Minnesota’s Week 1 Top Performers
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Finally, the seemingly never-ending, incessant, and occasionally gloomy offseason is over and the glorious high school football season is back. Last Thursday and Friday, we saw hundreds of games kick off and officially get the 2023 season underway, and from…
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Continue ReadingFinally, the seemingly never-ending, incessant, and occasionally gloomy offseason is over and the glorious high school football season is back. Last Thursday and Friday, we saw hundreds of games kick off and officially get the 2023 season underway, and from 9man to 6A, we had some thrilling nailbiters, absolute butt whoopings, surprising upsets, and competitive contests that makes me thing the fall of 2023 is going to be one to remember. Helping to assemble these fantastic Week 1 games were some eye-popping personal performances from Minnesota prep football players around the state, and PrepRedzoneMN has diligently cataloged the most notable for your enjoyment below. Offense, defense, and special teams all included; let’s get to it!
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The senior offensive weapon from St. Paul Highland Park had a big day against 651 rival St. Paul Johnson as he rushed for 160 yards and a TD, recorded 30 receiving yards, and compiled 98 return yards and a TD for 288 all-purpose yards in total. Added a couple tackles as well. The Scots got the victory 32-18.
https://twitter.com/MelvinMensah2/status/1697728686588338576?s=20
Becker’s QB1 Zach Bengtson went off vs. Hill-Murray to the tune of 20 completions on 30 attempts (66.7%) for 250 yards and 5 TDs. Also punted twice for 73 yards, successfully kicked a FG, and was 4-5 on PATs. His favorite target was fellow senior Kyan Blomquist, who caught 10 passes for 127 yards and 2 TDs. Becker got a big win 40-14.
https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14664681/64f18e3df326d70ae4995dd2
Isaac Olson
Isaac Olson
In a 30-16 win over Pierz, Little Falls’ 2024 standout Isaac Olson posted a balanced stat-line of four receptions, two of which went for TDs, 208 all-purpose yards, 13 tackles, and an INT. Some of those 13 tackles were massive collisions as well.
https://twitter.com/isaac_olson01/status/1697729238772642162?s=20
A PrepRedzoneMN Showcase standout from St. Cloud Apollo, junior pass-catcher Maurice Brown Maurice Brown 5’10” | 170 lbs | WR St. Cloud Apollo | 2025 State MN had a monster night through the air and recorded eight catches for 171 yards and 4 TDs, plus an INT on defense. Also posted 8 solo tackles, 6 assisted tackles, a PBU, a fumble recovery, and a defensive TD. Sadly, Apollo took a tough, one-score loss to Chisago Lakes 44-38.
https://twitter.com/maurice2fast/status/1697689816601641092?s=20
Highlights
Hudson Dillon
Hudson Dillon
In Bethlehem Academy’s 58-7 beatdown of Winona Cotter, 6’3, 185 lber. Hudson Dillon tallied 10 receptions for 164 yards and 3 TDs.
In a tough loss (48-22) to fellow Anoka County competitor Centennial, Coon Rapids’ star wideout KhiJohnn Cummings-Coleman KhiJohnn Cummings-Coleman 5’11” | 180 lbs | WR Coon Rapids | 2024 State MN had an excellent showing and finished with 9 catches for 252 yards and 3 TDs.
https://twitter.com/khijohnn/status/1698034644224999467?s=20
Highlights
A part of Robbinsdale Armstrong’s 42-18 shellacking of St. Francis, 2024 WR Seth Newbern Seth Newbern 6’1″ | 175 lbs | ATH Armstrong | 2024 State MN caught six passes for 164 yards and 4 TDs. Gotta love the catch to TD ratio there!
https://twitter.com/NewbernSeth/status/1697769932514009289?s=20
In the Austin Packer’s nail-biting 28-27 loss to Watertown-Mayer, 2024 WR/CB Peyton Ransom Peyton Ransom 6’2″ | 160 lbs | WR Austin | 2024 MN caught 9 passes for 190 yards and 3 TDs.
https://twitter.com/Peytonransom18/status/1698050427797823823?s=20
Highlights
The Woodbury High School seasoned gunslinger had a big day in the Royals 55-14 dismantling of Roseville and finished the day with 15 completions on 20 attempts for 219 yards and 3 TDs. He’s going to have a big year statistically.
https://twitter.com/george_bjellos/status/1697850415121833999?s=20
Another Woodbury standout, explosive senior Quentin Cobb-Butler Quentin Cobb-Butler 5’9″ | 155 lbs | DB Woodbury | 2024 State MN finished the day with four receptions for 65 yards and a TD and two big-time returns totaling 185 yards and 2 TDs. He’s arguably the best returner in the state this fall. As mentioned above, Woodbury got a big W 55-14.
https://twitter.com/QCobbButler/status/1697713327223308763?s=20
One of the top RBs in Outstate MN and the 2025 class overall, Aitkin put up a lot of points – 41 to be exact – in their smothering of Chisholm and Jacob Williams Jacob Williams 5’11” | 200 lbs | ATH Aitkin | 2025 State MN ended his night with 15 carries for 195 yards and 3 TDs, plus 2 receptions for 60 yards and a receiving TD, and two tackles a PBU. Good start to the season if I do say so myself!
https://twitter.com/7908Jacob/status/1697989210173485070?s=20
Another standout RB in Minnesota’s 2025 class, Fairmont junior Elijah Johnson Elijah Johnson 5’9″ | 190 lbs | RB Fairmont | 2025 State MN led the Cardinals rushing efforts in a 48-0 blanketing of Tri-City United and finished with 9 carries for 152 yards and 3 TDs.
https://twitter.com/ElijahLJohnson8/status/1698365072786018645?s=20
Highlights
Logan Stedman
Logan Stedman
Rockford’s Preseason All-State ATH Logan Stedman kicked his season off on a good note in his squad’ 42-24 victory over Royalton as he tallied 16 carries for 216 yards and 3 TDS.
https://twitter.com/loganstedman5/status/1698108451363135894?s=20
Stewartville is loaded with top-end talent this fall, and their stud QB Ayden Helder Ayden Helder 6’2″ | 195 lbs | QB Stewartville | 2024 State MN went off last week in a narrow, hard-earned victory over Waseca. Helder was 18-26 for 263 yards and 4 TDs and added 15 carries for 42 yards on the ground. There is a big argument to be made for it being QB performance of the week. Watch out for Stewie this year.
https://twitter.com/AydenHelder/status/1698392861027299357?s=20
Spencer Ackerman
Spencer Ackerman
Starting sophomore QB Spencer Ackerman of SSR proved his he up to snuff as a varsity QB as he went 23-31 for 365 yards and 3 TDs as the Storm beat a talented Irondale squad 22-19.
Big-time props to Rocori’s Will Steil Will Steil 6’2″ | 190 lbs | DB Rocori | 2024 State MN here, as he is stepping into the QB role for his Spartans squad out of necessity, and in his first action as a quarterback – against a loaded Detroit Lakes roster no less – Steil went 19-27 for 280 yards and 3 TDs to zero interceptions. The NDSU DB commit also rushed 15 times for 78 yards and posted two tackles as well. The Spartans narrowly lost 27-25 to the Lakers.
Highlights
A big part of NLS‘ comfortable 48-20 victory over Albany, stud RB Mason Delzer Mason Delzer 6’1″ | 200 lbs | RB New London-Spicer | 2024 State MN rushed 17 times for 235 yards and 4 TDs at a nearly 14 YPC average. The Wildcats are looking to repeat as Class AAA champions and Delzer is going to be a big part of that effort.
Dominic Mann
Dominic Mann
A two-way contributor and multi-sport standout for the Komets, Dominic Mann helped add to what was a high-scoring, exciting matchup with Delano that ended in a 49-35 victory for KM in which Mann posted 252 rushing yards and 4 TDs on the ground.
https://twitter.com/DominicMann2024/status/1698376536108265943?s=20
Carson Ray
Carson Ray
6′, 205 lb. OLB/DE Carson Ray had a productive defensive effort in BSM’s whoopin’ of Columbia Heights as he finished his day with 7 tackles, a sack, and two fumble recoveries that went for TDs. 12 personal points from a defender is far from anything to scoff at!
https://twitter.com/CRay2921/status/1698078519496974426?s=20