsay the senior rushed 31 times for 301 yards and 5 TDs.   6) Mason Sill (Edina) Senior. K. 5'10, 140 lbs. Another special teams standout, Sill was clutch for the Hornets and hit the go-ahead, game-winning 30-yard FG to beat Farmington. He also was 4/4 on PATs and converted another FG, that time of 28 yards.   7) [player_tooltip player_id='120956' first='Caden' last='Spence'] (Zimmerman) Senior. RB. 6'2, 195 lbs. It wasn't necessarily the stat line but the outcome, as Spence's 19 for 159 and 1 TD night sent the senior into the record books, breaking the Thunder's career rushing mark and standing alone at 2,628 yards. He's still going too!   8) [player_tooltip player_id='242432' first='Tyler' last='Nystrom'] (Mounds View) Junior. WR. - Broke the Mustang's school record for single-game receptions as he hauled in 16 catches for 189 yards and a TD against Anoka High School.   9) Daniel Jackson (Alexandria) Sophomore. Kicker. Already holding a Gophers PWO, underclassman Jackson set the MN record for the 3rd longest FG in state history as he successfully booted a 52-yard FG against Brainerd. Sadly, Alex lost 14-15.   10) Evan Engesmoe (Canby) Junior. DB. 5'11, 160 lbs. - Engesmoe was a big part of Canby's tough 14-0 win over MACCRAY as he recorded a tackle and picked off three passes to aid his defense.   11) [player_tooltip player_id='201177' first='Asher' last='Zubich'] (Mountain Iron-Buhl) Senior. QB. 6'2, 185 lbs. In a 83-0 thrashing of Ely, Zubich was 6-6 for 121 yards and 5 TDs in one of the more unique stat lines of this feature.   12) [player_tooltip player_id='105365' first='Carter' last='Holcomb'] (Rochester Mayo) Junior. WR/Returner/DB. The monster Mayo junior had himself a night despite the loss to Mankato West and he posted 8 catches for 216 yards and a TD.   13) [player_tooltip player_id='207804' first='Eliajah' last='Randle'] (Richfield) Senior. 5'10, 175 lbs. Posted 283 all-purpose yards and 3 TDs as well as 6 tackles as streaking Richfield beat Minneapolis Washburn 47-36. The Spartans are 5-1!   14) [player_tooltip player_id='112164' first='AJ' last='Boarman'] (Holy Angels) Senior. QB. 6'3, 180 lbs. In a homecoming win, Boarman was 13-15 for 237 yards and 3 TDs through the air as well as 11 carries for 95 yards and 2 TDs as the Stars crushed Benilde-St. Margaret's 41-7.   15) [player_tooltip player_id='19029' first='Gavin' last='Nelson'] (Simley) Senior. RB. 25 carries for 223 yards and 3 TDs as Simley put a whoopin' on Robbinsdale Cooper.   16) [player_tooltip player_id='407968' first='Bryce' last='Corson'] (Fillmore Central) WR. Caught 7 passes for 134 yards and 3 TDs in a 29-8 win against Randolph.   17) [player_tooltip player_id='245015' first='Kameron' last='Clay'] (MPLS North) Senior. ATH. 5'10, 160 lbs. - Totaled 18 carries for 220 yards and 3 TDs as well as a 2pt conversion in a win against Delasalle.   18) [player_tooltip player_id='313260' first='Keegan' last='Patterson'] (Sauk Rapids-Rice) Senior. QB. 6'3, 165 lbs. Was 16-26 for 337 yards and a TD as SSR held on to beat Bemidji.   19) Sam Musungu (Andover) Senior. WR. 6'1, 185 lbs. Caught 9 passes for 116 yards and 5 TDs as Andover thumped Buffalo 59-7.   20) Kaden Vig (Kittson County Central) Senior. One of 2023s biggest stars so far, KCC long and talented DE had another beastly performance, this time against Win-E-Mac, to the tune of 13 tackles, 5 TFLs, and 3 sacks.   21) [player_tooltip player_id='244997' first='Tate' last='Link'] (Dassel-Cokato) Senior. RB/LB. 5'9, 205 lbs. - The senior stat-monster rushed for 246 yards and 5 TDs as DC beat up on Holy Family.   22) [player_tooltip player_id='236878' first='Jonathan' last='Shrum'] (Farmington) Senior. WR/DB. 5'11, 180 lbs. A repeating top performer, Shrum recorded 385 all-purpose yards and two TDs in a tough 34-31 loss to the Edina Hornets.   23) Cole Anderson (West Central Area) Senior. TE. 6'4, 185 lbs. The gritty TE caught 5 passes for 60 yards and 3 TDs plus a 2pt conversion catch and an interception on defense as WCA got a tough win at Crookston High School.   24) Jackson Brutger (St. Michael-Albertville) Junior. LB. In a big victory over Minnetonka, the junior tallied 8 tackles, 2 sacks, and a fumble recovery that he took to the crib after a 30-yard return.   25) Camron Peterson (Mound Westonka) Senior. LB. 6'1, 185 lbs. Low numbers but high impact, Peterson helped the Whitehawks beat Fridley 28-14 and totaled 4 tackles, 3 sacks, a TFL, and a FF.

Just to kick things off, I think this is one of the wildest and most competitive 6A seasons of recent memory. I could potentially see five, maybe six teams that are in legitimate contention for the big school crown, and don't even get me going on the rest of the classes. Besides Chatfield in Class AA and Mankato West in 5A, every returning state champion has lost, and in every classification, there are still a ton of undefeated teams at the midseason point of 2022 and multiple programs who are looking and playing in state championship-esque fashion. Basically what I'm getting at is that this fall has been one to remember and a heckuva fun time so far, and I'm not feeling great about my preseason state title predictions! Enough fluff, however, let's get into the Week 5 edition of PrepRedzoneMN's Top-25 Performances. Offense, defense, special teams, we got it. Congrats to this week's standouts and thanks for reading!