One more step to take for four Wright County Area football teams to reach the 2026 MSHSL Prep Bowl in Football. Friday should be a crisp, but great late fall night. Last week I went 4-1 in my picks and are 50-15 overall this season. Here is my preview and picks for tonight’s games. Good luck to all the athletes and teams tonight!
Schedule subject to change.
All games Friday night, November 6th.
Section 2AAA Final.
Dassel-Cokato Chargers (7-3) vs. #7 AAA Holy Family Fire (8-1)@ St. John’s, 7:15 PM. (You can hear this game tonight on AM1360 KRWC, krwc1360.com and on our app. Pregame at 6:45 PM.)
Dassel Cokato Chargers
2026 Season Results: Rockford, 27-13, @HLWW, 18-7, Jordan, 48-17, @New London Spicer, 14-16, Morris, 40-25, @Montivideo, 57-6, @#7 Holy Family, 24-29, Litch, 46-58, Jordan, 56-16.
Team Leaders:
Rushing: Jackson Nyquist, 90 ypg, Elijah Torola, 72 ypg
Passing: Ryan Asplin, 81 yards rushing, and 21 yards passing per game.
Rec: Alec Khondoker, 10 receptions.
Tackles: Liam Salami
Sacks: Liam Salami
Interceptions: Deon Oshin, and Alec Anderson.
Last Season: Lost to Holy Family, 35-32 in 2AAA Section Semifinals.
Looking for State Tournament Appearance#: 7, state champs in 2021.
Holy Family Fire.
2026 Season Results: New London S, 17-7, @Jordan, 38-9, HLWW, 17-14, @GSL, 49-14, @#1 Annandale, 13-14, Watertown Mayer, 21-7, DC, 29-24, @ Rockford, 28-13, and Watertown Mayer, 42-0.
Team Leaders:
Rushing: Levi Trout, 84 ypg, Damian Komtangi, 81 ypg.
Passing: Ethan Ryan, 104 ypg, 10 TD’s.
Rec: Max Simpson, 17 rec, 6 TD’s., Liam Cheeks, 13.8 ypc.
Tackles: Quinn Johannes, 58.
Sacks: Johannes, 4.
Interceptions: Kevin Tennin-Gray, 4.
Last Season: Lost to Waseca in the Class AAA State Quarterfinals, 14-0.
Looking for State Tournament Appearance#: 7.
When the Chargers have the ball……It’s very simple. Run left, run right, run up the middle, and then repeat. It really is that simple for the Chargers. Torola has the speed, Nyquist has both, while Asplin plays the maestro getting the ball to whoever needs it. For Holy Family they shut down the Chargers early last time out, but DC roared back to almost win the game as they started to wear down the Fire late.
Above, #5 Ryan Asplin orchestrates the Chargers offense at QB.
When the Fire have the ball: The Fire play a very conservative game. They have a great QB Ryan who really likes to hit seem routes and also likes to find Simpson in the flats so he can use his speed after the catch. Basically, though the Fire want to run the ball with Trout, Komtangi,and Sampson, led by 6’5 285 Casey Pearson until you make them throw.
Who wins? Holy Family has won the last two matchups by a combined nine points, so ya this should be a battle at St. John’s tonight! The Family has the better passing game, but I feel like the Fire haven’t really clicked all year on offense, something is missing, but I can’t quit figure it out? For DC, they have avg. 48 ppg in their last three games and are absolutely steam rolling teams right now. This could literally come down to the last play, and this time I think DC gets their revenge and heads to state, 28-24.
Ethan Ryan, above, will need to make some clutch throws tonight if the Fire are to advance to state.
Section 7AAAAA Final.
#7 Elk River (7-2) @ #1 Monticello (9-0), 7 PM.
Elk River Elks.
2026 Season Results: Bemidji, 44-20, @SRR, 44-19, @St. Francis, 52-6, Alex, 39-14, @Cambridge I, 43-13, Armstrong, 49-20, Monticello, 29-36, @Cretin DH, 17-26, and Cambridge-I, 44-23.
Team Leaders:
Rushing: Braedon Becker, 856 yards, 8 TD’s, and Carsyn Kleffman, 644 yards and 11 TDs.
Passing: Jackson Davis, 593 rushing, 152 passing, 13 total TDs.
Rec: Kleffman, 4-82, for the whole season!
Tackles: Kleffman, 84.
Sacks: Anthony Seubert, 3.
Interceptions: Josh Langmade, 6.
Last Season: Lost to Chanhassen, 22-19 in semifinals.
Looking for state tournament appearance#: 14, won state in 2016, 2017, 2022, and 2024.
Monticello Magic.
2026 Season results: SRR, 48-21, Alex, 22-6, @Cambridge I, 40-14, St. Francis, 41-10, @Buffalo, 41-0, Brainerd, 21-15, @Elk River, 36-29, @Bemidji, 27-0, and St. Francis, 36-7.
Team Leaders:
Rushing: Cale Holthaus, 925 yards, 16 TD’s, and Max Lofgren, 355 yards and 1 TD.
Passing: Carson Deibele, 100 ypg passing, and 346 total yards rushing for a combined 18 TDs.
Rec: Jeron Schlangen, 30 receptions, 3 TD’s, Johnny Moore, 18 receptions, 5 TDs.
Tackles: Johnny Moore, and Bradley Holker, 46.
Sacks: Cole Schwikerath, 3.5
Interceptions: Deibele, and Schlangen 2.
Last Season: Lost to Elk River in Section Finals, 27-23.
Looking for state tournament appearance#: 4.
When Elks have the ball……If you haven’t seen an Elks game, well then, you would have a hard time following the ball. If you have seen an Elks game, I’m sure you had a hard time following the ball, lol. The Elks run the old Power T. Basically the Elks led by QB Jackson Davis use misdirection to cause confusion by the defense. Most plays only net a few yards, but when fooled they go for 80! The Magic need to win on first down, limiting the Elks to three yards or less, and not give up the big runs.
Carsyn Kleffman, above, leads both the offense and defense for the Elks.
When the Magic have the ball…..Monti has a much more conventional offense, featuring Holthaus pounding the rock behind a strong offensive line. Deibele is both a threat as a thrower and runner and likes to hit Moore and Schlangen deep after running with Holthaus. The Elks meanwhile have a ballhawk in the secondary in Langmade who has six interceptions, so the Magic have to keep an eye on him.
Who wins? Last season the Magic won the regular season matchup, while the Elks won the Section final. This season, the Magic won the regular season matchup, so the Elks will win this one, right? I don’t think so. The Elks D is not very physical so the Magic should be able to move the ball. On the other side of the field, the Elks offense is very tough to defend, but Monti has seen this offense four times now in the last two seasons. Magic win, but it will be another close one, 34-26.
Cale Holthaus, above, #3, is the third all team leading rusher in Magic history.
Section 5AAA Final.
Foley (7-2) vs. #1 Annandale (9-0)@St. Cloud Tech, 6 PM.
Foley Falcons.
2026 Results: @GSL, 52-14, Pierz, 6-42, Annandale, 7-41, Little Falls, 27-0, @Apollo, 47-0, @Milaca, 42-21, Jordan, 47-14, Albany, 22-19, Mora, 34-6.
Team Leaders:
Rushing: Jacob DeMarais, 124 ypg, Levi Shaw, 50 ypg.
Passing: Carson Brenny, 107 yards ppg.
Rec: Von Murphy, Avg. 20 ypc, and DeMarais.
Tackles: NA.
Sacks: NA.
Interceptions: NA.
Last season: Lost to Annandale in Section finals, 37-14.
Looking for state tournament appearance#: 3. 1998 State Champs.
Annandale Cardinals.
2026 Results: @ L-Falls, 28-8, GSL, 58-0, Foley, 41-7, @Watertown-Mayer, 42-7, Holy Family, 14-13, @Rockford, 47-7, @Milaca, 48-7, Jordan, 35-10, and Milaca, 48-20.
Team Leaders:
Rushing: Colton Henson, 806 yards, 15 TD’s, Rylan Horsch, 241 yards and 3 TD’s.
Passing: Braylon Fobbe, 1298 yards, 16 TD’s.
Rec: Brody Berggren, 36 receptions, 6 TD’s, Cooper Broman, 28 receptions and 5 TD’s.
Tackles: Carter Broich, 47.
Sacks: Kane Fobbe, 4.
Interceptions: Eli Dingmann, Jack Newman, Rylan Horsch, Noah Elam and Cooper Broman all have 2.
Last Season: Defeated Waseca, 17-7 in State championship game.
Looking for State Tournament Appearance#: 9. Defending state champs.
When the Falcons have the ball…….They want DeMarais to have the ball as much as possible, running behind two massive guards. Foley also likes to go with misdirection which worked well against Albany in their upset win. Murphy is a deep threat, and Brenny likes to find his TE’s and RBs down the seams. Cards will have to get good drops from LB’s when Foley throws.
Carson Brenny, above, #14, will need a big game if Foley is going to upset Annandale.
When the Cards have the ball…..When they played in September, Sr. WR Cooper Broman had 7 receptions for 122 yards and two TD’s, but that doesn’t mean that’s all Foley has to do is cover him, far from it! You never know who’s turn it will be to have a big game in this offense! Henson and Josiah Turner are dangerous around the edges at RB, and the Cards have four really talented receivers in Broman, Berggren, Newman and So, Blake Luebker, all four can get behind the defense, and they have the QB to deliver the goods in Fobbe.
Who wins? The Falcons have to win on first down, or they have no chance. It will be tough sledding with Kane Fobbe playing his best ball, along with Adam Klat and Ezra Manuel on the front line for the Cards and their linebackers and secondary are also excellent, but they have to keep an eye on Murphy. Offensively the Cards have so many ways to beat you that the Falcons can’t rely on stopping one guy. Foley, will need tackle well and force turnovers to have a chance. Foley made it clear, they wanted Annandale. Well sometimes be careful what you wish for! It might be close for a while, but Cards win their 23rd straight. Cards, 34-14.
Kane Fobbe, above #72 in black, was just named to the Minnesota All Star game which will be played in December at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Class AAAAAA 2nd Round.
STMA Knights (4-5) @ #8 Rosemount Irish (6-3), 7 PM.
STMA Knights.
2026 Results: Champlin Park, 0-35, @Minnetonka, 0-7, Wayzata, 20-28, @Eden Prairie 54-7, @Edina, 28-16, Maple Grove, 21-0, Moorhead, 28-48, @Hopkins, 43-0, @Woodbury, 28-0.
Team Leaders:
Rushing: Braylon Bohm, 699 yards, 4 TD’s, Wyatt Mosher 531 yards, 6 TDs.
Passing: Lucas Bryan, 731 passing yards, 279 rushing yards, 13 total TDs.
Rec: Alex Cilke, 19 receptions, 2 TD’s, Cooper Leland, 4 TDs.
Tackles: Elton Samyeneh, 62.
Sacks: Jacob Kwateh, 5.
Interceptions: Kyan Beaumont, 3.
Last Season: Lost 34-7 to Minnetonka in State Quarterfinals.
Looking for State Tournament Appearance#: 14. Won state at AAAAA in 2015.
Rosemount Irish.
2026 Results: @Centennial, 0-20, Eastview, 53-13, @Prior Lake, 15-14, Shakopee, 20-24, Farmington, 35-6, @Lakeville North, 29-3, Eagan, 28-6, @Lakeville South, 14-17, Osseo, 69-0.
Team Leaders:
Rushing: Jaidon Jackson, 115 ypg, Chuck McNamara, 66 ypg.
Passing: Finn Macken 40 ypg passing, 50 yards rushing pg.
Rec: Ryan Bartl, and Dez Wente, tied for the team lead.
Tackles: Ryan Bartl.
Sacks: Bartl.
Interceptions: Will Schmucker.
Last season: Lost to STMA, 14-0 in Class AAAAAA second round.
Looking for State Tournament Appearance#: 14. 1981 State Champs.
When the Knights have the ball…..Every year it’s the same thing for STMA. Start slow on offense, continue to get better and then take off at the end of the year. It’s working again! The Knights have two excellent backs in Bohm, the home run threat, and Mosher the masher. If you pay to much attention to them, Jr, QB Lucas Bryan will keep it and race toward the end zone or hit Leland or Cike downfield. It’s a very balanced attack for the Knights and they are so physical if they get ahead of you, you’re not getting the ball back.
Lucas Bryan, above, rushed for three TD’s last week in the Knights win on the road at Woodbury.
When the Irish have the ball…..Booooring, and they like it that way! They pond the rock over and over with Jackson, until eventually Macken pulls it and runs, or throws it downfield, much like STMA, except the Irish don’t throw it nearly as much. STMA has a very physical defense, and wil crowd the box, daring the Irish to pass, and when they do they have Beaumont and Cooper Henson lurking in the secondary, while Jayden Karger had two picks from his LB spot last week.
Who wins? In a rematch of last year’s second round, I see the same exact teams! It is imperative that the Knights jump out on top, because the team that does will hold the ball and suffocate the other team into submission. I like the Knights offense and defense better than Rosemount right now. In a game that could last an hour and a half, I’m going with the Knights for the second straight year, because November is when they shine! Knights, 21-7.
Jaidon Jackson, above, hopes to lead the Irish over STMA at home Friday night.
