Week 1 Preview: Biggest Impact Games (6A-4A)
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As the 2023 season approaches, I’ve decided to dive deeper into power rankings, as well as bring all of our readers a preview of what is to come this upcoming Thursday and Friday. Over the next 5 days, 170 football…
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Continue ReadingAs the 2023 season approaches, I’ve decided to dive deeper into power rankings, as well as bring all of our readers a preview of what is to come this upcoming Thursday and Friday. Over the next 5 days, 170 football games will be played across the state of Minnesota, and I’m pleased to present to you what games I think will have the biggest impact!
AAAAAA:
Rochester Mayo (0-0) vs. Burnsville (0-0)
Rochester Mayo was a dominant force last season in AAAAA, but with the recent move up a class, it’ll be interesting to see how they handle what was an improved Burnsville team from last season. Mayo has some serious impact players in Rees Grimsrud, Carter Holcomb Carter Holcomb 5'9" | 165 lbs | WR Rochester Mayo | 2024 State MN , and Isaiah Beale. Burnsville brings back QB Jeremy Sherlock, WR Markeese Howard, and ATH Chase Classen. Burnsville should provide a nice test to see where Mayo stands heading into 6A.
Coon Rapids (0-0) vs. Centennial (0-0)
Coon Rapids returns what is possibly the best-receiving cores in the state, headlined by stud three-star Khijohnn Cummings-Coleman. They also have breakout stars Lofton O’Groske and Jerid Fearing Jerid Fearing 6'2" | 205 lbs | WR Coon Rapids | 2024 MN . They have an extremely underrated signal-caller in Jacob Mattick and a recent runningback transfer in Kayshawn Green. Centennial however is fresh off a season that saw them advance to the state quarterfinals, and they return QB Daylen Cummings Daylen Cummings 6'0" | 190 lbs | ATH Centennial | 2024 State MN , ATH Ty Burgoon Ty Burgoon 6'0" | 170 lbs | WR Centennial | 2024 State MN , and dominant LB Timmy Ball Timmy Ball 6'1" | 225 lbs | LB Centennial | 2024 State MN who is fresh off a 100-tackle season.
Forest Lake (0-0) vs. Prior Lake (0-0)
Forest Lake enters 2023 following an insane breakout season that saw them reach the section finals, and they’ll start their season with a heavyweight bout against Prior Lake, a perennial state contender. Forest Lake returns 1000-yard rusher Leyton Patzer Leyton Patzer 5'9" | 170 lbs | RB Forest Lake | 2024 State MN , an offseason breakout WR in Reid Olson Reid Olson 6'3" | 185 lbs | ATH Forest Lake | 2024 State MN , wrestling state champion and preseason All-Metro LB Mark Rendl Mark Rendl 6'3" | 225 lbs | LB Forest Lake | 2024 State MN , and one of the top sophomores in the state with DL Howie Johnson Howie Johnson 6'4" | 250 lbs | DL Forest Lake | 2026 State MN . Prior Lake is no slouch however, they have Gophers commit DL Jide Abasiri Jide Abasiri 6'6" | 290 lbs | DL Prior Lake | 2024 State MN , breakout OL Aidan Horel, a crazy RB duo in Hunter MacGillivray Hunter MacGillivray 5'10" | 180 lbs | ATH Prior Lake | 2024 State MN and Levi Eiter Levi Eiter 6'0" | 195 lbs | ATH Prior Lake | 2025 State MN , and speedy recent Mavericks commit DB Josh Marcinkevich.
Wayzata (0-0) vs. Lakeville South (0-0)
Very few teams have as much hype surrounding them heading into 2023 as Wayzata, and they start their season with the always-dangerous Lakeville South. Wayzata is led by QB Cole Heilbrun Cole Heilbrun 6'2" | 205 lbs | QB Wayzata | 2024 State MN , WR Tyler Milkes, RB Omar Madkour, and OL Manny Wilson Manny Wilson 6'2" | 270 lbs | OL Wayzata | 2024 State MN . Meanwhile Lakeville South is fresh off a state semifinals appearance and they look to continue their frequent dominance in 2023. They bring back ATH Jay Winters, a recent RB transfer Bo Bokman Bo Bokman 5'7" | 175 lbs | ATH Lakeville South | 2025 State MN , and dominant DL Joe Hager. Should be a solid test for both teams.
AAAAA:
Brainerd (0-0) vs. Mahtomedi (0-0)
One of two 6A schools to drop a class, Brainerd starts they’re schedule off with Mahtomedi, a team fresh off making the state semifinals. Brainerd is headlined by the monster ILB Dylan Gross Dylan Gross 6'2" | 220 lbs | LB Brainerd | 2024 State MN , WR Nolan Johnson, and QB/WR Eli Hoelz. Meanwhile, Mahtomedi is ready for the challenge. QB Charlie Brandt Charlie Brandt 5'11" | 185 lbs | QB Mahtomedi | 2024 State MN leads the team, with last year’s WR1 Michael Barry, and a two-headed backfield monster in Alec Mahoney and Cole Saenger Cole Saenger 5'11" | 195 lbs | LB Mahtomedi | 2024 State MN .
Chanhassen (0-0) vs. Elk River (0-0)
We rarely get a battle of two true heavyweights, especially in week 1. Chanhassen fell just short of the state tournament last season, but they boast the top RB in the state in Maxwell Woods Maxwell Woods 5'11" | 180 lbs | RB Chanhassen | 2024 State MN . They also have underrated OL/DL Dominic Castagnetto Dominic Castagnetto 5'11" | 260 lbs | DL Chanhassen | 2024 State MN , Gophers DL commit Sam Macy Sam Macy 6'5" | 230 lbs | LB Chanhassen | 2024 State MN , and do-it-all defender Tyler Smith. Their opponents, the reigning state champions the Elk River Elks. They bring back a dominant RB duo in Gavin Schmidt Gavin Schmidt 6'1" | 205 lbs | ATH Elk River | 2025 State MN and Logan Bunker Logan Bunker 6'1" | 205 lbs | LB Elk River | 2024 State MN and I also expect to see RB Brecken Keoraj Brecken Keoraj 5'7" | 155 lbs | ATH Elk River | 2025 State MN take an elevated role on the team. Keep your eyes out for new QB Levi Harris Levi Harris 5'10" | 165 lbs | ATH Elk River | 2026 State MN , who is rumored to be a freak athlete fitting seamlessly into the Elk Rivers offense.
Andover (0-0) vs. St. Thomas Academy (0-0)
Andover and STA round out my top 5A games, and this one should be a barn burner. Andover is led by QB Chase Pemberton Chase Pemberton 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB Andover | 2024 State MN and D1 DB Obe Eyafe Obe Eyafe 6'3" | 190 lbs | DB Andover | 2024 State MN . They also have possible breakout RB D’mario Davenport as well as LB Kaleb Weikel Kaleb Weikel 6'2" | 220 lbs | LB Andover | 2025 State MN who amassed over 115 tackles last season. St. Thomas Academy is led by recent MSU commit QB Maximus Sims Maximus Sims 6'1" | 180 lbs | QB Saint Thomas Academy | 2024 State MN , and RB Love Adebayo who holds multiple D1 offers. They also have OL Robbie Wollan Robbie Wollan 6'4" | 270 lbs | OL St. Thomas Academy | 2024 State MN who generated a ton of offseason hype.
AAAA:
Fridley (0-0) vs. Totino Grace (0-0)
Fridley starts their season by taking on former 6A school Totino-Grace. Fridley is led by ATH Lex Kori who had an explosive recruiting trail this offseason. They also have junior DB Ousman Miller and senior OL/DL Myer Sonkarley. Totino however, has giant TE Adam Molitor Adam Molitor 6'7" | 225 lbs | TE Totino-Grace | 2024 State MN and new junior QB Jake Person. I also expect senior RB Justin Kuharski to take an elevated role. Fridley should be a great test for the Eagles to see where they stand in their new class.
Delano (0-0) vs. Kasson-Mantorville (0-0)
Delano should provide an ample test for Kasson in week 1. In a section that just saw its winner get bumped down to AAA, Kasson should look to take the immediate spot as the top dog. Delano however, is no slouch. They have stud WRs Teague Collings Teague Collings 6'0" | 160 lbs | WR Delano | 2024 MN and Jake Schultz Jake Schultz 6'0" | 170 lbs | WR Delano | 2025 State MN . A duo that can cause immense problems for any secondary. Defensively they bring back DB Caden Connor as well. The Komets however, have built a reputation as one of the toughest teams in AAAA. Headlined by Winona State commit DL Easton Suess Easton Suess 6'5" | 215 lbs | DL Kasson-Mantorville | 2024 State MN , they look to chase down those state title aspirations. Also looking to make a big impact is QB Kyle Nelson, and DB Caisen Thome Caisen Thome 6'2" | 185 lbs | DB Kasson-Mantorville | 2025 State MN .
Detroit Lakes (0-0) vs. Rocori (0-0)
Two teams primed for big years, Prep football fans are treated to a powerhouse matchup in week 1 of the Lakers vs. the Spartans. Detroit Lakes is headlined by QB Caden Strand Caden Strand 6'2" | 180 lbs | ATH Detroit Lakes | 2025 State MN , Gophers commit LB Mason Carrier Mason Carrier 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Detroit Lakes | 2024 State MN , and UND commit OL Isaac Cariveau Isaac Cariveau 6'3" | 280 lbs | OL Detroit Lakes | 2024 State MN . Rocori does boast one of if not the best secondaries in the state. DBs Grant Tylutki Grant Tylutki 5'9" | 185 lbs | DB Rocori | 2025 State MN and NDSU commit Will Steil Will Steil 6'2" | 190 lbs | DB Rocori | 2024 State MN will provide a commanding presence in the secondary. They also have fearsome DL Grady Minnerath Grady Minnerath 6'0" | 245 lbs | DL Rocori | 2024 State MN and LB Jackson Primus Jackson Primus 6'1" | 220 lbs | LB Rocori | 2024 State MN who is fresh off of a 100-tackle season.
Full game slate on MNFootballHub.com