After a 1-5 start, the STMA Knights have rallied to win four straight and advance to the 2025 Class AAAAAA state football tournament. You can hear their game Friday night vs. Minnetonka at Farmington at 7 PM, with a 6:30 PM pregame, on KRWC Radio.
Below is a Class AAAAAA state preview with the bracket located on a link at the bottom of the preview. Good luck to the Knights!
The Teams:
Team: Maple Grove Crimson #1 seed, 10-0, defeated East Ridge, 55-18 in 2nd round.
State Appearance: 12th. 2022, and 2024 champs.
Key Players: Kaden Harney QB, (15 TD’s), RB, James Engle (1733 yards rushing, 25 TD’s.), and OLB Beux Thyen (84 tck, 10 tfl, 4 INT.)
Did you know? The defending state champion Crimson enter the state tournament on a 23-game winning streak.
Kaden Harney, left #11, is the top dual threat QB in the state.
Team: Centennial Cougars, 9-1, #1 seed, defeated Shakopee, 28-3 in 2nd round.
State Appearance: 6th. 2023 Champs.
Key Players: Calvin Coppersmith, RB (518 yards rushing, 8 TD’s.), WR, Brett Pullman (24 ypc), and DB Wesley Kukkonen (2 INT’s.)
Did you know? Last week in the Section final, the Cougars only allowed two completions for zero yards against Shakopee.
Above, #2 in red Tanner Dittrick, celebrates a TD against Rosemount in last years playoffs.
Team: Lakeville South Cougars, 8-2, #2 seed, defeated Mounds View, 37-0 in 2nd round.
State Appearance: 10th. 2021 champs.
Key Players: RB, Griffin Dean (1069 yards rushing, 7 TD’s.), Nic Swanson, RB (1016 yards rushing, 14 TD’s.), and DL Kaleb Williams (48 tck, and 4 sacks.)
Did you know? The Cougars defense only allowed 36 yards rushing, a 1.7 ypc against Mounds View in the 2nd round.
Lakeville South, above in white, relies on a rugged rushing game and a tough defense to win.
Team: Minnetonka Skippers, 8-2, #2 seed, 8-2, defeated Prior Lake 14-7 in 2nd round.
State Appearance: 7th. 2004 champs.
Key Players: RB, Caleb Francois (1652 yards, 26 TD’s.), WR Kirion Vogel (18.5 ypc, and 4 TD’s.), and LB Riley Battani (69 tcks, 9 TFL’s, and 4 sacks.)
Did you know? Lost last year’s state championship to Maple Grove, 28-21 with Francois at QB. This season Francois is at his original position as RB.
RB Caleb Francois, above in black, #2, has the Skippers pointed in the right direction as they head to state.
Team: Eden Prairie Eagles, 8-2, #3 seed, defeated Champlin Park, 21-16 in 2nd round.
State Appearance: 26th. State Champs in 1996, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2017.
Key Players: RB Owen Konrad (1197 yards rushing, 7 TD’s.), RB Windlan Hall (7.7 ypc, 5 TD’s.) and DB, Isiah Kelly, led team in Int’s.
Did you know? For the Eagles they are in a drought! After winning the 2017 state title, this will be the eighth year since they won their last one. Before that the longest streak was four years, since their first title in 96.
The last time Eden Prairie won it all, was in 2019 against Minnetonka, pictured above.
Team: Edina Hornets, 6-4, #4 seed, defeated Forest Lake, 31-30 in ot in 2nd round.
State Appearance: 6th.
Key Players: QB, Mason West (193 ypg, 21 TD’s.), RB Chase Bjorgaard (1200 yards rushing, 17 TD’s.), and WR, Jabari Strader (44 rec, 7 TD’s.)
Did you know? QB West, was selected in the first round of the NHL draft last spring, going #29 overall and will head to the USHL as soon as this season ends.
Edina, above in green, and Eden Prairie in white, will meet again in state. The Eagles won the regular season matchup, 40-19.
Team: STMA Knights, 5-5, #5 seed, defeated Rosemount, 14-0 in 2nd round.
State Appearance: 12th. 2015 champs.
Key Players: RB, Wyatt Mosher (825 yards and 13 TD’s.), Elijah Lewis (25 rec, 16.0 ypc, and 3 TD’s.), and LB Zach Marble (104 tcks.)
Did you know? The Knights got hot once they gave the ball to Wyatt Mosher. Mosher has had over 100 yards in five of last six games as Knights have gone 4-2.
Wyatt Mosher, above, has been at his best with the Knights needed the most down the stretch.
Team: Moorhead Spuds, 6-4, #6 seed, defeated Woodbury, 64-48 in 2nd round.
State Appearance: 18th. 1987 champs.
Key Players: QB Jett Feeney (275 ypg, 21 TD’s.), Taye Reich (1230 rush yards, and 14 TD’s.), and WR David Mack (98 rec, 1350 yards, and 23 TD’s.)
Did you know? After missing some time this season with an injury, Feeney since coming back has led the team to a 3-0 record, while passing for 319 ypg, and 14 TDs.
Jett Feeney, #3, above in red is one of the top recruits in the state of Minnesota.
MSHSL 2025 Class AAAAAA Football Tournament bracket:
