Football University Team of the Week Nominees: Week 6

Benilde-St. Margaret’s – W, 20-19 over No. 3 (4A) Holy Angels

Benilde-St. Margaret’s found a way to win by the smallest of margins, using a pair of special teams plays to nip the Stars in Week 6.

Trailing by six late in the fourth quarter, senior Braeden Fitzgerald blocked a Holy Angels punt to give the Red Knights a short field. Quarterback Tommy Anderson converted the pivotal play into points, connecting with Turner Wine to tie the game at 19. Henry Wolfe’s extra point put the defending Class AAAA champions ahead by one.

Holy Angels quickly moved down the field on the ensuing drive to set up a potential game-winning, 27-yard field goal. This time, it was the Red Knights field goal block that rose to the occasion, deflecting the low kick to keep the hosts record perfect at 6-0.

Rogers – W, 24-20 over No. 2 (5A) Elk River

A seesaw contest in Rogers ended with the Royals handing rival Elk River its first loss in 18 games.

The game was a one-possession affair throughout. Rogers trailed 20-17 with less than 10 minutes to play in the game before John Torresani’s 37-yard touchdown run gave the Royals the lead for good.

It was Torresani’s second 37-yard score of the game. He also caught a touchdown pass of that length from quarterback Cole Larson in the first quarter. Larson finished with 222 yards passing and two touchdowns. Eli Solberg caught eight receptions for 166 yards and a score for the Royals, which moved to 4-2 with the victory.

Kimball Area – W, 31-16 over Upsala-Swanville Area

Kimball Area ended Minnesota’s third-longest losing streak in impressive fashion, dominating the previously-unbeaten Patriots at home.

The Cubs never trailed in the game, using strong first- and fourth-quarter performances to get the win.They led 12-0 after the opening 12 minutes and then scored 13 points in the final frame to pull away for the victory.

Zack Garding (129 yds, TD) and Riley Miller (114 yds, TD) led a rushing attack which finished with more than 280 yards on the ground. Linebacker Peyton Schiefelbein iced the game with a 45-yard interception return for touchdown in the fourth quarter. 

First-year coach John Benson is no stranger to success, having played for Dwight Lundeen at Becker. Benson’s grandfather is John Gagliardi, the legendary-former Saint John’s University coach where Benson played college football.

Kasson-Mantorville – W, 34-14 over No. 3 (3A) Rochester Lourdes

An impressive second half lifted Kasson-Mantorville to a 20-point win over Lourdes, ending an eight-game losing streak to the Eagles. The win also kept the KoMets perfect in 2017.

Senior Dalton Head scored two of the KoMets five rushing touchdowns, both in the opening half. Tied 14-14 at intermission, quarterback Matt Winkle ran 30 yards for the go-ahead touchdown midway through the third quarter.

Junior Robbie Horsman found the end zone later in the quarter to give the KoMets a two-touchdown lead. The loss ended Lourdes 18-game winning streak, which included last year’s Prep Bowl win as well as a blowout victory over the Broc Threinen’s group in Rochester.

Maple Grove – W, 14-6 over No. 4 (6A) Lakeville North

A defensive battle in Lakeville went Maple Grove’s way and reintroduced Matt Lombardi’s squad as a possible Prep Bowl contender in Class 6A.

The Crimson defense was relentless against the Panthers. The unit limited North to just 88 yards of total offense, including only 19 yards rushing. Senior linebacker Jake Hanson led the defense with half of the team’s eight quarterback sacks, along with eight total tackles.

Hanson also found the end zone for one of the Crimson’s two scores. Joe Raymon was on the receiving end of a Curtis Haugen pass for the other touchdown from 46-yards out, which opened the scoring in the first quarter. Raymon also added seven tackles, one sack and an interception at defensive back.