Prep Bowl XL Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In preparation for the final weekend of the Minnesota high school football season, check out this quick breakdown of each championship match-up – where each team is strong and who are the key players to watch. I took the rankings of opponents from the final Star Tribune media poll.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Friday</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class A</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Springfield (11-2) biggest win over #3 Deer River 54-30 in the state semi-finals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defense held teams to single digits six times and under twenty points eight times.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tigers players to watch</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='313280' first='Ashtin' last='Johnson'] RB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='313281' first='Macoy' last='Krick'] WR</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Minneota (11-2) biggest wins section semi-final over #5 BOLD 22-0 section final over #4 Lakeview 28-6 state semi-final over #2 Fillmore Central 28-27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Vikings scored at least 30 points in 8 of 13 games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vikings players watch</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Isaac Pohlman QB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Zack Fier RB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class AA</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chatfield (12-0) most significant wins #8 Caledonia 19-6, #8 Caledonia 10-8, state semi-finals #5 Eden Valley-Watkins 27-12</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The offense was held under twenty points just twice – against Caledonia, who shut out four teams and only allowed more than twenty points just once.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gophers to watch</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='112047' first='Sam' last='Backer'] QB/DB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='295968' first='Cole' last='Johnson'] WR</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Barnesville (12-0) biggest wins #10 Osakis 51-8, #4 Jackson County Central 41-12 state semi-finals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defense ended with six shutouts and didn't allow a team to score more than thirteen points all season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Trojans to watch</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='391542' first='Ethan' last='Larson'] RB/LB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>John Roller RB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class AAAA</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":138747,"width":217,"height":143,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/05/90_LeviTeetzel_2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-138747" width="217" height="143" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='112070' first='Levi' last='Teetzel']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hutchinson (11-1) key wins #8 Rocori 38-14, section final #5 Marshall 52-30, state quarterfinal #1 Stewartville 60-22</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The offense was held under forty points just twice in twelve games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tigers players to watch</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alex Elliot LB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='112070' first='Levi' last='Teetzel'] ATH</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Simley (11-1) key wins # 8 Rocori state semi-finals 17-16</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Spartans' defense has only allowed one team to score more than eighteen points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Spartans players to watch</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='19029' first='Gavin' last='Nelson'] RB/LB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='295970' first='Tayvion' last='McCoy'] WR/DB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class 6A</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Maple Grove (12-0) key wins #5 Centennial 24-17, state semi-finals #4 Lakeville South 14-7&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Crimson offense scored at least 41 points in six games in 2022.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Crimson players to watch</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='112125' first='Sam' last='Peters'] TE</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='112054' first='Jacob' last='Kilzer'] QB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rosemount (12-0) key wins #3 Eden Prairie 14-7, #4 Lakeville South 10-7, #7 Prior Lake 27-17, state quarterfinals #5 Centennial 27-0, state semi-finals #3 Eden Prairie 14-10</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":138692,"width":195,"height":129,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/05/34_GavinBass_1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-138692" width="195" height="129" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='19006' first='Gavin' last='Bass']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prior Lake was the only team to score more than one offensive touchdown in a game against the Irish defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Irish players to watch</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='188150' first='Hayden' last='Bills'] TE/DL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='19006' first='Gavin' last='Bass'] LB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saturday</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nine-man</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mountain Iron-Buhl (12-0) key wins section championship #10 Cherry 56-24, state quarterfinals Kittson County Central 42-28, state semi-finals #1 Wheaton-Herman-Norcross 36-15</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Rangers' offense's low mark of the season was 34 points. They topped 70 points three times – topping out at 83 points in one game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rangers' players to watch</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='201177' first='Asher' last='Zubich'] QB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='205273' first='Damian' last='Tapio'] RB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Spring Grove (13-0) key wins section finals # 7 Lanesboro 35-0, state quarterfinals # 8 Hancock 40-22, state semi-finals # 2 Fertile-Beltrami 27-6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dominate all season – only one team stayed within twenty points of the Lions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lions' players to watch</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='527762' first='Elijah' last='Solum'] QB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hunter Holland RB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='313280' first='Ashtin' last='Johnson'] RB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class AAA</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New London-Spicer (10-2) key wins # 8 Milaca 44-36, state quarterfinals #8 Milaca 18-14 state semi-finals #7 Watertown-Mayer 33-28</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wildcats know how to win close games. They were 4-2 in one-score games this season – including three straight games to get to the Prep Bowl.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wildcats players to watch</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='382842' first='Brycen' last='Christensen'] WR</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1140796' first='Mason' last='Delzer'] RB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton (12-0) key wins state quarterfinals #1 Esko 21-17, state semi-finals #10 Fairmont 16-7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Rebels are also comfortable in one-score games. They won seven one-score games – including the last five straight to get to the Prep Bowl.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rebels players to watch</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='313003' first='Jordan' last='Summers'] RB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='313001' first='Max' last='Baumgartner'] OL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class AAAAA</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":486236,"width":173,"height":114,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/10/Cade-Osterman-rotated-crop-480x316-1666452158.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-486236" width="173" height="114" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='112060' first='Cade' last='Osterman']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Elk River (12-0) key wins #7 St. Francis 30-13, state semi-finals #4 Mahtomedi 38-21</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Elk's offense was never held under 30 points in 2022 and topped 50 points five times.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Elks to watch</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='295824' first='Caleb' last='Sandstrom'] LB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='112060' first='Cade' last='Osterman'] RB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mankato West (12-0) key wins #6 Rochester Mayo 28-24, section championship #5 Chanhassen 23-21, state quarterfinals # 6 Rochester Mayo 20-17</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Scarlets' defense pitched four shutouts in 2022 and only allowed two teams to top twenty points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Scarlets to watch</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='245761' first='Ty' last='Neils'] LB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='245765' first='Damian' last='Riewe'] DB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->