#1 Maple Grove Dominates STMA in this 6A NW Metro Battle

Nate Wahl October 15, 2022 @ 01:28 PM

ST. MICHAEL-ALBERTVILLE, MN-- In this battle of the Twin Cities Northwest Metro, my Game of the Week took us close by to see the 3-3 St-Michael-Albertville Knights versus the #1 ranked team in 6A, the Maple Grove Crimson. It was a lopsided affair by the Crimson, but there still were plenty of Big Dogs of the Game that we will note in our upcoming articles. Find out how the Crimson were able to roll thru St. Michael-Albertville with a shutout and find out how our #1 ranked QB in 2023 dominated the entirety of the game.

1st Quarter

ILed by the sneaky running ability of 2023 QB1 Jacob Kilzer Jacob Kilzer 6'3" | 200 lbs | QB Maple Grove | 2023 State MN by the Crimson, it was Minnesota-Mankato commit 2023 kicker Connor Fournier that started the big-time scoring night for the Crimson in which he added one of his three field goals of the night, his longest one of the night from 32 yards out. Maple Grove 3, STMA 0. End of the first quarter.

2nd Quarter

It was the continued upside of Maple Grove QB Jacob Kilzer Jacob Kilzer 6'3" | 200 lbs | QB Maple Grove | 2023 State MN , with his high football IQ being able to run around some tight inside angles, that got his first of three touchdowns on the night early in the 2nd quarter from 3 yards out to continue to punch the Knights defense in the mouth. Maple Grove 10, STMA 0.

Later in the quarter, it was Maple Grove's magic man at quarterback Jacob Kilzer Jacob Kilzer 6'3" | 200 lbs | QB Maple Grove | 2023 State MN that took it the distance, adding to his over 200+ rushing yards on the night when he took it in after using his athletic agility inside to crank it to the outside hash from 38 yards out this time which was his longest run of the day. Maple Grove 17, STMA 0.

As you can read so far, the Crimson defense was on point all night with the shoutout of the St. Michael-Albertville Knights and the secondary play of Minnesota cornerback commit Jackson Powers Jackson Powers 6'1" | 180 lbs | DB Maple Grove | 2023 State MN , who, before the end of the half, showed off some much-developed ball-tracking ability to get one of his multiple interceptions on the night. This setup another scoring drive for MSU-Mankato kicker commit Connor Fournier to use his loaded hangtime and kicking leg to get another field goal; from this time, 26 yards out. To no one's surprise, Maple Grove's Jackson Powers Jackson Powers 6'1" | 180 lbs | DB Maple Grove | 2023 State MN caught the Knights' last-second hail mary attempt to end the half as the Crimson went into the locker room pitching a shutout that set that full tone as an entire unit for the rest of the game. Maple Grove 20, STMA 0. Halftime

3rd Quarter

No scoring, but I swear that was the fastest quarter I have ever witnessed in all of the games I have covered in the last five seasons. The Crimson maintained a very balanced tempo in this quarter. Maple Grove 20, STMA 0. End of 3rd quarter

4th Quarter

Adding his third field goal of the night, Connor Fournier scored his perfect 3/3 night of field goals by getting another short field goal from 23 yards out midway through the 4th quarter. Maple Grove 23, STMA 0.

The game's last scoring play was one of the most electric scores I have seen right in front of my eyes over the last several years. Jacob Kilzer Jacob Kilzer 6'3" | 200 lbs | QB Maple Grove | 2023 State MN escaped to the outside with BIG TIME help from 2023 running back Jordan Olagbaju Jordan Olagbaju 5'11" | 195 lbs | ATH Maple Grove | 2023 State MN , who unloaded a huge punch right in the heart of the STMA Knights defender, and this set a massive tone for the rest of Kilzer's run to his third touchdown this time from 31 yards out. Jordan played with that physicality all night as a blue-collar runner and one that can unload a block with his well-built 5'11, 205-pound frame that needs to be on more college radars. He is taking a visit to St. Thomas today, he told me after the game. Maple Grove 30, STMA 0. Final