Minnesota State Semifinals All-Tournament Team: Thursday Edition

I don't know about you, but I'm still buzzing from the wild weekend of Minnesota state semifinal playoff football. Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 14 games, seven classes, some of the best games of the season, and some of the biggest names in the state all came together in Downtown Minneapolis at the US Bank Stadium. I was fortunate to watch ALL 14 games representing PrepRedzoneMN, and am thrilled to announce the 2024 Minnesota State Semifinal All-Tournament Team is live! First up: the All-Thursday Team. Check out the top performers from Marshall, Becker, Hills-Beaver Creek, Mountain Iron-Buhl, LeRoy-Ostrander/Lyle-Pacelli, Fertile-Beltrami, Minnetonka, and Anoka making up the All-Tournament Team: Thursday Edition.   --   Game MVPs:   Marshall vs. Becker: [player_tooltip player_id='1293093' first='Tristan' last='Kowalkowski'] (Becker) 2027. QB. 6', 180 lbs.   Hills-Beaver Creek vs. Mountain Iron-Buhl: [player_tooltip player_id='1573209' first='Beau' last='Bakken'] (Hills-Beaver Creek) 2025. RB/DE. 6'4, 220 lbs. Committed to South Dakota State   LeRoy-Ostrander/Lyle-Pacelli vs. Fertile-Beltrami: [player_tooltip player_id='502012' first='Isaiah' last='Wright'] (Fertile-Beltrami) 2025. RB. 5'11, 195 lbs. Uncommitted.   Anoka vs. Minnetonka: [player_tooltip player_id='591990' first='Caleb' last='Francois'] (Minnetonka) 2026. QB/ATH. 6'1, 190 lbs.   --   Quarterback:   First Team:   [player_tooltip player_id='1371692' first='Jamin' last='Metzger'] (Hills-Beaver Creek) 2026. 6'5, 200 lbs.   Prototypical frame & size of a college-ready pocket-passer. Great command of the ball and his offense. Huge arm that could stretch the field but also was accurate to all three levels and did a good job of distributing to a variety of targets with timing, accuracy, and ball security. One of the better 9man QBs I've ever seen.   [player_tooltip player_id='945346' first='Cam' last='Hungerholt'] (LeRoy-Ostrander/Lyle-Pacelli) 2025. 6'1, 190 lbs. Committed to MSU-Mankato.   A dazzling runner and ball carrier with an exceptional ability to extend plays and improvise from the QB position. Strong lower body and balance works through weaker tackle attempts with easy, and his scrambling and evasion is top-tier. Strong arm can push the ball downfield and put noticeable zip on his shorter and more intermediate throws. Strong tackler from the secondary as well. His elusiveness and explosiveness as a ball carrier needs to be accounted for every play and he's liable to take the rock to the house any play.   [player_tooltip player_id='591990' first='Caleb' last='Francois'] (Minnetonka) 2026. 6'1, 190 lbs.   Smooth, powerful downhill runner who never goes down easy and eats tackle attempts like it's his morning cereal. Always carries tacklers for extra yardage and glides by pursuers and defenders with his burst and easy footwork. Power, speed, and fluidity. Violent at the contact point and tough as nails. Never takes a rep off through four quarters and has a ton of carries on the season.   Second Team:   Micaden Clines (Mountain Iron-Buhl) 2025. 6', 185 lbs. Uncommitted.   [player_tooltip player_id='1293093' first='Tristan' last='Kowalkowski'] (Becker) 2027. 6', 180 lbs.   [player_tooltip player_id='485214' first='Peyton' last='Podany'] (Anoka) 2025. 6'3, 190 lbs. Uncommitted.   Running Back:   First Team:   [player_tooltip player_id='502012' first='Isaiah' last='Wright'] (Fertile- Beltrami) 2025. 5'11, 195 lbs. Uncommitted.   361 yards and 7 TDs in a state semifinal in one of the most loaded 9man brackets in a while. Explosive, dominant, untouchable. Wright was the MVP of Thursday, no question.   [player_tooltip player_id='1573209' first='Beau' last='Bakken'] (Hills-Beaver Creek) 2025. 6'4, 220 lbs. Committed to South Dakota State.   Looked like a man amongst boys on Thursday. Not only was he massive, Bakken was also fast, dynamic, and playing with a nonstop motor. He was guaranteed five yards a carry, could easily drive his legs through tackle attempts, and had a mean and violent truck stick that punished defenders through four quarters. Good burst, could get up to top speed quickly, and was tough as nails. Massively challenging assignment for a defense over four quarter.   [player_tooltip player_id='641223' first='Zach' last='Welch'] (Anoka) 2025. 6', 205 lbs. Uncommitted.   Ran with consistent violence and aggression. Great balance and fought like heck every single carry to stay upright. Could pump his legs and carry defenders for extra contact. Weapon out of the backfield in the passing game. Good burst and had a plethora of big carries and plays throughout the day against a stingy Skippers defense.   Second Team:   [player_tooltip player_id='1602768' first='Bryer' last='Strem'] (Fertile-Beltrami) 2026. 5'9, 145 lbs.   Derik Dahl (Mountain Iron-Buhl) 2025. 5'11, 180 lbs. Uncommitted.   Tyson Stevens (LeRoy-Ostrander/Lyle-Pacelli) 2025. 5'10, 165 lbs. Uncommitted.   Wide Receiver:   First Team:   [player_tooltip player_id='945329' first='Afy' last='Ibekwe'] (Anoka) 2025. 6'2, 180 lbs. Uncommitted.   Vertical threat with big-time ball skills and playmaking ability. His speed and burst aided him as a RB and ball carrier after the catch. Could easily take the top off the defense.   [player_tooltip player_id='1506853' first='Micah' last='Bush'] (Hills-Beaver Creek) 2026. 6'1, 175 lbs.   Consistently got open and was effective and quick at the top of the route. Dangerous after the catch with good speed and noticeable contact balance. Reliable route runner with big play ability as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='1602739' first='Sawyer' last='Brown'] (Becker) 2026. 6'1, 180 lbs.   Open field vision and elusiveness, dynamic athleticism, positional flexibility, soft hands, threw a TD and played WR.   Second Team:   [player_tooltip player_id='1248645' first='Mitchell' last='Soltau'] (Becker) 2025. 6'1, 180 lbs. Uncommitted.   [player_tooltip player_id='1290743' first='Reid' last='Hungerholt'] (LeRoy-Ostrander/Lyle-Pacelli) 2027. 6'2, 160 lbs.   [player_tooltip player_id='446976' first='Trey' last='Borchers'] (Anoka) 2025. 6'2, 180 lbs. Committed to Northern State University.   Tight End/Fullback:   First Team:   [player_tooltip player_id='1204380' first='Ryder' last='Stern'] (LeRoy-Ostrander/Lyle-Pacelli) 2025. TE. 6'1, 200 lbs. Uncommitted.   [player_tooltip player_id='1583254' first='Gavin' last='Schaefer'] (Marshall) 2025. 6'2, 230 lbs. Fullback. Uncommitted.   Noah Baerenwald (Minnetonka) 2026. TE. 6'3, 205 lbs.   Second Team:   [player_tooltip player_id='945900' first='Evan' last='Anderson'] (Mountain Iron-Buhl) 2025. TE. 5'9, 215 lbs.   [player_tooltip player_id='1255910' first='Preston' last='Hanson'] (Fertile-Beltrami) 2026. TE. 6'5, 195 lbs.   Jacob Gendreau (Minnetonka) 2026. TE. 6'1, 210 lbs.   Offensive Line:   First Team:   [player_tooltip player_id='945939' first='Jake' last='Allex'] (Marshall) 2025. 6'4, 295 lbs. Committed to Bemidji State.   Kingston Hamblin (Minnetonka) 2026. 6'4, 285 lbs.   Tank of a run blocker. Mobile, quick, laterally agile, and can hit reach blocks and tough pulls from his OG spot. Massive, physical, strong, and a great frame for the college level.   Griffin Moore (Minnetonka) 2026. 6'4, 285 lbs.   Huge OL who is an effective puller and shows great balance for his size. Can easily climb to the second level and can stop/start and change direction well, is laterally agile, and I never saw him hit the turf unless he was finishing a block into the turf. Very effective puller. Great size.   [player_tooltip player_id='1582792' first='Jack' last='Moser'] (Hills-Beaver Creek) 2025. 6'5, 260 lbs. Uncommitted.   [player_tooltip player_id='1602687' first='Aiden' last='Zapzalka'] (Minnetonka) 2026. OC. 6' 260 lbs.   Second Team:   Luca Raymond (Mountain Iron-Buhl) 2025. 5'9, 225 lbs. Uncommitted.   Caleb Stoltman (Fertile-Beltrami) 2025. 5'11, 225 lbs. Uncommitted.   [player_tooltip player_id='945893' first='Chris' last='King'] (Mountain Iron-Buhl) 2025. 6'2, 250 lbs. Committed to Minnesota-Duluth   [player_tooltip player_id='1202010' first='Jackson' last='Duncan'] (Becker) 2025. 6'3, 250 lbs. Uncommitted.   [player_tooltip player_id='1556202' first='Dustin' last='Burton'] (Anoka) 2027.   [player_tooltip player_id='1204390' first='Cason' last='Copley'] (Minnetonka) 2025. 6'4, 260 lbs. Uncommitted.   [player_tooltip player_id='1204083' first='Aidan' last='Becker'] (Minnetonka) 2025. 6'2, 240 lbs. Committed to MSU-Mankato.   Defensive Line:   First Team:   [player_tooltip player_id='1573209' first='Beau' last='Bakken'] (Hills-Beaver Creek) 2025. 6'4, 220 lbs. Committed to South Dakota State.   Absolute game-wrecker. Bendy, pass rush ability started the scoring off for HBC as he forced a safety early in the 1st quarter. Great motor and sideline-to-sideline speed and pursuit ability was a scary combination. Had nearly 15 tackles at halftime alone. Rangy, processes and reacts with pace, and is a tackle machine who never quits. Unblockable most of the game. Crushing hitter.   [player_tooltip player_id='945893' first='Chris' last='King'] (Mountain Iron-Buhl) 2025. 6'2, 250 lbs. Committed to Minnesota-Duluth.   Another game-wrecker who had more than fair share of TFLs and sacks in the state semifinals. Punch and strength at the point of attack had him pushing blockers into the backfield and into the ball to single-handily halt plays and series. Can make tackles through contact, read and chase down option runners, play assignment-sound football, and shows good pursuit speed and motor. Physically dominant with pass-rush ability. Played both ways and never took a rep off. Consistently disruptive and played his best football under the bright lights.   [player_tooltip player_id='1583254' first='Gavin' last='Schaefer'] (Marshall) 2025. 6'2, 230 lbs. Uncommitted.   [player_tooltip player_id='1003346' first='Noah' last='Berrini'] (Mountain Iron-Buhl) 2025. 6'3, 250 lbs. Uncommitted. Ran down plays from the backside of the LOS, got better as the game went on, and pass-rush ability as well as forcefulness in run defense. Huge kid who played both ways and had some key plays throughout the 9Man state semifinal.   Second Team:   [player_tooltip player_id='1582792' first='Jack' last='Moser'] (Hills-Beaver Creek) 2025. 6'5, 260 lbs. Uncommitted.   Luca Raymond (Mountain Iron-Buhl) 2025. 5'9, 225 lbs. Uncommitted.   Caleb Stoltman (Fertile-Beltrami) 2025. 5'11, 225 lbs. Uncommitted.   [player_tooltip player_id='362280' first='Caleb' last='Taylor'] (Minnetonka) 2025. 6', 240 lbs. Uncommitted.   Linebacker:   First Team:   [player_tooltip player_id='641131' first='Dylan' last='Hudgens'] (Minnetonka) 2025. 6'2, 215 lbs. Committed to South Dakota   [player_tooltip player_id='1255910' first='Preston' last='Hanson'] (Fertile-Beltrami) 2026. 6'5, 195 lbs.   [player_tooltip player_id='641223' first='Zach' last='Welch'] (Anoka) 2025. 6', 205 lbs. Uncommitted.   Jack Meier (Marshall) 2025. 6'2, 210 lbs. Uncommitted   Second Team:   Sawyer Bosch (Hills-Beaver Creek) 2025. 5'10, 180 lbs. Uncommitted.   Derik Dahl (Mountain Iron-Buhl) 2025. 5'11, 180 lbs. Uncommitted.   Joshua Kraft (Marshall) 2025. 6'1, 200 lbs. Uncommitted.   [player_tooltip player_id='234785' first='Jack' last='Yerhot'] (Minnetonka) 2025. 5'10, 185 lbs. Uncommitted.   Defensive Back:   First Team:   [player_tooltip player_id='1629868' first='Jayden' last='Meister'] (Marshall) 2027. 6'5, 175 lbs.   [player_tooltip player_id='945346' first='Cam' last='Hungerholt'] (LeRoy-Ostrander/Lyle-Pacelli) 2025. 6'1, 190 lbs. Committed to MSU-Mankato   Kirion Vogel (Minnetonka) 2027. 5'8, 140 lbs.   Only a sophomore playing under the bright lights of a 6A, Big School state semifinal against a dangerous passing attack. Stick coverage who didn't mind playing physically, great job contesting on 50/50 balls, and had the speed to carry WRs deep. Broke up a variety of passes throughout the evening while treading the line of physicality. Stays in-phase and has good body control. Played much bigger than the size would suggest.   Micaden Clines (Mountain Iron-Buhl) 2025. 6', 185 lbs. Uncommitted.   [player_tooltip player_id='1506853' first='Micah' last='Bush'] (Hills-Beaver Creek) 2026. 6'1, 175 lbs.   Second Team:   [player_tooltip player_id='1654536' first='Jace' last='Gacke'] (Hills-Beaver Creek) 2028. 5'10, 145 lbs.   [player_tooltip player_id='1290743' first='Reid' last='Hungerholt'] (LeRoy-Ostrander/Lyle-Pacelli) 2027. 6'2, 160 lbs.   [player_tooltip player_id='1602768' first='Bryer' last='Strem'] (Fertile-Beltrami) 2025. 2026. 5'9, 145 lbs.   Isaac Daluge (Becker) 2025. 5'10, 155 lbs. Uncommitted.   Cooper Bakke (Anoka) 2025. Uncommitted.   [player_tooltip player_id='1202015' first='Malachi' last='Boadi']-Aboagye (Minnetonka) 2025. 6'2, 210 lbs. Committed to St. Thomas   Specialists:   First Team:   [player_tooltip player_id='1602768' first='Bryer' last='Strem'] (Fertile-Beltrami) 2026. 5'9, 145 lbs. Returner.   [player_tooltip player_id='1371692' first='Jamin' last='Metzger'] (Hills-Beaver Creek) 2026. 6'5, 200 lbs. Punter.   Second Team:   Kamari Hibbler (Anoka) 2025. Returner.

I don't know about you, but I'm still buzzing from the wild weekend of Minnesota state semifinal playoff football. Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 14 games, seven classes, some of the best games of the season, and some of the biggest names in the state all came together in Downtown Minneapolis at the US Bank Stadium. I was fortunate to watch ALL 14 games representing PrepRedzoneMN, and am thrilled to announce the 2024 Minnesota State Semifinal All-Tournament Team is live! First up: the All-Thursday Team. Check out the top performers from Marshall, Becker, Hills-Beaver Creek, Mountain Iron-Buhl, LeRoy-Ostrander/Lyle-Pacelli, Fertile-Beltrami, Minnetonka, and Anoka making up the All-Tournament Team: Thursday Edition.