MN High School State Championship Weekend Results Pt. 2

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Concluding the 2025 high school football season in Minnesota, we return for the final 3 state title games, deciding the champions from the 9-Man league, Class 3A, and Class 5A, once again bringing plenty of energy within U.S. Bank Stadium as they left everything on the field for possibly the last time for some of these players. We recap the final 3 title matchups from MN's Prep Bowl state championship weekend that took place on Saturday!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>9-Man League:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Hillcrest Lutheran Academy vs. <strong>Hills-Beaver Creek: 46-22</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>A battle between two of the best offenses in the 9-man league, the game quickly grew one-sided as the Patriots made easy business of the Comets' defense. With a great balance of pass-run efficiency, the Patriots racked up a whopping 481 yards of total offense, building a 40-8 lead by halftime, and by the time the Comets generated some traction on offense, it was well too late. After coming just short last season, Hills-Beaver Creek officially reached the mountaintop on Saturday morning, motivated with their goal of returning to U.S. Bank and taking the 9-man throne, which they did without much resistance. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Top Performers: [player_tooltip player_id='1371692' first='Jamin' last='Metzger'] (SR) and Brodie</strong> <strong>Metzger (SO) - </strong>The two brothers both had outstanding performances as they tore apart the Comets' defense. Under Center, Jamin finished 16 of 18 for 238 yards and 2 TDs passing while rushing for 43 yards on 8 carries and 2 rushing TDs. Brodie ran for 126 yards on 14 carries and 2 rushing TDs while leading the team with 99 receiving yards on 8 receptions and a TD. Brodie also led the defense with 11 total tackles and an interception.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>3A:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Annandale </strong>vs. Waseca: <strong>17-7</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>After coming just short over the last few years, Annandale finally got over the hump as they shut down Waseca. The Bluejays entered with a perfect record, relying on a stingy defense and the strength of two-way standout [player_tooltip player_id='592119' first='Deron' last='Russell'], but the cracks had been starting to show over their last two games, and ultimately, the Bluejays ran out of steam in the title game. With 4 turnovers forced on Waseca, the Cardinals were able to limit the Bluejays, keeping them out of the endzone until the third quarter, which only succeeded in cutting down a 10 point deficit to three. 4 minutes later, Annandale hit a 61 yard touchdown pass to make it a two-possession lead again, and the Cardinals succeeded in pinning the Bluejays to secure a well-deserved state championship that they've waited a long time for. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Top Performer: Colton Purcell (JR) - </strong>Purcell played a huge role for the Cardinals' secondary, accounting for 3 of the team's 4 interceptions on Waseca as he was all over the ball, tying a Prep Bowl record. He caught just 2 passes on offense, but he was the one who hit the 62 yard TD in the third quarter off a WR reverse pass that affirmed the Cardinals' authority on the field for the remainder of the game. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>5A:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Spring Lake Park </strong>vs. Chanhassen: 24-21</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Despite being underdogs going against the back-to-back 5A champions, Spring Lake Park exuded plenty of explosiveness on offense while coming away with key stops on the defense to pull off a stunner to round out the MN high school playoffs. While Chanhassen outgained the Panthers (336-298), they trailed 21-14 at halftime, with the Panthers hitting all three of their touchdowns from at least 30+ yards out. The Storm's passing game was productive, albeit inconsistent, and the Storm had missed opportunities, including a key strip-sack inside the Panthers' 10 at the end of the half. Trailing by 10 heading into the 4th, the Storm scored early on to cut the deficit to 3, and despite stopping the Panthers numerous times, they failed to score on any of their drives. The Storm got the ball back one last time with 1:20 remaining, but pinned at their 1 yard line. Chanhassen managed to drive their way to the Panthers' 33 yard line, but the Panthers' defense held their ground, forcing 4 straight incompletions, the last being a game-clinching interception to give Spring Lake Park their first state championship since 1991. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Top Performer: [player_tooltip player_id='1633390' first='Nolan' last='Roach'] (JR) - </strong>Albeit a somewhat erratic game, Roach was responsible for organizing the Panthers' explosive first half, accounting for all of the Panthers' scoring plays. He finished 2 of 8 for 57 yards, 1 TD, and an INT while rushing for 162 yards on just 12 carries (13.5 YPC) and 2 rushing TDs. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->