PrepRedzoneMN Heroes of Week 7

The #3 6A and #7 6A competitors upset, narrative streets collide, best game of the season, best play of the season, best finish of the season, multiple walk-off FGs, losing steaks broken, 9Man shootouts, and some of the biggest and best rivalries in the state all were represented in Minnesota's Week 7 slate of games and action. Dare I say, the best week of the season so far? That's up to you, dear reader. Dig into the best games, most important storylines, and biggest Heroes of Minnesota's action-packed Week 7, only on PRZMN!   --   Minnesota Week 7: [player_tooltip player_id='1248616' first='Beau' last='Nicklay'] (Byron) 2027. WR/DB.   Read more about Nicklay's heroics below!   Byron 29, Stewartville 26   Game of the year? I think this is game of the year material, folks. Stewartville, in their augural season up in class 4A post-2024 3A state championship and classification promotion, took the undefeated and #1 ranked Byron Bears to the absolute wire, featuring a finish so good it was as exciting as it was hard to replicate. Down 21-14 with 9:19 left in the game, Stewartville put together a complete scoring drive that saw 2027 RB [player_tooltip player_id='1654039' first='Simon' last='Emanuel'] find paydirt from 1-yard out with 2:13 left, things started to get spooky. Two false starts on the ensuing 2pt conversion, the Tigers eventually attempted a long PAT, which was unsuccessful, but thrillingly recovered the onside kick with 2:12 left in the 4th, setting the stage for a wild finish, although no one at Stewartville High School thought it would be this crazy. Another strong offensive drive saw 2026 star RB [player_tooltip player_id='1602765' first='Malik' last='Abdi'] score his third rushing TD of the contest with a mere 49 seconds left, the home crowd was rockin', but Byron, after receiving the kickoff, had something left in the tank. After catching a deep slant over the middle, 2027 stud ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1248616' first='Beau' last='Nicklay'] stepped through a tackle attempt, cut outside to force another miss, but was turned back around, cutting back right to the other direction, where Stewie's defense had lost contain and given the PRZMN Showcase standout and veteran Nicklay a free run up the home sideline for six. Walk-off, no time left, Byron wins. Nothing else to say but "wow!"   Game Hero: [player_tooltip player_id='1248616' first='Beau' last='Nicklay'] (Byron) 2027. WR/DB. - 1 catch for 40 yards and a TD, 2 tackles. Game-winning, walk-off catch and YAC effort for the best finish since New London-Spicer's walkoff in the state championship a few years ago.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/PBglimbeck/status/1976841126759088160 </div></figure>   Edina 27, Minnetonka 20   With 2027 potential-superstar of a gunslinger [player_tooltip player_id='1029336' first='Caden' last='Gutzmer'] still out due to injury, Class 6A #2 Minnetonka once again became the [player_tooltip player_id='591990' first='Caleb' last='Francois'] show, but the Iowa State Cyclone RB commit wasn't enough to keep his Skippers away from upset alert as fellow Classic Lake rival Edina takes down Minnetonka on the road. Francois got his home squad going early, throwing for a 51-yard TD to breakout WR sensation [player_tooltip player_id='1120526' first='Cody' last='Braun'] and following it up two minutes later with a 30-yard pass to 2027 two-way dynamo [player_tooltip player_id='1570002' first='Kirion' last='Vogel']. However, the Hornets came storming back, led behind a heckuva ground-and-pound game by senior RB (and goalie!) [player_tooltip player_id='923840' first='Chase' last='Bjorgaard'], as well as some fireworks before halftime, as Chicago Blackhawks First Round Draft Pick [player_tooltip player_id='592125' first='Mason' last='West'] found another breakout star in Sammy Stephenson for one of the plays of the season...so far. 'Tonka tied it up at 20 in the 3rd quarter, but Bjorgaard's 4th quarter TD rush from 11-yards out with 6:09 left in the ball game proved to be the difference! Upset alert in Week 7, 6A, and the Lake Conference!   Game Hero: [player_tooltip player_id='923840' first='Chase' last='Bjorgaard'] (Edina) 2026. RB. 6', 215 lbs. - 42 carries for 187 yards and 3 TDs   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/WillHallKARE11/status/1976860569404948841 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/lakeconference_/status/1976827781288722912 </div></figure>   Cloquet 21, Duluth East 20   4A win over a 5A opponent in Week 7, as the Lumberjacks were too much to handle for the hosting Greyhounds. However, late game heroics were needed, and the biggest Hero goes to Cloquet's senior Ben Frerich, the kicker and offensive linemen, who booted the go-ahead game winner with less than 10 seconds left remaining on the game clock. To sweeten the pot, this was Frerich's first field goal attempt of the season, and it gave Cloquet their third-straight win of the season after starting 0-4 to open 2025. Gritty win for Cloquet on the road, as they led 12-8 after one, 18-14 at half, but then lost the lead in the 4th quarter before Frerich stepped up to the plate in the biggest moment of his high school career. The 225 lb. senior is also uncommitted!   Game Hero: Ben Frerich (Cloquet) 2026. K/OL/DL. 6', 225 lbs. - Kicked the 25-yard gamer winner.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/CloquetFootball/status/1976851369530396755 </div></figure>   Osseo 23, Andover 21   Two of the better storylines of 2025 came crashing together head-to-head in Week 7's 6A schedule as Osseo overpowered Andover 23-21, handing the Huskies only their second loss of the season and notching their fourth win of the season for the first time since 2021. The Orioles - who in the midst of year 1 back in the hands of former Big School state champion head coach Derrin Lamker - didn't lead in this one until the end, when senior soccer player and first-year kicker Ethan Khamvongsouk nailed a 30-yard FG with only three seconds remaining on the game clock, finishing the upset of then-#7-ranked Andover to shake up the 6A ranks. Osseo, thanks to a handful of stout defensive performances from their senior class, notably 6'3, 225 lb. DL [player_tooltip player_id='1420955' first='Myles' last='Castleberry'], who notched five tackles and one sack on the evening, were able to keep Mr. Football contender Joe Mapson in line, especially through the air, and overcame a two-score deficit to earn their best win of the season. Good to see Osseo competitive again.   Game Hero: Ethan Khamvongsouk (Osseo) 2026. K. 5'8, 160 lbs.   Honorable Mention: [player_tooltip player_id='1420955' first='Myles' last='Castleberry'] (Osseo) 2026. DL. 6'3, 225 lbs. - 5 tackles + 1 sack   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Osseo_Football/status/1976818410207297995 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/castldude07/status/1967751543886942215 </div></figure>   St. Michael-Albertville 29, Moorhead 27   Big win for STMA and an uplifting moment in the Knights now 2-5 2025 prep football season. STMA made the drive up I94W and got a hard-fought road win against the dynamic Spuds, whose brightest stars once again shone behind the leadership of 2027 backup QB [player_tooltip player_id='1662721' first='Austin' last='Dryburgh'], who threw 2 TDs to [player_tooltip player_id='1629849' first='David' last='Mack'] in the 4th quarter to bring his Spuds back in contention from a 29-13 deficit, sitting at 29-27 with a 2pt conversion the only thing holding them back from glory. However, STMA had a junior of their own step up in the game's biggest moment, breaking up the 2pt attempted pass from Dryburgh to seal the victory late in the 4th. I'm sure that road trip back to St. Michael was a fun for the Knights!   Game Hero: Isaiah Ophoven (STMA) 2027. DB. 6'3, 180 lbs. - 3 tackles + game-winning PBU   Honorable Mention: [player_tooltip player_id='1288313' first='Taye' last='Reich'] (Moorhead) 2027. RB. - 18 carries for 200 yards and 2 TDs   Ty Haring (STMA) 2026. QB/ATH. 6', 175 lbs. - 9/15 for 152 yards and 3 TDs to 0 INTs, 9 rushes for 32 yards and 1 TD   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/StmaFB/status/1976823692077252787 </div></figure>   <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17857163/68ebefd22571e8dd77a6ec14">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17857163/68ebefd22571e8dd77a6ec14</a>   Minneapolis Southwest 28, Minneapolis Washburn 21   Separated by only 2.4 miles on the south side of Minneapolis, Southwest and Washburn high schools have one of the more lowkey yet feisty rivalries in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, though I'm sad to say as a Southwest alum that the score lines have predominately been dominated by the Millers. The last win for Southwest came in 2021, which was the second in a row at that time, but the last three contests went to Millers, who must have felt good going into the home matchup, seeing how they hadn't lost at their home field since 2014. However, Southwest, led by senior QB [player_tooltip player_id='923855' first='Kyler' last='Thom'] and a host of experienced upperclassmen playmakers, namely UST commit [player_tooltip player_id='924228' first='Jacob' last='Hartman'], made the most of the moment, slowly but surely taking command of the ball game, especially when it mattered most. 14-14 at half after all four TDs came in the first quarter, Thom found Hartman for the 3rd quarter's lone score, and after a few back-and-forth's between the two sides, Southwest again found paydirt through the air, as Thom found 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='1120562' first='Lincoln' last='Ribnick'] to dig a 28-14 hole that Washburn didn't have enough time to climb out of. This is the game, and the win, that Southwest Lakers dream about, folks. Congrats, boys! I was pumped all weekend.   4th win in a row for Southwest, first win against Washburn since 2021, first win AT Washburn since 2014   Game Hero: [player_tooltip player_id='923855' first='Kyler' last='Thom'] (Southwest) 2026. QB. - 16/24 for 223 yards and 3 TDs to 0 INTs + 6 rushes for 61 yards. Showed up in the biggest game of his now-four-year career with Southwest.   Honorable Mention: [player_tooltip player_id='924228' first='Jacob' last='Hartman'] (Southwest) 2026. ATH. Committed to St. Thomas. - 3 catches for 35 yards and 1 TD + 14 tackles, which led both sides.   Henry Eichten (Washburn) 2026. RB. 6', 185 lbs. - 19 carries for 148 yards and 1 TD + 2 catches for 25 yards and 1 TD + 8 tackles, which led the Millers' defense   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/LakersFootball1/status/1977361294970806777 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/ThomKyler/status/1977125895212351939 </div></figure>   Pillager 30, Staples-Motley 24   The small school game of the week and maybe the game of the week overall going into Week 7's slate of matchups, #6 and undefeated Pillager visiting the also undefeated, #4 ranked, defending Class AA semifinalist Staples-Motley, lived up to the hype. The hosting Cardinals were in control for most of the ball game, holding an 8-0 lead after one, 16-8 at the half, and 16-14 after three. However, Pillager took the lead with 11:50 left in the ball game on a Grant Grimsley 1-yard plunge, but Staples-Motley found their footing again, as superstar two-sporter Colbe Tabbe found paydirt on a 9-yard carry to make it 24-22 with 7:50 left in the game. However, with only 2:06 left in the contest, Trenton Thesing scored on a 17-yard go-ahead score to reclaim the lead at 30-24, and managed to hold off the finals Cardinals push for the win, upping their undefeated record to 7-0 and firmly supplanting themselves in the Top 3 of Class AA.   Game Hero: Grant Grimsley (Pillager) 2026. QB/FS. 6', 160 lbs. - 180 rushing yards and 3 TDs   <a href="https://fan.hudl.com/usa/mn/pillager/organization/18502/pillager-high-school/team/224152/boys-varsity-football/schedule?date=2025-10-05T05%3A00%3A00.000Z&range=Week&ss=2025&s=U2NoZWR1bGVFbnRyeVB1YmxpY1N1bW1hcnk2ODZkMDExNTkxNmMxMjA2Yzg0OWRjNjA%3D">https://fan.hudl.com/usa/mn/pillager/organization/18502/pillager-high-school/team/224152/boys-varsity-football/schedule?date=2025-10-05T05%3A00%3A00.000Z&range=Week&ss=2025&s=U2NoZWR1bGVFbnRyeVB1YmxpY1N1bW1hcnk2ODZkMDExNTkxNmMxMjA2Yzg0OWRjNjA%3D</a>   Mounds View 28, Forest Lake 23   Upset alert! Upset alert! #3 in Class 6A goes down, dropping their undefeated record and joining the state's #2 - Minnetonka - in making Week 7 a memorable one in the upset department. Shoutout to Mounds View, who got up early, played tough, and hung on for the gritty 6A W, getting up as much as 28-10 after 2026 6'5, 205 lb. QB [player_tooltip player_id='447798' first='Beckham' last='Wheeler'] found Game Hero and NDSU commit Godson Rufus-Okomhanru for three straight scores, a 16-yarder with 5:32 left in the 2nd, a 62-yarder with 2:01 left in the half, and the final score on a 22-yard pitch & catch with 4:45 left in the third. The lead turned out to be just enough, as Forest Lake crawled back to life with a Mack Jurkovich TD run and [player_tooltip player_id='743253' first='Connor' last='Johnson'] to [player_tooltip player_id='743254' first='DJ' last='Westman'] touchdown connection. Credit to the Mustangs, who gave up 130 yards and 2 TDs to superstar [player_tooltip player_id='1289874' first='Mack' last='Jurkovich'] but still managed to hold on for the victory. What a shakeup in Class 6A this past week!   Game Hero: [player_tooltip player_id='923834' first='Godson' last='Rufus-Okomhanru'] (Mounds View) 2026. ATH. 5'11, 185 lbs. Committed to North Dakota State. - 5 catches for 107 yards and 3 TDs   Honorable Mention: [player_tooltip player_id='1289874' first='Mack' last='Jurkovich'] (Forest Lake) 2027. RB. - 21 carries for 130 yards and 2 TDs   <a href="https://fan.hudl.com/usa/mn/arden-hills/organization/5453/mounds-view-high-school/team/14537/boys-varsity-football/schedule?date=2025-10-05T05%3A00%3A00.000Z&range=Week&ss=2025&s=U2NoZWR1bGVFbnRyeVB1YmxpY1N1bW1hcnk2ODMwNzg3NTEzMTIyODZmOGZlZTcwMmI%3D">https://fan.hudl.com/usa/mn/arden-hills/organization/5453/mounds-view-high-school/team/14537/boys-varsity-football/schedule?date=2025-10-05T05%3A00%3A00.000Z&range=Week&ss=2025&s=U2NoZWR1bGVFbnRyeVB1YmxpY1N1bW1hcnk2ODMwNzg3NTEzMTIyODZmOGZlZTcwMmI%3D</a>   Owatonna 21, Rochester Mayo 20   After [player_tooltip player_id='1902781' first='Miles' last='Ties']' (2029, K/RB, 6', 160) second FG of the night extended Rochester Mayo's lead over Owatonna 20-7 with 8:00 left in the 4th, the defending Class 5A semifinalist Huskies kicked themselves into gear, manufacturing one of the better comebacks and finishes you'll see in 2025. After forcing a 4th down, Owatonna's Carson Bock (2027, 5'9, 180, LB) blocked Mayo's attempted punt, after which teammate Nolan Roloff fell on the ball to get Owatonna back in the football game with a 20-14 deficit with 5:14 left in the ball game. After regaining possession thanks to some tough defense, the Huskies once again drove down the field with precision, forcing a 4th and goal from the Mayo 2-yard line with 57 seconds left. Thankfully, Huskies junior QB Aedan Tackmann found paydirt from 8 yards out, the second video embedded below, and Owatonna took over the lead after a successful PAT. The comeback by the Spartans wasn't meant to be, and Owatonna earned a nice Week 7 W to try and build some momentum going into sections. This has also been a WILD year for Rochester Mayo, who have seen more than fair share of tight ball games, some of which they've come out on top of, and others not so much. Crazy year in Class 5A!   Game Hero: Carson Bock (Owatonna) 2027. LB. - 6 tackles, .5 sack, blocked punt that was recovered by a teammate for a TD   HM: [player_tooltip player_id='493343' first='Tristan' last='Graham'] (Owatonna) 2026. RB. 5'6, 160 lbs. - 32 carries for 153 tough yards   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/WeisbrodJon/status/1976830593452413041 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/WeisbrodJon/status/1976834015492796807 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/WeisbrodJon/status/1976835892728742023 </div></figure>   Waseca 35, Albert Lea 10   Representing about as Southern Minnesota as you can get, the Albert Lea Tigers have been arguably the best narrative of the still-developing 2025 prep football season in Minnesota. PRZMN has had you firmly covered on the Tigers' historic success in 2025, as the Class AAA competitor has gone 4-0, then 5-0, for the first time since the 1989 season, highlighted by impressive backup QB play, a Winona State commit, and a host of nicely-framed playmakers. However, a Week 6 loss to St. Peter 26-21 has snowballed into their second-straight loss, this time coming to Class 3A #1 ranked Waseca. The Bluejays, PRZMN's favorite for the state title in 2025, used their star power to get up early and dig a hole that the Tigers simply could not climb out of, as [player_tooltip player_id='592119' first='Deron' last='Russell'] - a NDSU football commit and one of the best hoopers in the 2026 class - scored on a 42-yard pitch & catch from 2028 QB [player_tooltip player_id='1653241' first='Kellen' last='Klinger'] less than two minutes into the first quarter, and he added an electric 60-yard punt return a little more than a minute later, overcoming Albert Lea's eventual point total himself. NDSU got a good one in [player_tooltip player_id='592119' first='Deron' last='Russell'], that much is clear through seven weeks of regular season action in Minnesota.   Game Hero: [player_tooltip player_id='592119' first='Deron' last='Russell'] (Waseca) 2026. ATH. 6'1, 165 lbs. - No stats available, 1 receiving TD and 1 punt return TD   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/DeronRussell21/status/1977799020425994738 </div></figure>   Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons 52, LeRoy-Ostrander/Lyle-Pacelli 46   Easily the biggest shootout of Minnesota's Week 7, 9Man small town foes Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons and LeRoy-Ostrander/Lyle-Pacelli created fireworks under Friday Night Lights, scoring a combined 15 touchdowns between the two sides while creating some especially eye-popping individual stat lines. Fast forward through 14 of those TDs and we have AC/GE staring down a scoring opportunity with under two minutes left in the game while sitting on the plus side of the 50-yard line, and the Knights were ready to seize the moment with the scoreline sitting at 46-46. With a mere 1:12 left in the ball game, 2025 szn stock riser [player_tooltip player_id='1662074' first='Jacob' last='Dulitz'] popped off for a 34-yard scamper of a TD carry, putting the game away in front of his home crowd's boisterous cheers while notching his Knights up to a 5-2 record in 2025. Nothing better than a 9man shootout!   Game Hero: Darin Linn (AC/GE) 2026. RB/LB. 5'10, 180 lbs. - 6 rushing TDs   Honorable Mention:   [player_tooltip player_id='1290743' first='Reid' last='Hungerholt'] (LO/LP) 2027. ATH. - 17-47 for 386 yards and 6 TDs + 18 rushes for 58 yards + 2 tackles   Hunter Wollenburg (LO/LP) 2027. WR. 6'3, 190 lbs. - 6 catches for 149 yards and 2 TDs   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/DARINLINN05/status/1868092211021430853 </div></figure>   Centennial 28, Blaine 21   One of the fiercest rivalries in the state, regardless of sport, Blaine and Centennial don't like each other very much, athletically-speaking, and the Cougars and Bengals football feuds, as well as hockey battles, have created some incredibly tense, physical, and electric atmospheres and finishes over the years. 2025 was no exception on the gridiron, as the Cougars needed some late game heroics from their defensive back corps to get 'er done away and on the road. Centennial was up 14-0 at halftime thanks to an [player_tooltip player_id='591982' first='Isaac' last='Belinske-Strauss'] rushing TD in the first and an [player_tooltip player_id='1075477' first='Edwin' last='Ekah'] (2028, RB, 6', 180 lbs.) 17-yard scoring rush in the second, but the fireworks were saved for the second half. Four TDs in the third quarter, including a 92-yard kickoff return for six from Tanner Dittrich (2026, 5'9, 170, RB/CB), brought the game to a 21-21 stalemate before Belinske-Strauss scored on a 7-yard carry to put his Cougars up 28-21 with 7:31 left in the ball game. However, Blaine drove deep into Centennial territory with a chance to tie, but Cougars senior DB Justin Driver perfectly read the route and intercepted an attempted Bengals downfield pass at his own three-yard line. Boom, game over. This game is always lightning in a bottle.   Game Hero: Justin Driver (Centennial) 2026. DB. - Centennial doesn't upload stats, but Driver reeled in the game-sealing INT late in the ball game.   <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17835752/68eb9309456e0b1b849697bb">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17835752/68eb9309456e0b1b849697bb</a>   <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17835798/68eb93093c3ab47102841d77">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17835798/68eb93093c3ab47102841d77</a>   Delano 26, Orono 21   A matchup of 4A heavyweights, Orono led all game long. That is, until the final score of the ball game, when 2028 stud 6'2, 185 lb. tailback and defensive back Bryce Beyer put the exclamation point on his 3-TD performance on Friday night, scoring from 57 yards out to give his Tigers a 26-21 lead too late in the 4th quarter for Orono to recover. This sophomore needs to be on the PRZMN rankings ASAP!   Game Hero: Bryce Beyer (Delano) 2028. RB/DB. 6'2, 185 lbs. - 18 carries for 131 yards and 3 TDs   Honorable Mention: Isaac Miller (Delano) 2026. DB. 6', 165 lbs. - 11 tackles + 1 INT   [player_tooltip player_id='1257235' first='Davin' last='Clare'] (Delano) 2026. DL. 6'2, 205 lbs. - 9 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 FF   <a href="https://fan.hudl.com/usa/mn/delano/organization/10247/delano-high-school/team/23417/boys-varsity-football/schedule?date=2025-10-05T05%3A00%3A00.000Z&range=Week&ss=2025&s=U2NoZWR1bGVFbnRyeVB1YmxpY1N1bW1hcnk2OGE3Njg3MTUxMTViODkxMWRmNmQwNzU%3D">https://fan.hudl.com/usa/mn/delano/organization/10247/delano-high-school/team/23417/boys-varsity-football/schedule?date=2025-10-05T05%3A00%3A00.000Z&range=Week&ss=2025&s=U2NoZWR1bGVFbnRyeVB1YmxpY1N1bW1hcnk2OGE3Njg3MTUxMTViODkxMWRmNmQwNzU%3D</a>   Mahtomedi 28, Cretin-Derham Hall 27   Another week, another stretch of undefeated Mahtomedi not being talked about enough. From 3-7 in 2024 to now 7-0 in 2025, Mahtomedi is one of the feel-good stories of the regular season, and the Zephyrs did a great job of avenging their loss in 2024 to CDH, who knocked them out of the Section 4AAAAA semifinals 40-7 last fall. However, a bit of sophomore sensation powered Maht to this victory. 2028 wide receiver Jaxon Mitchell, who was moved up from Maht's B squad halfway through the season, scored his first two varsity TDs on Friday night, first on a 70-point bomb through the air and following it up with a 93-yard kickoff return for six. 21-14 at half, but Maht got up 28-14 in the 3rd, but the Raiders came storming back, scoring on a [player_tooltip player_id='1255140' first='JaDale' last='Thompson'] 10-yard TD gain to get within one, after which the CDH staff decided to go for two and the win. Attempting to run it back with [player_tooltip player_id='1255140' first='JaDale' last='Thompson'] was unsuccessful, and the Zephyrs walked away with their best win of the season. Just in time too, a matchup with 5A #1 St. Thomas Academy awaits Mahtomedi on Wednesday!   Game Hero: Jaxon Mitchell (Mahtomedi) 2028. WR/ATH.   Honorable Mention: [player_tooltip player_id='1656108' first='Sam' last='Heath'] (CDH) 2026. WR. 6'5, 195 lbs. - 7 catches for 153 yards and 1 TD   <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/28272437/68eb9b8158748e6fc1913303">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/28272437/68eb9b8158748e6fc1913303</a>   Monticello 22, Elk River 14   PRZMN was in attendance for this Thursday night 5A showdown, which ended up being one of the better games of the weekend's slate and made the Class 5A picture a lot clearer going into sectionals. Elk River scored on the opening drive of the ball game, using a patented Elks time-eating offensive push to get up 7-0 early, and then a beautiful kick by Elk River's Aidan Christianson (2026, 6', 185 lbs, K/P) bounced perfectly up in the air and away from the Monti kick returner, where it was successfully recovered by ER's KO coverage unit deep in Magic territory. Elk River scored a few plays later, building a 14-0 lead, and the defending Class 5A state champs looked like they may put this one away early. However, that same Monti returner who was tricked by the bounce, 2028 stud Johnny Moore, flushed the mistake like a good football player does, manufacturing the play of the game on the ensuing kickoff return. Moore, after a fake reverse to his fellow returner, sprinted East-West before perfectly reading his blocks, sticking his cleat in the ground, and getting vertical for a 60-yard return that - despite Monti being down 14-0 - reignited the home team's energy and momentum, which they used to score with a few plays later and basically reinventing this contest as a brand new ball game. All the scoring after that came from the Magic, and I'm comfortable saying that Elk River is not going to repeat as 5A state champs in 2025.   Game Hero: Johnny Moore (Monticello) 2028. SAF/KR/WR. 6', 200 lbs. - 8 tackles, 60-yard kick return   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JM_JohnnyMoore/status/1971556734440263717 </div></figure>   Sauk Rapids-Rice 32, Cambridge-Isanti 28   First win of the season for the Sauk Rapids-Rice 2025 squad, who downed a tough 3-3 Cambridge-Isanti squad at home in front of the Storm faithful. Both teams came out hot, with five TDs between the two sides in the first quarter, and when the dust settled after the quiet second quarter we had a 21-13 in favor of the away side. A SRR TD in the 3rd put the game within two (21-19), setting up a platform for a entertaining 4th and final quarter. Game Hero Carter Reideman scored both of his rushing TDs in the 4th, but the Bluejackets kept things interesting with a 4th quarter touchdown of their own, but the 195 lber. Riedeman's tough running style was too much to handle, as the Storm pulled away with a late score to capture the lead 32-28 deep in the contest. It turned out to be enough! Congrats, Storm! This 2025 SRR roster is too tough to not have a W by now.   Game Hero: Carter Riedeman (SRR) 2026. RB/DB. 6', 195 lbs. - 14 carries for 111 yards and 2 TDs, 12 catches for 86 yards and 1 TD   Honorable Mention: Peyton Coplan (CI) 2027. RB/DB. 5'10, 165 lbs. - 19 rushes for 135 yards and 1 TD   <a href="https://fan.hudl.com/usa/mn/sauk-rapids/organization/837/sauk-rapids-rice-hig-high-school/team/2300/boys-varsity-football/watch?hr=SGlnaGxpZ2h0UmVlbFN1bW1hcnk2OGU5ZWQ2NjdjMDc4NjIyZDc3N2IwNjU%3D&ot=TEAM&oi=2300">https://fan.hudl.com/usa/mn/sauk-rapids/organization/837/sauk-rapids-rice-hig-high-school/team/2300/boys-varsity-football/watch?hr=SGlnaGxpZ2h0UmVlbFN1bW1hcnk2OGU5ZWQ2NjdjMDc4NjIyZDc3N2IwNjU%3D&ot=TEAM&oi=2300</a>   Other Notable Scores   Bloomington Kennedy 12, Park Center 6   Minneapolis Camden forfeited to Minneapolis North   Twin Cities Charter forfeited to Minneapolis South   Sebeka 36, Verndale 34   Spring Grove 28, Lanesboro 24   Sleepy Eye United 13, MACCRAY 6   Thief River Falls 29, Park Rapids Area 28   Red Lake County 29, Park Christian 20 - Two 5-1 Class A competitors had themselves a helluva Week 7 showdown, with Red Lake County's Boe Nelson taking our Hero of the Game honors. The junior 6'1, 195 lber. rushed 20 times for 103 yards and 3 TDs on the ground against a stingy Park Christian defense. Keep an eye on Red Lake County in the ongoing Class A state title race! They are easy to root for.   Marshall 27, Fergus Falls 14 - Two of the best teams in Class 4A did battle on Friday night up in Fergus Falls. Marshall fullback [player_tooltip player_id='591747' first='Andrew' last='Stelter'] (2026, 6', 210 lbs.) rushed 13 times for 87 yards and all 4 of Marshall's TDs.   Dassel-Cokato 42, Holy Family 35   Jordan 28, Foley 21   Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman 42, Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda 34 - 2027 HLOF fullback [player_tooltip player_id='1629939' first='Bryce' last='Nielsen'] - a 6'2, 240 lb. specimen - posted 32 carries for 198 yards and 1 TD + 1 tackle defensively in the loss.   Nevis 22, Ada-Borup-West 20   Rogers 31, Anoka 28 - [player_tooltip player_id='1120517' first='Blake' last='Sieben'] (Anoka, QB, 2027) went for 18/36 for 255 yards and 3 TDs to 0 INTs in the loss   Rocori 28, Becker 21 - Max Fredin, Rocori's standout, breakout 6'2 gunslinger of a senior, went 11-13 for 214 yards and 2 TDs in the win.   Caledonia 14, Chatfield 0 -   Clearbrook-Gonvick 32, Fosston 28   Hopkins 26, Coon Rapids 20 - The Royals look to go .500 in 2025, the first time in a while.   Robbinsdale Armstrong 31, Robbinsdale Cooper 28 - Week 7 sees a significant amount of rivalry matchups across the Great State of Minnesota year to year, and the Robbinsdale crosstown rivalry of Armstrong and Cooper high schools is a matchup I'm always on the lookout for. [player_tooltip player_id='1489326' first='Eli' last='Kuempel'] (Armstrong, WR, 2026) caught 3 passes for 42 yards and 1 TD + 10 tackles, 2 sacks, and 1 FF as a linebacker   Farmington 15, Shakopee 6 - Three losses in the last four games for Shako, who is rapidly dropping out of state title contention as the season wears on.   Lakeville South 27, Prior Lake 23 - Lakeville South's breakout star of a senior RB [player_tooltip player_id='482343' first='Nic' last='Swanson'] scored the go-ahead TD from 3-yards out with 39 seconds left in the ball game. Swanson had 25 carries for 111 yards and 2 TDs, and fellow RB Griffen Dean added 23 carries for 150 yards and 1 TD himself   Norwood Young America 21, Randolph 20   --

The #3 6A and #7 6A competitors upset, narrative streets collide, best game of the season, best play of the season, best finish of the season, multiple walk-off FGs, losing steaks broken, 9Man shootouts, and some of the biggest and best rivalries in the state all were represented in Minnesota's Week 7 slate of games and action. Dare I say, the best week of the season so far? That's up to you, dear reader. Dig into the best games, most important storylines, and biggest Heroes of Minnesota's action-packed Week 7, only on PRZMN!