Orono @ Totino-Grace: Game Recap & Top Performers

Late Friday afternoon, under a setting suburban sun and a warm October breeze, one of the best games of Minnesota's Week 7 slate lived up to its hype. A massive 4A showdown between #2 Totino-Grace - then 6-0 - hosted an also undefeated #3 Orono Spartans squad coming off a huge win against fellow 4A heavyweight Providence Academy the week before. Top 5 matchup, two undefeated teams, D1 commits, up-and-coming playmakers, and two very high-quality football teams led to one of the best games of the 2024 season, a crazy, last-minute finish, and some of the biggest hits I've seen this season. What a game it was! Check out PrepRedzoneMN's exclusive recap, as well as the game's top performers and MVP, below!   --   Game Recap   The Orono @ Totino-Grace was defined by defense but that did not look like the case after the first drive of the ball game. Like many of the contests I've seen in 2024, this game started off with a TD on the first drive of the game. Orono received the opening kickoff and immediately got to work with their balanced offensive attack whose foundation is laid by their big, strong, experienced, and mean OL that consists of senior [player_tooltip player_id='362315' first='Will' last='Johnson'] (6'2, 220), senior Frankie Rapp (6'2, 300), senior [player_tooltip player_id='641224' first='Blake' last='Van Patten'] (6'2, 295), senior Dylan Johnson, and junior [player_tooltip player_id='1602733' first='Wes' last='McLean'] (6'3, 265), plus TE [player_tooltip player_id='1602726' first='Simon' last='Vinton'] (6'5, 210). You don't want to get ahead of yourself, but this an OL that can get its offense deep into playoffs, and the Spartans got to work early, using physical runs from junior RB [player_tooltip player_id='1602718' first='Rory' last='Kvern'] (6'1, 190) to load the box up, where senior QB [player_tooltip player_id='1204490' first='Charlie' last='Cordes'] (6'4, 200) could begin to pick apart the Eagles secondary. WRs [player_tooltip player_id='457241' first='George' last='Perkins'] (2025) and [player_tooltip player_id='1120570' first='Parker' last='Burckhardt'] (2026) helped move the chains with big catches, and before we knew it, Orono was inside the 10, where senior [player_tooltip player_id='1090400' first='Carsen' last='Burckhardt'] caught a pass in the flats for the opening score of the game. Orono then went for two, with Burckhardt easily finding paydirt on an end around, and late in the first quarter we stood at 8-0 in favor of Orono. The Spartans defense then forced a three-and-out of Totino, and Orono was back driving the ball as the first quarter expired. Right before the first ended, Perkins pulled off my catch of the year in 2024, as he extended with one arm and reeled in a throw on a wheel route that was Cris Carter-esque in the one-handed department. Orono was rockin' and held the momentum going into the second.   Defense defined the second quarter. Orono continued to drive downfield again, with Burckhardt getting open on a beautiful slant in the face of a Missouri Valley commit to move the chains on a 4th and 3. Still, Totino rallied, using back-to-back sacks from Calvin McIntosh - one of the players of the game - and UNI commit [player_tooltip player_id='945348' first='Theo' last='Thomas'], to halt Orono in its tracks and force a punt. The two then traded possessions, but Totino, led by its fantastic RB [player_tooltip player_id='1221973' first='Marquel' last='Keten'], started putting some good plays together and got themselves deep into Orono territory as the second quarter ticked away, setting up a beautiful 39-yard successful field goal by junior starting OG Jimmy McNeil. At the half, we had an 8-3 ball game in favor of the away team!   TG received the 2nd half kickoff, but Orono came out swinging, forcing a punt on the opening drive of the 2nd half and getting right back to their controlling play style. The Spartans put together another beautiful drive, using more Kvern North-South carries, along with Perkins, WR Jackson Stinar, and Burckhardt, who dusted his CB for another 4th down conversion - this time on a hitch - to keep the chains moving. However, UNI DB commit [player_tooltip player_id='641135' first='Josiah' last='Young'] came up clutch, picking off a floated fade ball at his own 1-yard line to give the Eagles back some momentum. LB/RB [player_tooltip player_id='1581562' first='Michael' last='Strong']- one of the best LBs I've seen all year - then kept the good times going, taking a little dump into the flats upfield and right through a couple of Orono DBs - highlighted by a massive truck stick on the Spartans' FS - to propel his offense past midfield as the third quarter ended. Still 8-3 in favor of Orono.   What a 4th quarter it was! The Eagles continued to drive towards the Spartans' endzone as the 4th quarter opened up but found themselves in their second 4th and 1 of the series, where Orono's 2026 TE/DE Vinton made a helluva TFL to turn the ball over on downs. Orono held the ball at their own 21 with 8:07 left in the 4th, but flags on the Spartans backed them up to a 3rd and 21 that they failed to convert, and TG took back over with 4:24 left in the ball game at their own 39. Things were really starting to get tense in Fridley at that point, but the Eagles calmed down and got to work, using a massive McIntosh run up the gut to get into Orono territory, where they faced a 4th and 6 with 1:09 left in the contest. RB Keten ran a gorgeous slant that moved the chains, and Keten then was used on an RB pass to senior Griffin Burgess for a successful RB to WR pass that found paydirt with 46 seconds left in the game. Totino then used Burgess again to convert the 2pt conversion, but we still had time left on the clock. The Spartans put together a heckuva comeback attempt down 11-8 and with less than a minute left. Cordes found Perkins to get to Totino's 40, but junior FS Jaden Miller made a nice read and picked off Cordes's final pass of the game, in the endzone, sealing the game for Totino. One of the best finishes I've seen in a while and one of the best games of 2024, no doubt. Final: Totino-Grace 11, Orono 8   <a href="https://twitter.com/OJW_Scouting/status/1844894383772139807">https://twitter.com/OJW_Scouting/status/1844894383772139807</a>   Top Performers   Game MVP: [player_tooltip player_id='1581562' first='Michael' last='Strong'] - 2025. LB/RB. 6', 200 lbs.   This was the toughest Game MVP I've had to select this season. RB [player_tooltip player_id='1221973' first='Marquel' last='Keten'] and FB/DE Calvin McIntosh both could have won this, but senior LB/RB [player_tooltip player_id='1581562' first='Michael' last='Strong'] had one of the most impressive personal performances I've seen in 2024, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The Alpha Dog, defensive play caller, and heart & soul of the Eagles' defense, Strong's instincts, play speed, toughness & physicality, and production were outstanding on Friday afternoon. His ability to read his keys, react, sniff out, and trigger on the football with pace was fantastic, and he was like a dog on a bone finding Orono ball carriers all four quarters of the ball game. Sideline to sideline speed and range, was a beast at the contact point and halted ball carriers in their tracks when he put the pads on them, tough as nails, and also had one of the biggest offensive plays of the ball game. Strong took a simple dump pass in the flats upfield and through the face of two Spartans would-be tacklers, knocking them on their butts and continuing forward like he was running through JV defenders. Toughness and physicality incarnate, what a ball game for Strong. This kid should be playing scholarship football next fall.   Totino-Grace   [player_tooltip player_id='1221973' first='Marquel' last='Keten'] - 2025. RB. 5'9 175 lbs.   Another week, another sleeper of a 2025 uncommitted RB in Minnesota. Keten is a jitterbug of a 5'9, 175 lber. showing off a dynamic, three-down skillset with a ton of pass-catching ability out of the backfield and some serious juice with the ball in his hands. Keten had a fun combination of quickness and power and was impressive and could create good angles and forced missed tackles when he stuck his cleat in the ground and worked vertically or laterally. His vision, patience as a runner, and combination of burst and balance all stood out as well, and Keten also produced two of the biggest plays of the ball game for Totino, catching that 4th down slant to move the chains deep in Orono's territory late in the 4th, and then throwing the go-ahead TD to take the ball game by the horns. No reported offers yet for Keten. Someone is going to get a stud!   Calvin McIntosh - 2025. FB/DE. 6', 225 lbs.   Mcintosh was superb on Friday night. A worthy selection for Player of the Game status, McIntosh was as clutch as it got on both sides of the ball. The speed/strength/physicality combination couldn't be stopped on Friday. McIntosh came through in the most high-pressure situations for his Eagles. He produced two, maybe three sacks that almost single-handedly halted Orono drives, as well as a few TFLs that put the Spartans behind the chains as well. Additionally, McIntosh popped off some massive gains on FB dives at multiple times throughout the ball game, flipping the field and running over a few Spartans would-be tacklers along the way. This kid couldn't be stopped at times and is a powerful, versatile, competitive two-way starter who absolutely needs to be playing college football in 2025. No reported offers yet. Someone, PLEASE get on this dude.   [player_tooltip player_id='945348' first='Theo' last='Thomas'] - 2025. DL/TE. 6'4, 260 lbs.   Northern Iowa commit Thomas was a towering, imposing, and can't-miss D1 prospect who looked, and played, up to the part on Friday night. Thomas was a two-way contributor as a DE/DT and TE, showing a nose for contact and some good conditioning for a big guy. Despite constant, game-long double teams from the Orono front-five, Thomas made a splash defensively, particularly as a pass rusher, where he posted a giant sack in the first half to stop an Orono drive right in its tracks. The athleticism, playmaking upside, and physicality boxes were all checked in person on Friday night.   Emmanuel Benson - 2025. DB. 6'1, 175 lbs.   Loved seeing Benson come alive and make an impact in the second half of the ball game. Benson, from his safety spot, was a great tackler, using his speed and strength to his advantage, coming full-out into contact and finding and sniffing out the ball quickly. Runs the alley well and negates Orono's big RB from extra gains to keep his defense, and team, alive throughout the ball game. Good physical presence from the safety spot.   Payton Herbst - 2026. DE. 6'1, 190 lbs.   Long, wiry, and possessing a great frame, Herbst was a keg cog in the Totino-Grace defense and did a good job of setting the edge and not allowing Orono RBs to bounce things outside. Also ran down some Orono WRs at the perimeter. A tough kid, Herbst got beat up throughout the ball game but came back in and reasserted himself for the good of his team. You could see Totino's DL begin to struggle a bit once he went out of the ball game. High upside kid on the edge of the DL for Totino-Grace.   Orono   [player_tooltip player_id='1204490' first='Charlie' last='Cordes'] -2025. QB. 6'4, 205 lbs.   One of the most underrated QBs in the entire state, this is my third or fourth exposure point on Cordes, who continues to impress me and is a consistent performer each and every opportunity he puts that rock in his hand. Big, college-ready size that gets QB coaches fired up and can really blow up in a college S&C program, with an arm that stretches the field and can hit every throw on the route tree. Good mechanics, sees and reads the field well, and has good touch on his vertical throws and good accuracy and timing on his underneath passes. Is a kid that can get you wins, not just win with. Visited my alma mater St. Olaf on Saturday, and man, I don't think I'd be able to control myself if he committed to the Oles. This dude can play.   [player_tooltip player_id='641224' first='Blake' last='Van Patten'] - 2025. OL/DL. 6'2, 295 lbs.   Orono's toughest lineman, Van Patten was impressive on both sides of the ball on Friday night. The lone OL to cycle to the DL and get significant tick, Van Patten is a big, thick, powerful two-way player with lead in his hands, an excellent base and good balance for his size, lateral agility, and a nose for contact. Could be used in a variety of different ways, was in great condition and never showed any hint of tiredness, and made some big plays on both sides of the ball. Physical kid who could both move opponents out of the gap and hold his own through single and doubles, his strength at the point of attack, toughness, and consistency flashed all night long. Bethel, St. Olaf, UW-Eau Claire, Gustavus have all offered the senior.   [player_tooltip player_id='1602726' first='Simon' last='Vinton']- 2026. TE/DE. 6'5, 210 lbs.   My favorite new name I learned from the evening of action in Fridley, Orono's two-way prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1602726' first='Simon' last='Vinton'] was a top performer in the ball game and really gets me excited as a potential college prospect. Eye-catching size and frame that you couldn't help but notice, Vinton was moving mass and opening up holes in the run game for his RBs but really showed up and showed out as a 5T DE for the Spartans' defense. Vinton, with his excellent length and get-off, created consistent penetration, disruption, and production behind the LOS on Friday night. He had a ridiculous 4th and 1 TFL to turn TG over on downs in the second half, shooting flat down the LOS and running down the RB in seemingly a blink. The get-off and play speed at his size popped, as did his hand usage and overall ability to get skinny and disengage from blocking attempts all around the LOS. Closing speed, hand usage, length, and physicality are a deadly combo, especially at 6'5, 210, and I think he's got a heckuva high ceiling at DE in college. With his eye-catching size, Vinton could really intrigue some D1 suitors, especially if he's been playing like he did on Friday night all season. What a game for the junior Spartan.   [player_tooltip player_id='457241' first='George' last='Perkins'] - 2025. WR. 6', 150 lbs.   Great game and great game for the senior WR out of Orono. Perkins stole the show, providing an absolutely electric one-handed catch in the second quarter that was SportsCenter Top 10-worthy and an absolutely ridiculous catch to pull off at any level, much less as a high schooler. Besides the splash catch, Perkins was a consistent and productive pass-catching target for his Spartans' offense. Good open on a variety of routes, quick at the top of the route, good hands, and reliable in high-pressure situations. Took a gameday visit to UW-River Falls but has yet to report an official offer. Someone could snag a heckuva under-the-radar WR for their 2025 class.   [player_tooltip player_id='1602718' first='Rory' last='Kvern'] - 2026. RB. 6'1, 190 lbs.   One of my favorite new names from the 2024 season, RB [player_tooltip player_id='1602718' first='Rory' last='Kvern'] is a well-built, powerful, North-South RB who is a load-and-a-half for opposing defenses to corral over four quarters. Kvern beat up and wore down the physical and experienced Eagles' defense and was easily churning out 5 and 6-yard runs carry to carry. Runs behind his pads, strong lower body and excellent contact balance, gets better as the game goes on, and loves running defenders over, Kvern's game translates well to the college level and he absolutely has the size, physicality, and playmaking ability to be a successful college RB. Forces defenders to make business decisions and is a heckuva tough assignment when he gets downhill with a full head of steam.   [player_tooltip player_id='1120570' first='Parker' last='Burckhardt'] - 2026. WR. 6', 175 lbs.   I knew that Burckhardt was going to have a big year after getting a glimpse of him at a preseason 7v7 tourney, but the junior pass-catcher from Orono has been producing and playing like a certified Breakout Star in 2024. Burckhardt frankly dominated a FCS CB commit in the ball game, beating him on two separate 4th down throws and really highlighting his route-running ability on a variety of reps throughout the night. Deep balls, underneath throws, and 3-step drops, Burckhardt is a quick, nuanced, and smooth route runner who is deadly at the top of the route and wants the ball in his hands at big moments. Can consistently get open against both man and zone coverage, twitchy COD ability and footwork, and good speed deep, this kid is a natural, fluid wide receiver who makes things look easy out there. I don't use this term often, but Burckhardt is a dog who is going to get open no matter who he is lined up against. Get on him now, he's one of the best WRs in the 2026 class.   Owen Paulson - 2027. Safety. 5'10, 150 lbs.   Not the biggest player on the field, but I'd argue that sophomore safety Paulson was the hardest-hitting. Coming from his safety spot, Paulson was like a heat-seeking missile coming into contact. Paulson had noticeable and impressive range in run support and could cover a ton of ground when running down RBs in the open field thanks to his speed and effort. Paulson also came completely untethered and full-out into contact. Good technique, but the absoluteness he showed when hurdling into ball carriers really got me fired up as a former safety. Runs the alley well, great pursuit angles, and has the speed to run down loose ball carriers once they get loose in the open field, Paulson smacked the crap out of a couple Totino ball carriers, and I was pumped when I found out this kid is only a sophomore. Lots of good football left for the Spartans' safety.   [player_tooltip player_id='1602677' first='Dane' last='Kanwischer'] - 2026. SS. 6'3, 200 lbs.   Eye-catching size from the FS position that passed the eye test with flying colors, Kanwischer was an imposing, physical, and athletic presence at the back of the Spartans' defense. Kanwischer has good speed for his size and was able to corral, run down, and generally act as a safety valve for his defense when RBs would occasionally get loose. easily able to clean up messes thanks to his strong ability to tackle in space and in 1v1 situations, Kanwischer also had some boom at the contact point and laid some massive hits on TG RBs throughout the game and I liked how he always seemed to be in good position and able to clean up big plays of the Eagles. Kanwischer is a big reason why Orono's defense is so stingy, and his eye-catching size at the position really helps improve his stock as a collegiate prospect. He's also a heckuva athlete and was doing some impressive things during halftime warm-ups just messing around out there, so I am suddenly very bullish on his projection to the college level.   Devin Warner - 2027. iDL. 5'11, 290 lbs.   Didn't realize Warner was a sophomore until after the game, but I loved the sophomore's heavy hands, base, and ability to eat and work through multiple blocking attempts while holding a gap and stuffing up running lanes. Big, strong underclassman with a lot of good football in front of him.

Late Friday afternoon, under a setting suburban sun and a warm October breeze, one of the best games of Minnesota's Week 7 slate lived up to its hype. A massive 4A showdown between #2 Totino-Grace - then 6-0 - hosted an also undefeated #3 Orono Spartans squad coming off a huge win against fellow 4A heavyweight Providence Academy the week before. Top 5 matchup, two undefeated teams, D1 commits, up-and-coming playmakers, and two very high-quality football teams led to one of the best games of the 2024 season, a crazy, last-minute finish, and some of the biggest hits I've seen this season. What a game it was! Check out PrepRedzoneMN's exclusive recap, as well as the game's top performers and MVP, below!